Welcome to my personal space where I share materials related to the general problems that I like to think about. One of the most common questions that we encounter in life is "why do we care?" Although it may be considered impolite in some settings, such as a classroom, I believe that it is an essential question to ask. By understanding why we care about a particular subject, such as math or teaching, we can better appreciate its value and relevance. Reflecting on our motivations can help us gain a deeper understanding of our actions and the impact they have on ourselves and others.
Historia de las ideas
In 2002, I had the pleasure of meeting Gustavo Lau, and since then, we have developed a strong friendship. Gustavo is a remarkable individual working in the finance sector in London, with a not so secret passion for teaching. He generously donated a special collection to the library of Universidad Simón Bolívar, which he called "Historia de las ideas." This collection has had a significant impact on me, and I've spent countless hours delving into its contents. I'm grateful to have such a wonderful friend and mentor in Gustavo.
A few materials that bring me back to discussions I have had with Gustavo are:
- The Most Beautiful Story in the World
- Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
- Baraka (film)
- Big History Project
- Neil Postman, The End of Education. Book and video conference.
- His book Preguntas, libros y videos
Teaching and Academia
- La Isla de Róbinson
- Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy
- Circles Disturbed: The Interplay of Mathematics and Narrative
- x+y
- The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences
- On Teaching Mathematics
Performance
- The Inner Game of Tennis
- What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
- On Practicing: A Manual for Students of Guitar Performance
- Birth of a Theorem: A Mathematical Adventure
Politics and crisis
- La Rebelión De Los Náufragos
- The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics
- La Hija de la Española
- The Silence and the Scorpion: The Coup Against Chavez and the Making of Modern Venezuela
- Las Venas Abiertas de América Latina
- Guide to the Perfect Latin American Idiot
- Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
Life, ethics, and spirituality
- Man's Search for Meaning
- Alain de Botton on Art as Therapy
- Sadhana
- The Egg
- Los Detectives Salvajes
- Viví 5 días en la calle
- The People in the Trees
- The Brothers Karamazov
- The Master and Margarita
- The Stranger