Astral Codex Ten Podcast Book Review: Selfish Reasons To Have More Kids
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Jun 3, 2025 The discussion delves into Bryan Caplan's insights on parenting and its surprising ease. Humorous personal anecdotes illuminate the exhaustion of parenting twins. There's a critical look at how modern parents invest more time in childcare yet face mixed outcomes. The idea of free-range parenting is championed, reflecting on childhood freedom's decline. Additionally, the challenges of technology in parenting are examined, emphasizing a balance between screen time and traditional engagement.
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Parenting Effort vs. Genetic Impact
- Bryan Caplan argues parents spend more effort parenting than past generations hoping for better kids.
- Behavioral genetics shows parenting makes little difference; genes and randomness matter more.
Modern Parents Spend More Time
- Parenting time has increased significantly since 1960 for both fathers and mothers.
- University education correlates with more time spent parenting compared to non-university educated parents.
Understanding Secondary Childcare
- Secondary childcare (while doing other tasks) accounts for significant reported childcare time.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics data suggests parents provide over 5 hours daily of secondary childcare with children under 13.
