Why people recommend it
Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright is an exploration of evolutionary psychology and Buddhist philosophy that examines how ancient meditative practices align with modern scientific understandings of the mind. On Modern Wisdom, host Chris Williamson frequently praised the text, noting how it brilliantly connects evolutionary psychology to why meditation works and why eastern philosophy holds enduring truths. Williamson mentioned the book while discussing personal relationships, business stress, and the choice between sitting with the discomfort of mental afflictions versus being ruled by them. He also highlighted a poignant quote about happiness and self-awareness. Similarly, Sam Harris discussed Robert Wright's book on Modern Wisdom during a broader conversation on deconstructing religious thinking, and Matthew Kobach engaged in a discussion about it after Williamson recommended it as a must-read for anyone interested in why meditation and eastern philosophy have validity. Furthermore, Williamson brought up the book to explore the psychological concept of the mind operating as a collection of modules from an evolutionary perspective. The work consistently resonates with podcasters and guests seeking to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom traditions and contemporary psychological insights about human suffering.
Who recommended it
- Chris Williamson Recommended
- Ryan Holiday Discussed
- Michael Shermer Discussed
- Coleman Ruiz Discussed
- Gad Saad Discussed
- David Pinsof Discussed
- Sam Harris Recommended
- Ryan Bush Discussed
- Matthew Kobach Recommended
- Matt Maruca Discussed
- Taylor Pearson Discussed
Chris Williamson — 12 mentions
“Yeah, this is gorgeous idea from Robert Wright's Why Buddhism Is True.”
“I think Robert Wright in why Buddhism is true evolutionary psychologist who then pivoted to do mindfulness a lot of retreats”
“There's this gorgeous idea from Robert Wright's Why Buddhism is True. That's a nice book.”
“the first time I ever learned about that was in Robert Wright's why Buddhism is true oh yeah he he crushed with that book that was so good”
“then he wrote another one called Why Buddhism is true and in it he he quotes this Buddhist thinker who says ultimately in life happiness comes down to the decision between choosing to become aware of our mental afflictions or the decision to be ruled by them.”
“I just kept I I kept on seeing the same patterns come up in my personal relationships in the way that I deal with my business in how I feel when I record the podcast sitting in discomfort especially emotionally … there's this really phenomenal quote I took from … Robert Wes why Buddhism is true and he says is”
“I saw a quote from Robert Wright's why Buddhism is true which says humans are designed to be effective not happy”
“yes uh Robert writes why Buddhism is true in that he talks about um life is suffering said by the Buddha and the word Dua dukha contested by some Scholars as not meaning suffering but unsatisfactoriness life is unsatisfactoriness”
“This really interesting line from Robert Wright's book Why Buddhism is True where he says that the original reading of life is suffering by the Buddha.”
“did you take your section on dukabias from robert writes why buddhism is true a big part of it yeah i mean i quoted him in it”
“have you read buddhism is true by robert wright why believe is true dude you would adore it so imagine yeah imagine the moral animal and then adapt the evolutionary psychology to why meditation works and why eastern philosophy has some truths to it highly recommended to anyone who's listening”
“and there's this quote from why Budd Buddhism is true which is unbelievable and it ties into so much stuff and it ties into kind of what you're saying this book by Robert Wright and it's a rache quote that says ultimately happiness comes down to choosing between the discomfort of becoming aware of your mental afflictions or the discomfort”
Ryan Holiday — 2 mentions
“maybe how i've started to think about it too is it's like and i think you talk about this and why buddhism is true it's like you should be able to be mindful and philosophical as you let's say do the dishes or uh sit in traffic”
“well this is more common in in your philosophy than mine but you know the sort of maybe a metaphor here is the the buddhist retreat”
Michael Shermer — 2 mentions
“you know there's other people like sam harris at bob right has a new book out called why buddhism is true”
“there's a number of books you know Bob Wright's book Buddhism is true and so on what do you mean it's true”
Coleman Ruiz — 1 mention
“I don't know him personally, so public stuff notwithstanding, that's not important to me, but 'Waking Up' and I took an online course with Robert Wright, who wrote 'Why Buddhism is True.'”
Gad Saad — 1 mention
“I read a Robert writes why Buddhism is true and that really helped that was one of the first books that I read that kind of helped to frame it”
David Pinsof — 1 mention
“Robert writes why Buddhism is true which I know that you're a fan of as well”
Sam Harris — 1 mention
“I really enjoyed Robert Wright's book yeah yeah why Buddhism is true”
Ryan Bush — 1 mention
“the duka bias as you've called it is um ever since i read that man in robert wright's book it's been one of those ground shake moments”
Matthew Kobach — 1 mention
“Have you read buddhism is true by robert wright”
Matt Maruca — 1 mention
“and there's this quote from why Budd Buddhism is true which is unbelievable and it ties into so much stuff and it ties into kind of what you're saying here this book by Robert Wright”
Taylor Pearson — 1 mention
“and there's this um the partitioned brain approach which is in why buddhism is true by robert wright and he talks about the modular brain”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- The Moral Animal
- Waking Up
- Atomic Habits
- Heavens on Earth
- The Book of Mormon
- The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I had um Robert Wright who wrote the moral animal and why Buddhism is true had him on for his new AI book this week or last week and uh we haven't spoken for 5 years.”
“and then at number four the only debut to the list is by Robert Wright and it is the new book why Buddhism is true”
“at the same time I have found since writing my book about uh Buddhism why Buddhism is true that a a number of people respond”