In 'The Unpersuadables', Will Storr embarks on a journey to understand why some people cling to extreme beliefs despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Storr interviews individuals holding controversial viewpoints, from Holocaust deniers to climate change skeptics, seeking to uncover the psychological roots of their convictions. He explores the roles of identity, emotion, and social influence in shaping these beliefs, revealing the complex interplay between reason and irrationality. The book delves into the cognitive biases and defense mechanisms that reinforce deeply held views. Through his encounters, Storr challenges readers to confront their own biases and consider the limits of human reason. Ultimately, 'The Unpersuadables' offers insights into the nature of belief and the challenges of changing minds in a polarized world.
In this book, Joseph Henrich explores how Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations developed their unique psychological profiles. He argues that changes in family structures, marriage, and religion, particularly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, led to the emergence of WEIRD psychology. This psychology is characterized by individualism, self-obsession, control-orientation, nonconformity, and analytical thinking, which contrast with the more group-focused and shame-driven cultures of non-Western societies. Henrich uses research from anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology to explain how these psychological differences contributed to the industrial revolution and the global expansion of Europe[1][4][5].
In this groundbreaking book, David Deutsch argues that explanations have a fundamental place in the universe and that improving them is the basic regulating principle of all successful human endeavor. The book takes readers on a journey through various fields of science, history of civilization, art, moral values, and the theory of political institutions. Deutsch explains how we form new explanations and drop bad ones, and discusses the conditions under which progress, which he argues is potentially boundless, can and cannot happen. He emphasizes the importance of good explanations, which he defines as those that are 'hard to vary' and have 'reach', and argues that these explanations are central to the Enlightenment way of thinking and to all scientific and philosophical progress.
In this book, Howard Bloom presents a compelling argument that capitalism, despite its imperfections, is a system that allows the best and brightest to emerge. He advocates for reviving businesses by injecting them with emotion, desire, and passion. Bloom draws on his diverse experiences, from his work in popular culture to his insights into human and mass behavior, to illustrate how all life, from bacteria to human beings, is programmed to flourish under the free market system. The book is filled with personal anecdotes and historical examples, making it both captivating and thought-provoking.
In *The Lucifer Principle*, Howard Bloom explores the intricate relationships among genetics, human behavior, and culture, positing that 'evil' is a by-product of nature's strategies for creation. He argues that social groups, or 'superorganisms,' are the primary units of selection, and that competition between these groups drives much of human history. Bloom draws on a wide range of historical, anthropological, and biological research to support his thesis.
This novel follows the life of Billy Pilgrim, a chaplain's assistant in the U.S. Army during World War II. Billy becomes 'unstuck in time' and experiences his life out of order, including his time as a prisoner of war in Dresden during the Allied firebombing. The book is a powerful anti-war statement, blending Vonnegut's own experiences with science fiction elements, such as Billy's abduction by aliens from Tralfamadore. It explores themes of post-traumatic stress, the absurdity of war, and the human condition, using Vonnegut's characteristic black humor and fatalistic tone.
Hello everyone, Jim here. We're taking a brief two-week break from new episodes to spotlight a couple of golden oldies from the archive. Years later, these remain some of my favorite conversations. We’ll be back soon with fresh episodes, but in the meantime, here's my September 2022 chat with the always interesting Will Storr.
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Will Storr is an award winning journalist and author. His book ‘The Status Game’ transforms our understanding of human nature by demonstrating how our unconscious desire for status ultimately drives our behaviour. Important Links:
Show Notes:
- Will’s origin story
- The strange case of David Irving
- The fundamental nature of status games
- The Stanford prison experiment and dominance games
- The status games played by cults
- Luxury beliefs
- Why we are all moral hypocrites
- The importance of being funny
- Social status and socioeconomic status
- Human OS and the education system
- How status seeking leads to the “very best of human nature”
- The murderous nature of reputation destruction
- The post WW1 humiliation of Germany
- Loaded magazine
- Finding the true reason behind seemingly crazy beliefs
- The value of religion
- Trading status
- Spreading humility
- Why we could be wrong about our closest beliefs
Books Mentioned:
- The Unpersuadables: Adventures with the Enemies of Science; by Will Storr
- The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History; by Howard Bloom
- The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom
- The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous; by Joseph Henrich
- The Science of Storytelling; by Will Storr
- Slaughterhouse-Five; by Kurt Vonnegut
- Selfie: How We Became so Self-Obsessed and What It’s Doing to Us; by Will Storr
- The Status Game: On Social Position and How We Use It; by Will Storr
Infinite Loops 
