Published in 1854, 'Walden; Or, Life in the Woods' is a series of 18 essays that reflect Thoreau's experiences living in a small cabin near Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. The book is a personal declaration of independence, a social experiment, and a voyage of spiritual discovery. Thoreau details his life in the woods, discussing the construction of his cabin, his daily activities, and his philosophical reflections on economy, social relations, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. The work is considered a cornerstone of American literature and a foundational text in the Transcendentalist movement, emphasizing the benefits of a simplified lifestyle and the importance of individual freedom and self-reliance[2][4][5].
In Richer, Wiser, Happier, William Green draws on interviews conducted over twenty-five years with many of the world’s greatest investors. The book highlights that the most successful investors are mavericks and iconoclasts who question conventional wisdom and think rationally, rigorously, and objectively. They maximize their odds of long-term success in markets and life by drawing insights from diverse fields such as neuroscience, economic history, psychology, philosophy, and more. Green explains how these investors can teach us not only how to become rich but also how to improve our thinking, decision-making, risk assessment, and resilience, and how to turn uncertainty to our advantage.
In this episode, William Green welcomes back Pico Iyer, one of his all-time favorite guests. Pico is a famed author & speaker whose TED talks have been viewed about 12 million times. Here, he discusses his new book, “Aflame,” which explores how to find peace of mind, happiness & clarity amid extreme uncertainty & accelerating change. This episode is a masterclass on creating a richer, wiser, happier life while living by what Warren Buffett calls an inner scorecard.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
00:00 - Intro
04:31 - How to find calm & clarity in the midst of uncertainty & change.
14:39 - How silence helps to “cleanse” our agitated, cluttered minds.
19:09 - Why Pico Iyer has stayed at a monastery more than 100 times.
28:02 - Why the greatest luxury comes from craving less, not more.
31:53 - How he designs his life to maximize freedom & fulfillment.
35:50 - Why he loves Warren Buffett’s idea of living by an inner scorecard.
52:41 - How the greatest investors remind Pico of monks.
01:10:28 - How to create more spaciousness in your own busy life.
01:18:25 - How to achieve more by doing less & taking time to reflect.
01:23:05 - Why it’s helpful to view investing as a game.
01:51:27 - How Leonard Cohen rebounded after losing almost all his money.
01:51:27 - How to maintain hope—& gratitude—in the face of adversity.
01:57:55 - What Pico has learned from his long friendship with the Dalai Lama.
Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences.
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