The thoughts that shape my writing

Fragments of history, reflections on memory, and glimpses of the human thread that runs through it all.

Orwell in the Age of Trump
John Rees John Rees

Orwell in the Age of Trump

In 1949 George Orwell wrote what many consider his masterpiece, 1984. What can it teach us about what’s happening in the world today?

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The Age of Collective Stupidity
John Rees John Rees

The Age of Collective Stupidity

I lived through the first dotcom bubble — a time when hype, “expert” predictions, and collective belief drove stock prices into the stratosphere. I sold some shares early and was told I was crazy… until the bubble burst and fortunes vanished overnight.

Looking back, I realised this wasn’t just market failure — it was collective stupidity on a global scale.

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Your Truth, My Truth, No Truth?
John Rees John Rees

Your Truth, My Truth, No Truth?

In a world drowning in half-truths and curated realities, can we still agree on what’s true—or does truth even matter anymore?

This post explores how truth has shifted from a shared foundation to a contested battleground. From ancient faith to modern politics, from Nietzsche’s “truth as illusion” to Foucault’s “truth as power,” we examine how belief, influence, and technology have turned truth into a moving target.

If we want to stay grounded in an age of spin, outrage, and viral manipulation, we need to stop asking only “Is this true?”—and start asking “Who benefits if I believe it?”

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Freedom in a World of Algorithms
John Rees John Rees

Freedom in a World of Algorithms

Are you really making free choices — or just following invisible nudges? This piece explores how modern power doesn’t restrict us but subtly shapes us through algorithms, feeds, and endless distractions. Drawing on Rousseau, Berlin, Foucault, and Sartre, it asks: in a world designed to predict and guide our behaviour, is freedom still possible?

Stay curious. Question the feed. Real freedom begins when we choose to think beyond what’s handed to us.

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