logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2023
32m 22s

False Alarm - Bjorn Lomborg - The cost o...

Book geeks Sam Harris & Nicolas Vereecke
About this episode

In False Alarm, Bjorn Lomborg examines how climate change panic costs us trillions, hurts the poor, and fails to fix the planet. This is a divisive book and even had us as hosts disagreeing on subjects.


Bjorn Lomborg proposes to debunk the myths and hype surrounding climate change, revealing the true costs and benefits of our response to this global challenge. Lomborg argues that our current approach to climate change is doing more harm than good, and offers a bold and pragmatic alternative that puts the world's poor first.


This book is worth understanding and reading as healthy skepticism is always valuable. Of course, the book itself is worth some skepticism which you can definitely find in this episode.


- - -


Contact the hosts


Nico's projects


Sam's projects


- - -

Chapters

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 01:09 Our take on the book
  • 02:38 Short summary of the book
  • 06:09 Nico's perspective
  • 09:36 Positives about the book
  • 13:22 When was the best time to be born?
  • 15:16 Critiques on the book
  • 21:26 Warnings 
  • 23:15 If you read this book 20 years ago, how would it have changed your life?
  • 24:57 What business would you start based on the principles of this book?
  • 29:37 Who would you gift the book and why?
  • 31:42 Outro - the 3 body prob



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Sep 8
Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human - Richard Wrangham
In this stunningly original book, Richard Wrangham argues that it was cooking that caused the extraordinary transformation of our ancestors from apelike beings to Homo erectus. At the heart of Catching Fire lies an explosive new idea: the habit of eating cooked rather than raw fo ... Show More
36m 30s
Aug 26
Thinking Fast & Slow - Daniel Kahneman
Why is there more chance we'll believe something if it's in a bold type face? Why are judges more likely to deny parole before lunch? Why do we assume a good-looking person will be more competent?The answer lies in the two ways we make choices: fast, intuitive thinking, and slow, ... Show More
44m 51s
Aug 12
Impact: How to Measure World Change
Is Brexit more important than Bitcoin? How do we rank Buddhism vs TikTok?The world changes, technology advances, but what really matters and how much? Sam explains the Innovation Richter Scale, a framework for understanding impact at every level of technology and what it means to ... Show More
31 m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Climate Crisis: We're Solving It?!
The climate is a mess. It's hot. There's fires, floods, hurricanes — and we may have even crossed some rather scary climate tipping points. But there is hope. So today, we’re answering your questions about solving the climate crisis. We find out how you can help in the fight agai ... Show More
41m 30s
Aug 25
The trillion dollar paradox | George Zaidan
Global warming is very, very expensive: extreme weather, rising sea levels, crop failures, health issues, and industry disruptions all cost money. So, what’s the best way forward? Is the estimated trillion-dollar price tag that comes with transitioning the world to clean energy w ... Show More
9m 2s
Aug 2024
The Professor Banned From Speaking Out: "We Need To Start Preparing! The Terrifying Lessons Of Covid We’re Ignoring!" - Bret Weinstein
Are humans an endangered species? Just what can we do to survive extinction level challenges such as the sun, AI, or a nuclear war?  Dr Bret Weinstein is an evolutionary biologist and former professor at Evergreen State College. He is the co-host of the podcast, ‘DarkHorse’, and ... Show More
2h 50m
Sep 22
The sun will save us
Bill McKibben has spent four decades warning us about climate change. Much of what he predicted has come true. And yet, his new book Here Comes the Sun is more hopeful than you might expect. That’s because, for the first time, we have a genuine alternative: Solar and wind energy ... Show More
47m 8s
Jan 2025
Reintroducing… Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast
Outrage + Optimism is for anyone who is not ready to give up on making the world a better place. Feeling exhausted at the thought of keeping up with climate news ahead of this pivotal year? Join Christiana, Tom and Paul in their weekly conversations to make sense of it all, bring ... Show More
7 m
Sep 2024
A controversial play — and what it taught me about the psychology of climate | David Finnigan
When playwright David Finnigan staged a play titled "Kill Climate Deniers" in 2014, he knew it'd get a strong reaction. What he wasn't prepared for was the idea that the blowback might actually cause him to rethink his own response to climate change. But as he shares in this deli ... Show More
18m 42s
Sep 2024
Have We Crossed the Climate Tipping Point?
Headlines are screaming that the world is about to reach a climate tipping point, which feels like a point of no return where the climate is screwed and there's nothing we can do. But it turns out, that's wrong. These visions of a climate apocalypse don't align with the science. ... Show More
45m 3s
Jun 2025
Why climate action is unstoppable — and "climate realism" is a myth | Al Gore
In this urgent and hard-hitting talk, Nobel Laureate Al Gore thoroughly dismantles the fossil fuel industry’s narrative of "climate realism," contrasting their misleading claims with the remarkable advancements in renewable energy. Drawing on data showing clear signs of progress ... Show More
24m 29s
Jan 2025
Confused about climate? The essential terms you need to know
What’s an NDC? What does El Niño tell us about global temperatures this year? And why could a landmark ICJ ruling unlock a wave of climate legal cases? Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson break down the climate acronyms and buzzwords you need to know in 202 ... Show More
37m 36s
Sep 15
Will climate change make your home uninsurable? | Amy Barnes
Insurance is the hidden engine that keeps the economy churning, but climate change is making home insurance unaffordable for many people, says climate risk advisor Amy Barnes. She reveals why soaring premiums aren't just bad news for homeowners, but also a flashing red signal for ... Show More
10m 19s