Edward Slingerland is a University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia. He has authored a number of books, including 'Trying Not to Try' and 'Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization'. He joins the show to discuss the paradox of effortless action, the history of Chinese philosophy, the benefits of alcohol, and a whole lot more. Important Links:

Show Notes:

The paradox of trying not to try
Western equivalents to wu-wei
The difference between wu-wei and flow
How to cultivate wu-wei
How technology makes it harder to find wu-wei
Why were Confucianism and Daoism so successful?
Utilitarianism, China and the panopticon
The right amount of rationality, choking
Shutting down the prefrontal cortext
The evolutionary origins of our love of alcohol
The power of psychedelics
Ecological niches, cooperation, creativity and honesty
An alternative model of honesty
Stop pushing so hard, go walk in the woods

Books Mentioned:

Trying Not to Try: The Ancient Art of Effortlessness and the Surprising Power of Spontaneity; by Edward Slingerland
Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization; by Edward Slingerland
The Dao De Jing; by Laozi
The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better; by Will Storr
The Master and His Emissary; by Iain McGilchrist
Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To; by Sian Beilock
The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name; by Brian C. Muraresku

December 4, 2025

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