Hump day recommendations 01/11/2023

This week, we share a few from our readers. Thank you to everyone who submitted their picks. Enjoy!

Read: "And There Was Light – Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle," by Jon Meacham. I thought I knew a lot about Old Abe, but I am learning new things, like his ideas on the Bible when he was in his '20s. Highly recommend this book. — Tom Zdrojeski, Massapequa Park, NY

Watch: "Firing Line with Margaret Hoover" on PBS. I recommend Signal readers watch all the interviews (recent and past). Readers will appreciate the deep conversations moderated by Margaret Hoover on a variety of topics and perspectives. — Ray Pun, San Francisco, CA

Read: "Five: The Untold Stories of the Women Murdered by the Jack the Ripper." This is my top non-fiction book of 2022. Rather than focusing on the details surrounding their deaths, the book delves into the lives of the women from birth, their working-class backgrounds, and the really unexpected twists and turns of their enlightening life stories. It was really eye-opening for the conditions and social standards of 19th Century Britain and really makes you think of how far we’ve come. — Ruaridh Heath, Manchester, UK

Listen: "Blowback" is an amazing podcast about the characters behind the scenes of conflicts America likes to forget about. Starting with the war in Iraq (then moving on to Cuba and North Korea), it breaks down the motives and outcomes of the American strategy of isolating "rogue states" in an effort to bring about regime change from the narrative of the people at the levers of power. — Lawrence Wood

More from GZERO Media

People gather outside the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 4, 2024.
REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon

In an unexpected, late-night speech on Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, banning all political activity, taking control of all media, and suspending parliament. For all of a few hours, it turned out.

- YouTube

Ian Bremmer's Quick Take: President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea deciding to suddenly declare emergency martial law, announcing together with the military all political activities prohibited. All media now under state control. No strikes, demonstrations allowed. Ian Bremmer breaks down the reason for this decision in this Quick Take.

Proud Source Water became a Walmart supplier in 2021. Today, their team has grown 50%, and they're the largest employer in Mackay, ID. When local suppliers work with Walmart, their business can grow. In fact, two-thirds of Walmart's product spend is on products made, grown, or assembled in America. By working with Walmart, local businesses like Proud Source Water can reach more customers, hire more people, and help their communities thrive. Explore the positive impact of Walmart's $350 billion investment in US manufacturing.

Supporters of Hamas wave their green flags during a celebration marking the 35th anniversary of the founding of Hamas in Gaza City in December 2022.
Yousef Masoud / SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Reuters

Fatah and Hamas are reportedly close to a deal on a post-war government for Gaza, marking a potential end to Hamas’ 17-year rule. The agreement would establish a committee of 12-15 politically unaligned technocrats with authority over issues of the economy, education, health, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction.

Globally, one in five people identify as neurodivergent, an umbrella term that refers to variances in how the brain processes information. A new collaborative study between Microsoft and Ernst & Young reveals insights into how AI-powered tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot are transforming experiences for the neurodiverse in the workplace. The study involving over 300 neurodivergent or disabled employees found that 91% consider Copilot helpful for communication, 85% believe it creates a more inclusive workplace, and 76% say it aids their work performance. This study is part of Microsoft’s ongoing work to increase understanding of how Copilot and other Microsoft tools can improve the workplace. Read more here.

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Angolan President João Lourenço at the Presidential Palace in Luanda, Angola, on Dec. 3, 2024.
REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

With seven weeks left as US president, Joe Biden was in Angola on Tuesday to meet with President João Lourenço. It's the very first visit of a US president to this former Portuguese colony.

Courtesy of Midjourney

Throughout Joe Biden’s presidency, the Commerce Department has gradually tightened its chokehold on China’s access to semiconductors needed to access, train, and build artificial intelligence. It just announced its “strongest controls ever," prompting China to respond in kind with restrictions of its own that send a signal to President-elect Donald Trump.