Episode · EconTalk · 2023-08-14
Books mentioned on Adam Mastroianni on the Brain, the Ears, and How We Learn
Psychologist and writer Adam Mastroianni says our minds are like the keep of a castle protecting our deepest held values and beliefs from even the most skilled attacks. The only problem with this design for self-preservation is that it also can keep out wisdom that might be both useful and true.
Russ Roberts discussed Excellent Advice for Living by Kevin Kelly and The Odyssey.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Excellent Advice for Living
Excellent Advice for Living by Kevin Kelly is a popular book of concise maxims, rules of thumb, and wisdom covering careers, relationships, parenting, finances, and personal innovation.
Discussed“I had Kevin Kelly on the program recently he wrote a book called excellent advice for living wisdom I I wish I'd known earlier I really enjoyed that book it's a set of aphorisms many of them I think are true almost all of them and they're put in very witty and memorable formats to help you uh remember them”
Where to get it
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The Odyssey
The Odyssey by Homer is an epic ancient Greek poem that follows Odysseus on his long, perilous journey home after the Trojan War, remaining one of history's most influential foundational narratives.
Discussed“yeah I've spoken about the how much I love the Odyssey by Homer and the Robert figures translation um a listener having heard that said he doesn't need to read it he read the comic book and he doesn't know what happens to Odysseus on his attempt to get home”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“I think about this because you know I wrote a book called wild problems supposed to help you make decisions think about decision making I think deep down somewhere in my thinking about the book I thought you know this is going to be a book that older and wiser people like grandparents will give to their younger grandchildren”