Mentioned in Podcasts

Episode · People I (Mostly) Admire · 2023-01-21

Steve Levitt & Sendhil Mullainathan: books mentioned on People I (Mostly) Admire #37

Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Time | Episode 37

7 books · With Sendhil Mullainathan · Watch on YouTube

Steve Levitt recommended Scarcity by Sendhil Mullainathan and others, The evolution of cooperation by Robert M. Axelrod, The strategy of conflict by Thomas C. Schelling, and Nudge by Richard H. Thaler and others, and discussed Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust and A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. Sendhil Mullainathan recommended Subtract by Leidy Klotz.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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  1. Remembrance of Things Past

    Marcel Proust · at 7:54

    Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust is a monumental multi-volume novel that explores themes of memory, time, and involuntary recollection triggered by sensory experiences.

    Discussed
    “and it reminds me of I'm not gonna ask if you read it but have you at least pretended to read Marcel pru's remembrance of things past”
    Steve Levitt Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Tim… 2023-01-21 Listen at 7:54
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. Scarcity

    Sendhil Mullainathan; Eldar Shafir · at 9:38 · mentioned 2 times

    Scarcity by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir is a psychological exploration of how having too little of things like money or time shapes human thinking, decision-making, and behavior.

    Recommended
    “you wrote a book and I know it must have been almost a decade ago and the book was called scarcity and I love the book I read it in two or three sittings”
    Steve Levitt Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Tim… 2023-01-21 Listen at 9:38
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  3. The evolution of cooperation

    Robert M. Axelrod · at 26:52

    The Evolution of Cooperation by Robert M. Axelrod is a foundational game theory text that explores how cooperation can emerge and thrive even in competitive environments without central authority.

    Recommended
    “the first one is a book called The Evolution of cooperation by Robert Axelrod and it is this amazing book on Game Theory”
    Steve Levitt Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Tim… 2023-01-21 Listen at 26:52
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  4. The strategy of conflict

    Thomas C. Schelling · at 27:30

    The Strategy of Conflict is a seminal non-fiction book by Thomas C. Schelling that applies game theory and strategic thinking to bargaining, deterrence, and conflict resolution.

    Recommended
    “this book is called conflict and strategy and it is a book of Game Theory with no math”
    Steve Levitt Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Tim… 2023-01-21 Listen at 27:30
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  5. Nudge

    Richard H. Thaler; Cass R. Sunstein · at 28:02

    Nudge by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein is a popular behavioral economics book that explores choice architecture and how subtle changes in environments can influence human decision-making and make life easier.

    Recommended
    “if I had to pick one I guess I would say Nudge by Richard thaler and kessenstein and the basic idea is so simple and so obvious”
    Steve Levitt Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Tim… 2023-01-21 Listen at 28:02
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  6. Subtract

    Leidy Klotz · at 30:12

    Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less by Leidy Klotz investigates the pervasive human cognitive bias toward addition and explores why removing elements often yields better solutions across engineering, business, and daily life.

    Recommended
    “there's this great book by Lighty clots it's called subtract it just came out it's awesome”
    Sendhil Mullainathan Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Tim… 2023-01-21 Listen at 30:12
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  7. A Brief History of Time

    Stephen Hawking · at 31:34 · mentioned 2 times

    Stephen Hawking's landmark popular science book has served as an iconic introduction to cosmology and black holes for millions of readers worldwide.

    Discussed
    “have ever told you the story of the Stephen Hawking book A Brief History of Time”
    Steve Levitt Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Tim… 2023-01-21 Listen at 31:34
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Ad read A tree grows in Brooklyn
“Stephen I've been thinking about a conversation that we had about A Tree Grows in Brooklyn you said you loved that book but you couldn't remember a single thing about it”
Speaker Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Tim… 2023-01-21 Listen at 23:55
Passing Thinking, Fast and Slow
“I'm hoping his editor is kind of like thinking fast and slow yeah”
Steve Levitt Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Tim… 2023-01-21 Listen at 31:48
Link to this list from the episode’s show notes

For the whole show, see the People I (Mostly) Admire page.