Making Sense with Sam Harris #308 — The Long Game
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Jan 11, 2023 
In a fascinating conversation, Robert Waldinger, a Harvard psychiatrist and director of the renowned Harvard Study of Adult Development, shares groundbreaking insights on well-being and fulfillment. They discuss how relationships are more crucial to happiness than wealth and the impact of habits like alcohol and exercise on longevity. Waldinger also highlights the importance of mindfulness and experiences over material possessions, as well as the complexities of memory in shaping our happiness. This engaging dialogue reveals profound truths about human connections and what truly makes life meaningful.
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Study Cohorts
- The Harvard Study of Adult Development followed two groups of men from their teens into old age.
- One group consisted of Harvard undergrads, the other of underprivileged Boston youths.
Well-being Focus
- The Harvard study examines broad well-being, including physical and mental health, work, and relationships.
- It has incorporated new research methods over time, like DNA analysis and brain scans.
Data Collection Methods
- Self-reporting has limitations due to biases and omissions, though it provides valuable data.
- Supplementing it with spouse reports, video recordings, and biological data improves accuracy.
