Links

"Like other practicing historians, I am often asked what the 'lessons of history' are. I answer that the only lesson I have learnt from studying the past is that there are no permanent winners and losers." —Ramachandra Guha

Howard Buffett to be sworn in Friday as Macon County sheriff [H/T @NicoleFriedman] (LINK)

Ray Dalio talks with Tim Ferriss (podcast) (LINK)

Related book (released next week): Principles: Life and Work

You Need To Do What Others Don’t - by Ian Cassel (LINK)

How Bacteria Could Protect Tumors From Anticancer Drugs - by Ed Yong (LINK)

Gregg Popovich on the Spurs' philosophy and culture (video) [H/T @mlombardiNFL] (LINK)

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In the video above, Gregg Popovich made this particular comment: 

"We talk a lot about character, and can you really change someone. If someone is selfish, can you change that and make him or her a part of the team? My bottom is, usually, they am what they am."

While it's possible to change cultures and people, and plenty of people have made huge changes in many areas of life, that comment reminded me of some things Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger have said over the years, with the particular quotes below taken from Peter Bevelin's All I Want To Know Is Where I'm Going To Die So I'll Never Go There: 

Buffett: "Management changes, like marital changes, are painful, time-consuming and chancy.... We don't try to change people. It doesn't work well...We accept people the way they are." 

Munger: "The failure rate at trying to change a culture is likely to be 100%." 

Buffett: "Changing cultures is really tough. I've had a little experience with that. The trick in business is to get in with a culture that's already the right kind."