Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a physician and sociologist from Yale, offers deep insights into the COVID-19 pandemic and human nature. He discusses how the crisis reveals our inherent goodness, which the virus exploits. Christakis explores the phases of the pandemic, emphasizing collective responsibility and the challenges of recovery. He also delves into ethical dilemmas we face and the dual nature of humanity, highlighting the importance of cooperation and social behavior. His books, 'Apollo's Arrow' and 'Blueprint', frame the conversation around our resilience and the potential for positive evolution in society.
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Pandemic Timeline
The COVID-19 pandemic will unfold in three phases: immediate (now-end of 2021), intermediate (end of 2021-end of 2023), and post-pandemic (2024 onwards).
Each phase has distinct characteristics, from the initial spread and vaccination efforts to the long-term social and economic recovery.
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Herd Immunity's Ripple Effects
Reaching herd immunity won't instantly bring things back to normal; economic, social, and psychological recovery will take time.
Schools, businesses, and healthcare systems will experience lasting effects, requiring ongoing adjustments.
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Leadership and Public Health
Politicians often struggle to communicate effectively about slowly rising threats, leading to public health messaging challenges.
The American public's response to the pandemic was hampered by a lack of clear leadership and a reluctance to accept difficult truths.
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We all remember that fateful week, almost exactly a year ago, when it all seemed to sink in for so many of us–when Tom Hanks got sick, the NBA suspended games, and the (now former) President addressed the nation in primetime. The big question now is: When and how will this plague end? My guest today has a clear vision for how things are likely to play out from from here. His name is Dr. Nicholas Christakis. He’s a physician, sociologist, and director of the Human Nature Lab at Yale University. He’s written a number of books, but there are two that we will discuss in this episode. His latest is called Apollo's Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live. The other book we’re going to talk about is on a related subject. It’s called Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society. In it, Christakis argues that human beings are fundamentally good. In fact, as you will hear, it is our goodness that the virus exploits. One more order of business: when COVID began affecting our lives, most of us were in immediate crisis, wondering about the answers to very basic questions: How do I get food safely? How do I care for my children and/or do my job under less-than-ideal circumstances? Will my loved ones and I be safe? In response to our changing reality, we’ve used this podcast to help you figure out how to navigate our new world. We’ve spoken with experts about how to cope with this crisis, from dealing with anxiety and grief to parenting in a pandemic to worries about money. As you know, the practice of meditation undergirds all of the practical takeaways you hear us discuss on this podcast–and as you may or may not know, many of our podcast guests have contributed to our companion meditation app. We hope that you'll subscribe to the Ten Percent Happier app to learn how to care for yourself and others during crises (which are, after all, inevitable). To make it easier, we're offering 40% off the price of an annual subscription for our podcast listeners. We don’t do discounts of this size all the time, and of course nothing is permanent—so get this deal before it ends on April 1st by going to to https://www.tenpercent.com/march for 40% off your subscription. Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/nicholas-christakis-330
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