This chapter discusses the concept of regret and its influence on behavior, questioning its usefulness in helping us improve. It also explores the idea that our experiences and hardships shape who we are, and changing any one of them would fundamentally alter our identity. The chapter delves into the human tendency to cope with suffering by accepting and embracing the notion that our experiences have made us who we are.
How did a husband-and-wife vacation end up saving a city from the atomic bomb while destroying another? And how did a century-old murder of one family bring another into existence? Easily, explains political scientist Brian Klaas of University College London, who points out that history is replete with chance events that profoundly shaped both society and individual lives. Listen as Klaas discusses his book Fluke with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. Klaas argues that recognizing the randomness of everyday life and history can lead to a newfound appreciation for the meaning of every decision, and to a focus on joyful experimentation instead of relentless optimization.