#842
Mentioned in 25 episodes

Wild Problems

A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us
Book • 2022
In 'Wild Problems,' Russ Roberts addresses the big, uncertain decisions in life—such as who to marry, whether to have children, where to move, and how to forge a life well-lived—that cannot be solved using data, science, or traditional rational approaches.

He suggests focusing less on the path that promises the most happiness and more on figuring out who you actually want to be.

Roberts draws on the experiences of great artists, writers, and scientists to lay out strategies for reducing fear and the loss of control when facing these 'wild problems.

' He argues that life should be experienced as a mystery rather than a problem to be solved, and he critiques the idea of relying solely on cost-benefit analysis and utilitarianism for making life's major decisions.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 25 episodes

Mentioned by
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Chris Williamson
as the author of a book about the limits of economic theory.
80 snips
#548 - Tim Harford - Why Is Thinking Clearly So Difficult?
Mentioned by
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Jonah Goldberg
as a book he was diving into recently and had
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Russ Roberts
on the show previously to discuss.
73 snips
A Return to Econ 101 | Interview: Russ Roberts
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
in relation to his book on the human experience.
70 snips
A User's Guide to Our Emotional Thermostat (with Adam Mastroianni)
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
as a book he wrote, aiming to help people make better decisions.
66 snips
Adam Mastroianni on the Brain, the Ears, and How We Learn
Mentioned by
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Chris Williamson
as the basis for this podcast episode.
61 snips
#531 - Russ Roberts - An Economist’s Guide To Life’s Big Decisions
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
as his book discussing his decision to move to Israel.
47 snips
Terrorism, Israel, and Dreams of Peace (with Haviv Rettig Gur)
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
when discussing his own book.
47 snips
Johnathan Bi on Mimesis and René Girard
Mentioned by
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Sam Harris
as a new book discussing decision-making.
39 snips
#299 — Steps in the Right Direction
Mentioned by
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Peter Boettke
as the author of "Wild Problems."
31 snips
Who Won the Socialist Calculation Debate (with Peter Boettke)
Mentioned by
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Ryan Holiday
as the author of "Wild Problems", a book about life-changing decisions.
29 snips
Russ Roberts on Making Better Decisions
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
as a book he enjoys having in his library.
28 snips
Minimalists and Hoarders (with Michael Easter)
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
as his own book, discussing the concept of optimizing and its drawbacks.
25 snips
Kieran Setiya on Midlife
Mentioned by
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Brett McKay
as a guide to making life's biggest decisions.
23 snips
Grappling With Life's "Wild Problems"
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
when discussing advice on conversations.
23 snips
Monica Guzman on Curiosity and Conversation in Contentious Times
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
as a source of insight on desires and self-understanding.
23 snips
Angela Duckworth on Character
The main subject of the episode, it discusses how to approach life's important decisions.
17 snips
Episode 300: Wild Problems
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
as a book he wrote, referencing
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Jessica Todd Harper
's quote.
14 snips
Jessica Todd Harper on Beauty, Family, and Photography
Mentioned by
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Russ Roberts
in relation to decision-making in life.
12 snips
Luca Dellanna on Compulsion, Self-deception, and the Brain

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