#2586
Mentioned in 23 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 23 episodes

Mentioned by 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 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 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 Sam Harris as a new book discussing decision-making.
39 snips
#299 — Steps in the Right Direction
Mentioned by Ryan Holiday as the author of "Wild Problems", a book about life-changing decisions.
29 snips
Russ Roberts on Making Better Decisions
Mentioned by Russ Roberts as a book he enjoys having in his library.
28 snips
Minimalists and Hoarders (with Michael Easter)
Mentioned by Russ Roberts as his own book, discussing the concept of optimizing and its drawbacks.
25 snips
Kieran Setiya on Midlife
Mentioned by Russ Roberts as a source of insight on desires and self-understanding.
23 snips
Angela Duckworth on Character
Mentioned by Brett McKay as a guide to making life's biggest decisions.
23 snips
Grappling With Life's "Wild Problems"
The main subject of the episode, it discusses how to approach life's important decisions.
17 snips
Episode 300: Wild Problems

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