Episode · Freakonomics Radio · 2020-12-24
Books mentioned on 445. Why Do We Seek Comfort in the Familiar?
In this episode of No Stupid Questions — a Freakonomics Radio Network show launched earlier this year — Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth debate why we watch, read, and eat familiar things during a crisis, and if it might in fact be better to try new things instead.
Stephen Dubner discussed A tree grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Angela Duckworth discussed Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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A tree grows in Brooklyn
A tree grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is a classic coming-of-age novel depicting a young girl growing up in poverty in early twentieth-century Williamsburg.
Discussed“And there are other people who are like, no, I'm going to reread A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.”
Where to get it
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Thinking, Fast and Slow
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman is a popular science book exploring behavioral economics, cognitive biases, and the dual systems that drive human thought.
Discussed“So Dunning-Kruger reminds me of something that Danny Kahneman wrote in his book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, which is a line I really love.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“She's the author of the book Grit, and she is an excellent person to have a conversation with, even if she does win just about every argument.”