In his new book, “Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters,” Steven Pinker writes: “When humans set themselves the goal of improving the welfare of their fellows … and they apply their ingenuity in institutions that pool it with others’, they occasionally succeed. When they retain the successes and take note of the failures, the benefits ... Show More
Today
Do We Even Need Politicians?
“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers,” sneers a rebel henchman in Shakespeare’s “Henry VI.” Hélène Landemore, a political scientist at Yale, has another idea: let’s fire all the politicians. She has a point, doesn’t she? Most of ’em are beholden to donors, allergic ... Show More
54m 55s
Feb 26
Inside the Most Creative Friendship in History
On the surface, Ian Leslie's book John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs is a dual biography of the greatest songwriting duo the world has ever seen. So not exactly standard Next Big Idea territory. But what’s remarkable about Ian's book, which I've been pressing on everyone I know, ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 23
Michael Pollan on the Mystery of Consciousness
Five years ago, Michael Pollan — the acclaimed author of The Botany of Desire, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and How to Change Your Mind — went looking for an answer to one of life's great mysteries: "How does three pounds of brain matter generate subjective experience?" The result is ... Show More
1h 16m
Jul 2024
Books, Routines, and Habits: The Founders' Guide to Self-Improvement
<p>A lot of self-improvement advice and content feels empty. And there's a reason for that. It often offers routines and habits to practice, but doesn't offer a strong, overarching reason to practice them.</p><p>That's why the self-improvement advice of the Founding Fathers is pa ... Show More
44m 50s
<p><strong>Steven Pinker</strong> (<a href="https://twitter.com/sapinker" target="_blank">@sapinker</a>) is a psychology professor at Harvard, one of the world's leading authorities on language and the mind, and an author of several bestsellers. His latest is <a href="https://www ... Show More
<p>Everyone makes mistakes. How do you learn from them? Lessons from the classroom, the Air Force, and the world’s deadliest infectious disease.</p><p> </p><p>RESOURCES:</p><ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/45mpkoA"><i>Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well</i></a><i>, < ... Show More
