Indiana · est. 1988
Stefan
Coburn.
Engineer, volunteer firefighter, beginner pianist, pragmatic optimist. Writing about technology, society, and the good life — one book at a time.
218
Books read
7
Book notes
14
Quotes kept
10
Essays written
Currently
reading
reading
Book Notes All notes →
The Machine Stops Jul 2026 Humanity builds a machine to serve its every need, then kneels before it. A cautionary tale for the present day.
Factfulness Sep 2025 Hans Rosling on why we're wrong about the world and why things are better than we think.
Gates of Fire Sep 2025 A fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae and what it teaches about honor, duty, and courage.
A Conflict of Visions Sep 2025 Thomas Sowell's framework for understanding the roots of political disagreement.
Essays All essays →
Clues, Not Truth Oct 2026 On motivated reasoning, viral narratives, and the discipline of epistemic humility.
Rounding to Zero Oct 2026 On numbers too big to grasp, the infinite, and the weight of a finite life.
Fleeting Satisfaction Oct 2026 From the Moon to the Masters: the thrill of winning fades fast, so love the game.
Social Media Turns You Into a Product Jul 2026 On becoming the seller, the marketer, and the merchandise all at once — and why I decided to log off.
Fear Jul 2026 On facing fear head-on — from rock walls to skydiving — and what it taught me about courage.