📚 8 Books mentioned in "Justin Gregg on Animal Intelligence and Human Stupidity" of The Daily Stoic

Did you read the children's book 'Frederick' about the mouse? That sounds familiar.

In this segment, Ryan Holiday inquires whether guest Justin Gregg has read the children's book 'Frederick', which sparks a conversation about its themes and how they relate to their broader discussion.

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It's a pleasure to talk; I love the book. I found it very interesting.

In this episode, podcast host Ryan Holiday shares his admiration for the guest's book, describing it as very interesting. This comment sets the stage for a deeper discussion about the ideas presented in the book.

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But I argue in the book that we’re also terrible at feeling the consequences of long-term schemes. Our brains are still designed for making decisions in the here and now, just like animals.

In this segment, Justin Gregg discusses a point made in his book about how humans struggle to recognize the long-term consequences of their actions, highlighting a disconnect between our decision-making processes and the nature of long-term planning.

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In the book, I argue this isn't necessarily true with what we know from animal cognition, as they do have a bit of future planning. But for the most part, yes, that is true—we can think about our own deaths.

Justin Gregg discusses arguments he makes in his book regarding animal cognition and their capacity for future planning.

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I’m not sure; in the book, I make an advanced calculation. Thinking about your death and planning these legacy projects, like writing a book to be remembered for, guides our actions, which is great.

In this segment, guest Justin Gregg discusses an advanced calculation from his book that relates to planning for the future and the concept of human happiness.

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There’s a great book about it called 'The Pope’s Elephant.' But he loved this animal, and anyway, it was a white elephant if I’m remembering correctly.

In this episode, Ryan Holiday refers to 'The Pope’s Elephant,' a book that provides insight into an intriguing anecdote about an elephant adored by the Pope, and sets the stage for a larger narrative about this remarkable animal.

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That strikes me as essentially the exploration of this book, where animals are smart and humans are dumb, or where humans are smart and animals are dumb. That's a beautiful anecdote; that's exactly it.

In this segment, host Ryan Holiday discusses a story about a bear and a human interacting with trash cans, highlighting the themes of Justin Gregg's book on animal intelligence and the contrasting perceptions of human and animal smarts.

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That's why I chose Nietzsche for this book; that’s exactly what he talks about. If I’m not wrong, I think the Stoics said something similar: animals live in the moment and aren't weighed down by these other considerations, so in that moment, they are happier.

In this segment, Justin Gregg discusses his decision to include Nietzsche in his book, emphasizing how Nietzsche's ideas resonate with the themes being explored in the conversation.

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