Podcasts about cass r

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk to historian and author Chris Kempshall about how Star Wars is rooted in politics and anti-facism, and has been since the beginning. Chris Kempshall joins us to talk about the definition of fascism and how to rebel against it. Star Wars may be fiction but there's plenty of timely lessons, especially in the recently completed show Andor. How can that help us understand what's happening in American politics? Can we practice resistance in an immersive environment like Galaxy's Edge and use it to talk about the ongoing ICE raids? Is there reason to hope? And of course we chat about Order 66. Show Links: Check out Chris's books "The History and Politics of Star Wars" and "The First World War In Computer Games." The books Chris recommended are "The Empire Triumphant" by Kevin J. Wetmore and "The World According to Star Wars" by Cass R. Sunstein. Listen to Chris's earlier appearance on the podcast in our Andor season 1 panel. Chris also joined James's panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 "Droids, AI, and Sentience." You can order James's crossword puzzle book now! For a free puzzle, download the activity kit from Star Wars Reads! Subscribe to never miss an episode of Star Warsologies on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did you miss an earlier episode? Catch up here! Follow us on BlueSky and Instagram or join our Facebook fan group! Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.

We make a countless number of decisions every day – but unfortunately, we often choose unwisely. Behavioral economist Richard Thaler has dedicated his life's work to understanding why that is. In 2017, Thaler received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to the field of behavioral economics. His book, “Nudge,” co-authored by Cass R. Sunstein, shows that it's not possible for choices to be presented to us in a neutral way. The book demonstrates how to best nudge us in the right directions, without restricting our freedom of choice. Richard Thaler is a professor of behavioral science and economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He's a member of the National Academy of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He's been published in many prominent journals, and he's also the author of “Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics.” Originally published in December 2021. Watch this episode at youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle.  

Matt speaks with Ethan Nadelmann about vaping, e-cigarettes, and pouch nicotine alternatives to cigarettes within the broader context of health policy and the drug war. They discuss the misconceptions surrounding nicotine, harm reduction strategies, and how opposition to non-combustible nicotine mirrors past drug war policies. Ethan highlights international case studies, the role of public health organizations, and the influence of figures like Michael Bloomberg in shaping the global discourse - and misinformation - around alternatives to cigarettes. References "Thinking Seriously About Alternatives to Drug Prohibition" by Ethan Nadelmann https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20027122.pdf "The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction" (KAC Reports) https://gsthr.org/ "High Price" by Carl Hart https://a.co/d/inDX5Gi  "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein https://www.amazon.ca/dp/014311526X "Ending the War on Drugs: A Solution for America" by Dirk Chase Eldredge https://a.co/d/bIGQpJ6  Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.  

2025. gada ģeovieta ir Latvijā augstākā kāpa – Pūsēnu kalns. Tā atrodas Nīcas pagastā, un savulaik tā daļēji tika norakta, veidojot karjeru. Ko šādas vietas stāsta par seniem procesiem Latvijas teritorijā? Cik tālu sauszemē iestiepjas kāpas un ko šādas ģeovietas pasaka par cilvēka darbību? Raidījumā Zināmais nezinājamā sarunājas Latvijas Universitātes Eksakto zinātņu un tehnoloģiju fakultātes asociētais profesors Ģirts Stinkulis, Daugavpils universitātes asociētais profesors Juris Soms un vides gids, kurš pats arī dzīvo Nīcas pagastā, Andris Maisiņš. Pūsēnu kalns ir viena no kāpām, kas ietilpst Papes-Jūrmalciema-Bernātu kompleksajā kāpu grēdā. Šajā grēdā izšķir divus – Papes-Jūrmalciema un Jūrmalciema-Bernātu kāpu posmus. Šos posmus pa vidu pārrauj aptuveni 1,5 km garš pārpūsto smilšu iecirknis, kas izveidojies pirms vairāk nekā 300 gadiem pēc mežu izciršanas un ugunsgrēka. Abus kāpu posmus raksturo gar jūras krastu paralēli esošu kāpu grēda, kas ir veidojusies pēdējo Baltijas jūras stadiju laikā. Dziļāk sauszemē seko otrs kāpu valnis, kas ir vēja deformēto parabolisko un tām līdzīgo kāpu grēda. Šīs kāpas tiek saistītas ar Litorīnas jūras stadiju, un tās norobežojušas lagūnu joslu līdzenumu no jūras. No kāpas virsotnes karjera nogāzes pusē paveras lielisks skats uz apkārtējo ainavu – pāri pamestajai karjera teritorijai un apmežotai piejūras kāpu joslai redzama jūra. Gada ģeovietas nosaukums tiek piešķirts ar mērķi pievērst sabiedrības uzmanību Latvijas īpašajiem ģeoloģiskajiem veidojumiem un to problēmām, sniegt par tiem informāciju, rosināt vietas tālāku izpēti, atjaunošanu, sakopšanu un labiekārtošanu. Plānots, ka publisks izglītojošs pasākums, kas veltīts Latvijas 2025. gada ģeovietai, notiks pie Gada ģeovietas oktobra sākumā, kad pasaulē atzīmē Ģeodaudzveidības dienu. Bet vispirms vēl vienu šī gada varoni – gada koku. Šis gods ticis gobai.  Iemesls nominācijai ir ne pārāk iepriecinošs, jo gobu skaits Latvijā samazinās šo koku kaites ietekmē – tā sauktās Gobu Holandes slimības dēļ. Vairāk par gada koku un to, kā gobu atšķirt gobu no tās radinieces vīksnas, stāsta Latvijas dendrologu biedrības pārstāvis Gvido Leiburgs. Latvijas Dendrologu biedrība par Gada koku 2025 izvēlējusies parasto gobu, izceļot šī koka nozīmīgumu un pievēršot uzmanību arvien aktuālajai gobu Holandes slimības izplatībai. Gobas mūsdienās ir apdraudētas gan individuālu koku, gan mežaudžu līmenī. Parastā goba ir majestātisks vasarzaļš gobu dzimtas koks, kas savvaļā sastopams visā Latvijas teritorijā – tā teikts biedrības izplatītājā paziņojumā. Taču šobrīd gobu nemaz tik daudz nav, jo Pēc Valsts meža dienesta 2023. gada datiem mežaudzes, kur valdošā koku suga ir goba vai vīksna, ir tikai 0,07% no visiem Latvijas mežiem. Un te vainīga ir jau minētā slimība, kad sadarbojoties sēnei ar tādu vaboli kā gremzdgrauzi, koki nokalst. Pirms aplūkojam sīkāk šo koku bojāejas cēloni, koku eksperts un Latvijas dendrologu biedrības pārstāvis Gvido Leiburgs stāsta, kā var atšķirt abas gobu ģintij piederošās sugas, proti, gobu un vīksnu, kas ir visai līdzīgas pēc izskata. Savukārt raidījuma ievadā savā grāmatplauktā ļauj ielūkoties pētnieks Andris Saulītis. Latvijas Universitātes Filozofijas un socioloģijas institūta vadošais pētnieks Andris Saulītis iepazīstina ar amerikāņu jurisprudences pētnieka Kesa Sanstīna grāmatu par birokrātiju un to, kas tajā ir analītiski maināms. (Cass R. Sunstein. "Sludge. What Stops Us from Getting Things Done and What to Do about It"). Tās latviskais nosaukums varētu būt "Šķēršļi, kas aptur mūs paveikt lietas un ko ar to iesākt". Šis populārzinātniskais darbs apliecina, ka pārmaiņas likumos var panākt, dažādu nozaru pārstāvjiem sadarbojoties. Interesentiem pieejama gan drukātā versija, gan elektroniskā versija. Pētnieks norāda, ka Latvijas bibliotēku kopkatalogā šo izdevumu nav atradis, bet sola dot ziņu Latvijas Nacionālajai bibliotēkai, kuras darbinieki ir atvērti grāmatu ieteikumiem.

Notes: Here are the previous end of year review and new year intention setting podcast episodes:- Episode 220: Our words and intentions for 2024- Episode 219: Our 2023 Recap- Episode 171: Look out 2023- Episode 170: Looking back of 2022- Episode 121: Our 2022 intentions- Episode 120: A look back on 2021 - Episode 68: Intentions for 2021- Episode 67: Let's talk about 2020 and 2021- Episode 10: Choosing a word for the year- Episode 9: The one where we talk about goals, habits, and the New YearBooks and Films Mentioned:- Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There by Tali Sharot and Cass R. Sunstein - https://www.amazon.com/Look-Again-Power-Noticing-Always/dp/1668008203/ Music from: https://filmmusic.io 'Friendly day' by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

In this episode, I explore how architectural thinking enhances strategic decision-making with Adam Griff. Our conversation reveals how his architectural background shapes his approach to helping higher education institutions navigate complex decisions and create flexible space solutions. We dig into the challenges of designing spaces that can adapt to unknown futures and discuss how universities can better integrate with their communities.  I particularly love how Adam frames flexibility in building design as creating platforms for future adaptations rather than just multi-purpose spaces. We also explore the tension between academic and organizational decision-making and how to create and decide while delivering innovation in higher education. Questions This Episode Helps You Answer How does thinking like an architect help organizations make better strategic decisions? What makes flexibility essential in both physical spaces and organizational processes, and how can we intentionally design for it from the beginning? What elements create environments where good decisions emerge, and how can we support better decision-making outcomes? How do we determine whether physical space is the best solution for achieving our organizational goals, and what questions should we ask before investing in space? How can we think about buildings as adaptable platforms that support evolving human needs rather than fixed structures with predetermined uses? How might universities and colleges create meaningful connections between campus development and community growth that benefit both? What strategies help organizations balance the need for scholarly rigor with efficient administrative decision-making, and how can these different approaches work together effectively? Episode Highlights [00:00] Introduction and background on Adam Griff [01:38] How architectural thinking shapes strategic problem-solving [04:17] Managing diverse stakeholders in higher education contexts [05:35] Understanding people's needs versus asking for solutions [07:31] Orchestrating organizational decision-making [09:13] The importance of decision-making culture in institutions [11:20] Building trust and managing participation in decisions [14:15] Creating shared understanding of evidence and good decisions [17:04] Balancing organizational conditions with decision quality [19:38] Making decisions with incomplete information [21:36] Academic versus administrative approaches to decisions [24:40] Rethinking flexibility in organizational strategy [25:25] Space as a medium for service delivery [26:51] Designing buildings as platforms for adaptation [29:14] Lifecycle costs and sustainable building design [30:48] Integration of campus and community development [33:31] Responding to demographic changes in higher education [35:33] Finding what is "uniquely possible" for institutions [39:12] Moving from master planning to scenario-based "playbooks" [41:09] Closing thoughts and connecting with Adam   Questions to Help You Go Deeper Learning How does architectural thinking about constraints and systems change your approach to organizational challenges? What surprised you about our discussion of decision-making quality? Why? Leading How might you redesign decision-making environments in your organization? What would change if you approached strategic planning as creating a playbook rather than a rigid strategic plan? Applying What's one small experiment you could run next week to improve your team's decision-making space? Choose a current project or challenge. How might it benefit from thinking about systems and constraints like an architect? Practicing How will you incorporate the "Is space the right medium?" question into your solution development process? What is one idea from the episode that you will apply in the next two two weeks? Guest Resources Adam on LinkedIn Adam on Academia Gamification: How to Play Gensler Gensler Research & Insights Stewart Brand's "How Buildings Learn" The High Line, NYC Higher education demographic/enrollment cliff Scenario planning methodologies COM-B behavior change model Stranded assets   Resources I Recommend DT101 Episodes Radical Participatory Design + Relationships in Complex Systems Inclusive Design with Victor Udoewa — DT101 E127 Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change with Julie Dirksen — DT101 E131 Healthcare Design: Evidence-based, Business Fluent, and Change Prepared with Matt Van Der Tuyn — DT101 E140 Books Brown, Peter C., Henry L. Roediger, and Mark A. McDaniel. Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Cambridge, Mass: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014. -- Orchestrating good decisions requires understanding how people learn. Before people can decide about something new they must learn the information they need to know to make a good decision and what constitutes a good decision in this context. Read chapter 8. Ariely, Dan. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. Revised and Expanded edition, First Harper Perennial edition published. Harper Business & Economics. New York: Harper Perennial, 2010. -- Ariely walks you through ways we make decisions that conflict with classic economic rationality, like: The Effect of Expectations: Our preconceptions and expectations significantly influence our experiences and decisions. For instance, people report greater pain relief from more expensive placebos, demonstrating how price can affect perceived value. The Cost of Ownership: Once we own something, we tend to overvalue it (the "endowment effect"). Heath, Chip, and Dan Heath. Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work. New York: Random House Books, 2014. -- Don't trust your gut. It hates you. You'll learn how to slow down and avoid becoming a cautionary tale like the ones in this book. Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. First paperback edition. Psychology/Economics. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013. -- "Thinking, Fast and Slow" reveals how our minds use both quick instincts and careful analysis to make choices, helping innovators design solutions that work with human psychology rather than against it. Thaler, Richard H., and Cass R. Sunstein. Nudge: Improving Decisions about Money, Health, and the Environment. Final edition. New York: Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021. -- Nudge "Nudge" reveals how small changes in how choices are presented can dramatically impact decision-making and behavior at scale, while preserving freedom of choice.   I'd love to hear what insights you're taking away from this exploration of architecture, strategy, and organizational design. Share your thoughts and stay updated at https://fluidhive.com/design-thinking-101-podcast/  Stay lucky ~ Dawan  

In this episode, I explore how architectural thinking enhances strategic decision-making with Adam Griff. Our conversation reveals how his architectural background shapes his approach to helping higher education institutions navigate complex decisions and create flexible space solutions. We dig into the challenges of designing spaces that can adapt to unknown futures and discuss how universities can better integrate with their communities.  I particularly love how Adam frames flexibility in building design as creating platforms for future adaptations rather than just multi-purpose spaces. We also explore the tension between academic and organizational decision-making and how to create and decide while delivering innovation in higher education. Questions This Episode Helps You Answer How does thinking like an architect help organizations make better strategic decisions? What makes flexibility essential in both physical spaces and organizational processes, and how can we intentionally design for it from the beginning? What elements create environments where good decisions emerge, and how can we support better decision-making outcomes? How do we determine whether physical space is the best solution for achieving our organizational goals, and what questions should we ask before investing in space? How can we think about buildings as adaptable platforms that support evolving human needs rather than fixed structures with predetermined uses? How might universities and colleges create meaningful connections between campus development and community growth that benefit both? What strategies help organizations balance the need for scholarly rigor with efficient administrative decision-making, and how can these different approaches work together effectively? Episode Highlights [00:00] Introduction and background on Adam Griff [01:38] How architectural thinking shapes strategic problem-solving [04:17] Managing diverse stakeholders in higher education contexts [05:35] Understanding people's needs versus asking for solutions [07:31] Orchestrating organizational decision-making [09:13] The importance of decision-making culture in institutions [11:20] Building trust and managing participation in decisions [14:15] Creating shared understanding of evidence and good decisions [17:04] Balancing organizational conditions with decision quality [19:38] Making decisions with incomplete information [21:36] Academic versus administrative approaches to decisions [24:40] Rethinking flexibility in organizational strategy [25:25] Space as a medium for service delivery [26:51] Designing buildings as platforms for adaptation [29:14] Lifecycle costs and sustainable building design [30:48] Integration of campus and community development [33:31] Responding to demographic changes in higher education [35:33] Finding what is "uniquely possible" for institutions [39:12] Moving from master planning to scenario-based "playbooks" [41:09] Closing thoughts and connecting with Adam   Questions to Help You Go Deeper Learning How does architectural thinking about constraints and systems change your approach to organizational challenges? What surprised you about our discussion of decision-making quality? Why? Leading How might you redesign decision-making environments in your organization? What would change if you approached strategic planning as creating a playbook rather than a rigid strategic plan? Applying What's one small experiment you could run next week to improve your team's decision-making space? Choose a current project or challenge. How might it benefit from thinking about systems and constraints like an architect? Practicing How will you incorporate the "Is space the right medium?" question into your solution development process? What is one idea from the episode that you will apply in the next two two weeks? Guest Resources Adam on LinkedIn Adam on Academia Gamification: How to Play Gensler Gensler Research & Insights Stewart Brand's "How Buildings Learn" The High Line, NYC Higher education demographic/enrollment cliff Scenario planning methodologies COM-B behavior change model Stranded assets   Resources I Recommend DT101 Episodes Radical Participatory Design + Relationships in Complex Systems Inclusive Design with Victor Udoewa — DT101 E127 Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change with Julie Dirksen — DT101 E131 Healthcare Design: Evidence-based, Business Fluent, and Change Prepared with Matt Van Der Tuyn — DT101 E140 Books Brown, Peter C., Henry L. Roediger, and Mark A. McDaniel. Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning. Cambridge, Mass: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014. -- Orchestrating good decisions requires understanding how people learn. Before people can decide about something new they must learn the information they need to know to make a good decision and what constitutes a good decision in this context. Read chapter 8. Ariely, Dan. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. Revised and Expanded edition, First Harper Perennial edition published. Harper Business & Economics. New York: Harper Perennial, 2010. -- Ariely walks you through ways we make decisions that conflict with classic economic rationality, like: The Effect of Expectations: Our preconceptions and expectations significantly influence our experiences and decisions. For instance, people report greater pain relief from more expensive placebos, demonstrating how price can affect perceived value. The Cost of Ownership: Once we own something, we tend to overvalue it (the "endowment effect"). Heath, Chip, and Dan Heath. Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work. New York: Random House Books, 2014. -- Don't trust your gut. It hates you. You'll learn how to slow down and avoid becoming a cautionary tale like the ones in this book. Kahneman, Daniel. Thinking, Fast and Slow. First paperback edition. Psychology/Economics. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013. -- "Thinking, Fast and Slow" reveals how our minds use both quick instincts and careful analysis to make choices, helping innovators design solutions that work with human psychology rather than against it. Thaler, Richard H., and Cass R. Sunstein. Nudge: Improving Decisions about Money, Health, and the Environment. Final edition. New York: Penguin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021. -- Nudge "Nudge" reveals how small changes in how choices are presented can dramatically impact decision-making and behavior at scale, while preserving freedom of choice.   I'd love to hear what insights you're taking away from this exploration of architecture, strategy, and organizational design. Share your thoughts and stay updated at https://fluidhive.com/design-thinking-101-podcast/  Stay lucky ~ Dawan  

Notes:The Verbivore talks about how we naturally become habituated to our lives and the idea of dishabituation as a way to keep life fresh and us noticing the good things that are there. This GQ article titled “Why We Get Bored of the Best Things in Life—and How to Fight It” is a pretty good overview and references the book Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There by Tali Sharot and Cass R. SunsteinIn this episode, we reference back to a number of episodes over our almost five years of podcasting. Here are a few:- Episode 146: Marvel Character Dynamics with MJ McGriff- Episode 147: Marvel's WandaVision with K.T. Anglehart - Episode 197: Lord of the Rings Character panel discussion w/ Kieran (Kate) Lamoureux and Stephanie Ascough- Episode 75: Interview with Tiffany Clarke Harrison (part 1)- Episode 76: Interview with Tiffany Clarke Harrison (part 2)- Episode 51: Already Worthy, Already Loved - Episode 66: Let's talk about Caraval- Episode 45: The Hate U Give Discussion- Episode 95: Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo- Episode 241: Diversity in Six of Crows- Episode 30: Break out of the box with your writing - Episode 58: Let's talk about Mexican Gothic- Episode 131: Jurassic Park- Episode 79: Let's talk about craft books- Episode 71: Let's talk about writing physical intimacy- Episode 72: Let's talk about writing physical intimacy (part 2)- Episode 15: How to write great romantic chemistry- Episode 16: Writing romantic chemistry part 2- Episode 211: Rating our Writing- Episode 215: Things We're Learning About Our WritingWe also touch on the authors that we've interviewed and connected with over the course of the podcast and how positive those conversations have been. Here is a link to those episodes:https://fableandtheverbivore.com/podcast/category/interview And here are some of our other milestone celebration episodes:- Episode 200: Sticking with things- Episode 150: Hooray for 150 episodes!- Episode 100: Celebrate and ReflectMusic from: https://filmmusic.io ‘Friendly day' by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Matt speaks with Jeffrey Miron about the justice and effectiveness of "sin taxes," evaluating whether taxes on goods like alcohol, tobacco, and sugary drinks achieve their intended public health goals or whether they unfairly restrict individual choice. The conversation explores the ethical implications of using taxation as a tool for social engineering and questions the actual impact these policies have on behavior. References "Should Governments Try to Reduce Sin?" by Jeffrey Miron Link: https://scholar.harvard.edu/miron/publications/should-governments-try-reduce-sin "The Time Travelling Dietitian" (YouTube Video) Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ua-WVg1SsA "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/014311526X "The Ethics of Taxation" by Jane G. Gravelle Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Ethics-Taxation-Jane-Gravelle/dp/XXXXX "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" by Adam Smith Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/XXXXX "For Your Own Good: The Anti-Smoking Crusade and the Tyranny of Public Health" by Jacob Sullum Link: https://www.amazon.ca/For-Your-Own-Good-Public/dp/0684849520 "The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847 Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald. To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask

As the HR profession continues to evolve, the competencies required for effective HR leadership are quickly becoming more complex and wide-ranging.  In AHRI's latest podcast episode, host Beth Hall FCPHR, speaks with Tiffany Blight CPHR, First Assistant Secretary – People and Culture at the Department of Home Affairs, about how practitioners can arm themselves with the right skills to thrive in HR leadership roles. In this episode, you'll learn: Key capabilities for aspiring HR leaders Practical steps to build these skills and experiences Tips for positioning yourself for leadership roles in HR. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK: Take our 2-minute survey to share your thoughts on seasons one and two of AHRI: https://bit.ly/3BjN5Ey SHOW NOTES Let us know what you think of the podcast so far. Take our 2-minute survey to share your feedback with us: ⁠https://bit.ly/47yzZiN⁠ ⁠Access the episode transcript here – https://bit.ly/3zpjp8p⁠

Free speech is indispensable on college campuses: allowing varied views and frank exchanges of opinion is a core component of the educational enterprise and the pursuit of truth. But, says renowned legal scholar Cass R. Sunstein, free speech does not mean a free-for-all. The First Amendment prohibits “abridging the freedom of speech,” yet laws against perjury or bribery, for example, are still constitutional. In the same way, valuing freedom of speech does not stop a university from regulating speech when doing so is necessary for its educational mission. So where is the dividing line? How can we distinguish reasonable restrictions from impermissible infringement? Join us for a special online-only program in which Sunstein will provide a pragmatic, no-nonsense explainer, taking us through a wide range of scenarios involving students, professors and administrators. He says it's consistent with the First Amendment to punish students who shout down a speaker, but not those who chant offensive slogans; why a professor cannot be fired for writing a politically charged op-ed, yet a university might legitimately consider an applicant's political views when deciding whether to hire her. He explains why private universities are not legally bound by the First Amendment yet should, in most cases, look to follow it. And he addresses the thorny question of whether a university should officially take sides on public issues or deliberately keep the institution outside the fray. He'll draw on the work he put into his new book Campus Free Speech: A Pocket Guide and will provide a concise guide to resolving free-speech dilemmas at colleges and universities.  This program is part of The Commonwealth Club's Future of Democracy Series, supported by Betsy and Roy Eisenhardt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Professor Cass Sunstein’s latest work, Campus Free Speech (Harvard University Press, September 2024). Together, we’ll examine the book's intriguing take on free speech in academic spaces and the broader implications for constitutional interpretation. Professor Sunstein also delves into the exercise of administrative power, with timely discussions on COVID-era authority and […]

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Professor Cass Sunstein's latest work, Campus Free Speech (Harvard University Press, September 2024).  Together, we'll examine the book's intriguing take on free speech in academic spaces and the broader implications for constitutional interpretation. Professor Sunstein also delves into the exercise of administrative power, with timely discussions on COVID-era authority and the Supreme Court's decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Gain unique insights from Sunstein on how the Constitution remains a guiding force for the American public in navigating modern challenges. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard. He is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. In 2018, he received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. In 2020, the World Health Organization appointed him as Chair of its technical advisory group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. From 2009 to 2012, he was Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and after that, he served on the President's Review Board on Intelligence and Communications Technologies and on the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board. Mr. Sunstein has testified before congressional committees on many subjects, and he has advised officials at the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, and many nations on issues of law and public policy. He serves as an adviser to the Behavioural Insights Team in the United Kingdom. Professor Sunstein is author of hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (with Richard H. Thaler, 2008), Simpler: The Future of Government (2013), The Ethics of Influence (2015), #Republic (2017), Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide (2017), The Cost-Benefit Revolution (2018), On Freedom (2019), Conformity (2019), How Change Happens (2019), and Too Much Information (2020). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, “sludge” (defined to include paperwork and similar burdens), fake news, and freedom of speech. Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any speaker does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Professor Cass Sunstein's latest work, Campus Free Speech (Harvard University Press, September 2024).  Together, we'll examine the book's intriguing take on free speech in academic spaces and the broader implications for constitutional interpretation. Professor Sunstein also delves into the exercise of administrative power, with timely discussions on COVID-era authority and the Supreme Court's decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Gain unique insights from Sunstein on how the Constitution remains a guiding force for the American public in navigating modern challenges. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard. He is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. In 2018, he received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. In 2020, the World Health Organization appointed him as Chair of its technical advisory group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. From 2009 to 2012, he was Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and after that, he served on the President's Review Board on Intelligence and Communications Technologies and on the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board. Mr. Sunstein has testified before congressional committees on many subjects, and he has advised officials at the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, and many nations on issues of law and public policy. He serves as an adviser to the Behavioural Insights Team in the United Kingdom. Professor Sunstein is author of hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (with Richard H. Thaler, 2008), Simpler: The Future of Government (2013), The Ethics of Influence (2015), #Republic (2017), Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide (2017), The Cost-Benefit Revolution (2018), On Freedom (2019), Conformity (2019), How Change Happens (2019), and Too Much Information (2020). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, “sludge” (defined to include paperwork and similar burdens), fake news, and freedom of speech. Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any speaker does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Professor Cass Sunstein's latest work, Campus Free Speech (Harvard University Press, September 2024).  Together, we'll examine the book's intriguing take on free speech in academic spaces and the broader implications for constitutional interpretation. Professor Sunstein also delves into the exercise of administrative power, with timely discussions on COVID-era authority and the Supreme Court's decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Gain unique insights from Sunstein on how the Constitution remains a guiding force for the American public in navigating modern challenges. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard. He is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. In 2018, he received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. In 2020, the World Health Organization appointed him as Chair of its technical advisory group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. From 2009 to 2012, he was Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and after that, he served on the President's Review Board on Intelligence and Communications Technologies and on the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board. Mr. Sunstein has testified before congressional committees on many subjects, and he has advised officials at the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, and many nations on issues of law and public policy. He serves as an adviser to the Behavioural Insights Team in the United Kingdom. Professor Sunstein is author of hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (with Richard H. Thaler, 2008), Simpler: The Future of Government (2013), The Ethics of Influence (2015), #Republic (2017), Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide (2017), The Cost-Benefit Revolution (2018), On Freedom (2019), Conformity (2019), How Change Happens (2019), and Too Much Information (2020). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, “sludge” (defined to include paperwork and similar burdens), fake news, and freedom of speech. Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any speaker does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Professor Cass Sunstein's latest work, Campus Free Speech (Harvard University Press, September 2024).  Together, we'll examine the book's intriguing take on free speech in academic spaces and the broader implications for constitutional interpretation. Professor Sunstein also delves into the exercise of administrative power, with timely discussions on COVID-era authority and the Supreme Court's decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Gain unique insights from Sunstein on how the Constitution remains a guiding force for the American public in navigating modern challenges. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard. He is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. In 2018, he received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. In 2020, the World Health Organization appointed him as Chair of its technical advisory group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. From 2009 to 2012, he was Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and after that, he served on the President's Review Board on Intelligence and Communications Technologies and on the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board. Mr. Sunstein has testified before congressional committees on many subjects, and he has advised officials at the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, and many nations on issues of law and public policy. He serves as an adviser to the Behavioural Insights Team in the United Kingdom. Professor Sunstein is author of hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (with Richard H. Thaler, 2008), Simpler: The Future of Government (2013), The Ethics of Influence (2015), #Republic (2017), Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide (2017), The Cost-Benefit Revolution (2018), On Freedom (2019), Conformity (2019), How Change Happens (2019), and Too Much Information (2020). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, “sludge” (defined to include paperwork and similar burdens), fake news, and freedom of speech. Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any speaker does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/education

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Professor Cass Sunstein's latest work, Campus Free Speech (Harvard University Press, September 2024).  Together, we'll examine the book's intriguing take on free speech in academic spaces and the broader implications for constitutional interpretation. Professor Sunstein also delves into the exercise of administrative power, with timely discussions on COVID-era authority and the Supreme Court's decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Gain unique insights from Sunstein on how the Constitution remains a guiding force for the American public in navigating modern challenges. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard. He is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. In 2018, he received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. In 2020, the World Health Organization appointed him as Chair of its technical advisory group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. From 2009 to 2012, he was Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and after that, he served on the President's Review Board on Intelligence and Communications Technologies and on the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board. Mr. Sunstein has testified before congressional committees on many subjects, and he has advised officials at the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, and many nations on issues of law and public policy. He serves as an adviser to the Behavioural Insights Team in the United Kingdom. Professor Sunstein is author of hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (with Richard H. Thaler, 2008), Simpler: The Future of Government (2013), The Ethics of Influence (2015), #Republic (2017), Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide (2017), The Cost-Benefit Revolution (2018), On Freedom (2019), Conformity (2019), How Change Happens (2019), and Too Much Information (2020). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, “sludge” (defined to include paperwork and similar burdens), fake news, and freedom of speech. Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any speaker does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Professor Cass Sunstein's latest work, Campus Free Speech (Harvard University Press, September 2024).  Together, we'll examine the book's intriguing take on free speech in academic spaces and the broader implications for constitutional interpretation. Professor Sunstein also delves into the exercise of administrative power, with timely discussions on COVID-era authority and the Supreme Court's decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Gain unique insights from Sunstein on how the Constitution remains a guiding force for the American public in navigating modern challenges. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard. He is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. In 2018, he received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. In 2020, the World Health Organization appointed him as Chair of its technical advisory group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. From 2009 to 2012, he was Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and after that, he served on the President's Review Board on Intelligence and Communications Technologies and on the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board. Mr. Sunstein has testified before congressional committees on many subjects, and he has advised officials at the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, and many nations on issues of law and public policy. He serves as an adviser to the Behavioural Insights Team in the United Kingdom. Professor Sunstein is author of hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (with Richard H. Thaler, 2008), Simpler: The Future of Government (2013), The Ethics of Influence (2015), #Republic (2017), Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide (2017), The Cost-Benefit Revolution (2018), On Freedom (2019), Conformity (2019), How Change Happens (2019), and Too Much Information (2020). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, “sludge” (defined to include paperwork and similar burdens), fake news, and freedom of speech. Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any speaker does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Professor Cass Sunstein's latest work, Campus Free Speech (Harvard University Press, September 2024).  Together, we'll examine the book's intriguing take on free speech in academic spaces and the broader implications for constitutional interpretation. Professor Sunstein also delves into the exercise of administrative power, with timely discussions on COVID-era authority and the Supreme Court's decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Gain unique insights from Sunstein on how the Constitution remains a guiding force for the American public in navigating modern challenges. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard. He is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. In 2018, he received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. In 2020, the World Health Organization appointed him as Chair of its technical advisory group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. From 2009 to 2012, he was Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and after that, he served on the President's Review Board on Intelligence and Communications Technologies and on the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board. Mr. Sunstein has testified before congressional committees on many subjects, and he has advised officials at the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, and many nations on issues of law and public policy. He serves as an adviser to the Behavioural Insights Team in the United Kingdom. Professor Sunstein is author of hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (with Richard H. Thaler, 2008), Simpler: The Future of Government (2013), The Ethics of Influence (2015), #Republic (2017), Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide (2017), The Cost-Benefit Revolution (2018), On Freedom (2019), Conformity (2019), How Change Happens (2019), and Too Much Information (2020). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, “sludge” (defined to include paperwork and similar burdens), fake news, and freedom of speech. Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any speaker does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for an in-depth exploration of Professor Cass Sunstein's latest work, Campus Free Speech (Harvard University Press, September 2024).  Together, we'll examine the book's intriguing take on free speech in academic spaces and the broader implications for constitutional interpretation. Professor Sunstein also delves into the exercise of administrative power, with timely discussions on COVID-era authority and the Supreme Court's decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Gain unique insights from Sunstein on how the Constitution remains a guiding force for the American public in navigating modern challenges. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard. He is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. In 2018, he received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. In 2020, the World Health Organization appointed him as Chair of its technical advisory group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. From 2009 to 2012, he was Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and after that, he served on the President's Review Board on Intelligence and Communications Technologies and on the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board. Mr. Sunstein has testified before congressional committees on many subjects, and he has advised officials at the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, and many nations on issues of law and public policy. He serves as an adviser to the Behavioural Insights Team in the United Kingdom. Professor Sunstein is author of hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (with Richard H. Thaler, 2008), Simpler: The Future of Government (2013), The Ethics of Influence (2015), #Republic (2017), Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide (2017), The Cost-Benefit Revolution (2018), On Freedom (2019), Conformity (2019), How Change Happens (2019), and Too Much Information (2020). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, “sludge” (defined to include paperwork and similar burdens), fake news, and freedom of speech. Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Contributions to and/or sponsorship of any speaker does not constitute departmental or institutional endorsement of the specific program, speakers or views presented. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chapter 1:Summary of Nudge"Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" is a book by behavioral economist Richard H. Thaler and legal scholar Cass R. Sunstein, first published in 2008. The book explores the concept of "libertarian paternalism" and suggests that private and public institutions can help people make better choices in their lives without eliminating freedom of choice. The central idea of the book is that by properly designing the context in which individuals make decisions—what Thaler and Sunstein call the "choice architecture"—it is possible to influence the choices people make in order to benefit them. A "nudge," as defined by the authors, is any aspect of this choice architecture that alters people's behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives.Thaler and Sunstein argue that nudges are essential because of human cognitive limitations and biases. For instance, people tend to stick with default options, tend to be influenced by how choices are framed, and often act against their own long-term interests due to present bias and a range of other decision-making flaws.The book covers a variety of areas in which nudges can be applied, including retirement savings plans, healthcare choices, and environmental conservation. For example, automatically enrolling employees into retirement savings plans but giving them the option to opt-out increases savings participation rates dramatically."Nudge" addresses ethical concerns and emphasizes the importance of ensuring that nudges are transparent and never deceitful. It also argues that nudges should be designed to simplify decision-making and improve people's welfare by steering them towards decisions that reflect their own true preferences.Overall, "Nudge" is a significant contribution to the field of behavioral economics, providing insights into how subtle changes in the way choices are presented can have a profound impact on human behavior.Chapter 2:The Theme of Nudge"Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" is a book authored by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein, first published in 2008. It does not contain a traditional narrative or characters as it is a non-fiction work grounded in the fields of behavioral economics and decision theory. The central thesis of the book revolves around the concept of "libertarian paternalism" and how small design changes in the environment (termed "nudges") can significantly affect individual choices in a way that improves their own welfare. Below are the key plot points, character development, and thematic ideas of the book: Key Plot Points1. Introduction of Libertarian Paternalism:- The book introduces the idea of libertarian paternalism, which endeavors to steer people towards making decisions that would improve their lives while preserving their freedom to choose.2. Choice Architecture:- Thaler and Sunstein discuss "choice architecture," the way choices can be presented to people that influences their decision-making without restricting options.3. Heuristics and Biases:- An exploration of the various cognitive biases and heuristics that typically impede rational decision-making and how these can be redirected through nudges to spawn better choices.4. Aspects of Nudging:- Various methods of nudging are discussed, such as default settings, feedback mechanisms, and the structuring of complex choices in simpler, more digestible forms.5. Applications of Nudging:- The book discusses applications in diverse fields, including finance (e.g., encouraging savings), health (e.g., influencing food choices), education, and environment, illustrating how nudges can lead to substantial improvements in societal well-being. Character...

For this episode of the Global Exchange podcast, Colin Robertson talks with CGAI Fellows Richard Fadden, Frank Graves and Christopher Waddell about the challenges facing Canada in mitigating foreign interference. You can find Dick's interview with the Macdonald Laurier Institute here: https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/richard-fadden-on-dealing-with-foreign-interference-in-canada-inside-policy/ You can find Frank's speech with Carleton University here: https://www.cgai.ca/the_collapse_of_social_cohesion_and_crisis_of_trust_and_truth // Participants' bios - Richard (Dick) Fadden has had many appointments in Canada's public service including Director of CSIS, Deputy Minister of Immigration, Deputy Minister of National Defence and then National Security Advisor. He is an officer in the Order of Canada. - Dr. Frank Graves is the founder of EKOS Research Associates - Dr. Christopher Waddell is professor emeritus and former director of Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication // Host bio: Colin Robertson is a former diplomat and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, www.cgai.ca/colin_robertson // Read & Watch:", - "How Not to Be a Politician", by Rory Stewart: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690281/how-not-to-be-a-politician-by-rory-stewart/ - "Can It Happen Here? Authoritarianism in America", edited by Cass R. Sunstein: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/can-it-happen-here-cass-r-sunstein?variant=32121895026722 - "La défaite de l'Occident" (The Defeat of the West), by Emmanuel Todd: https://www.leslibraires.ca/livres/la-defaite-de-l-occident-emmanuel-todd-9782073041135.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo6AvKppomu1gqTNNEjeQR0hHLbhhWDJ4Au-qLQZmX9oqJL7uNl // Recording Date: August 16, 2024.

Alex speaks with Ignacio Cofone about the intricacies of privacy in the digital era, examining how personal data is collected, inferred upon, and the legal frameworks that govern these practices, as elucidated in Ignacio Cofone's book, "The Privacy Fallacy." Episode Notes: "The Privacy Fallacy: Harm and Power in the Information Economy" by Ignacio Cofone Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Privacy-Fallacy-Power-Information-Economy/dp/XXXXX "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" by Shoshana Zuboff Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Future-Frontier/dp/1541758005 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Link: https://gdpr.eu/ "Privacy and Freedom" by Alan F. Westin Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Privacy-Freedom-Alan-F-Westin/dp/XXXXX "Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace" by Lawrence Lessig Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Code-Laws-Cyberspace-Lawrence-Lessig/dp/0465039146 "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/014311526X "The Right to Privacy" by Samuel D. Warren and Louis D. Brandeis Link: https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~shmat/courses/cs5436/warren-brandeis.pdf Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Chris Rondollo, and Christopher McDonald. To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Exploring Noise in Charity Evaluations, published by Malin Ploder on July 14, 2024 on The Effective Altruism Forum. Hi! My name is Malin and I wrote my master's thesis in cognitive science in collaboration with Don Efficace, a young evaluator organization building their evaluation process to find the most effective charities in France. Together, we set out to explore the concept of noise (see below) in charity evaluations. Many researchers from other evaluator organizations contributed to this endeavor by responding to my survey or participating in interviews. This post serves to summarize my research for them and anyone else who is interested in the topic - have a good read! TL:DR Noise, as defined by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein[1], refers to the unwanted variability in judgments caused by cognitive biases. In charity evaluations, this inconsistency can lead to unreliable recommendations, which can significantly affect the allocation of funds and erode donor trust. Given the complex nature of charity evaluations, noise is likely to occur, making it crucial to address in order to ensure consistent and effective decision-making. Several strategies from other fields have been found effective in reducing noise and can be adapted for charity evaluations: 1. Implement Decision Guidelines and Scales: Break down evaluations into clear criteria. Use scales with anchors and descriptors for consistent assessments. Consider comparative scales to reduce bias in subjective judgments. 2. Adopt Aggregation Strategies: Encourage multiple independent estimates from researchers for cost-effectiveness analyses to improve accuracy. Alternatively, use the options adapted to individuals, where two guesses from the same person are averaged. 3. Use the Mini-Delphi Method: Structure discussions around initial independent estimates, followed by collective deliberation and revised judgments. Future research should focus on measuring noise levels in charity evaluations and testing these strategies' effectiveness. Collaborating with other evaluator organizations can provide valuable insights and help design low-noise processes. Introduction: Noise In the context of my master's thesis, I explored the role of "noise" in charity evaluations. In the context of decision-making, the term noise was popularized by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein[1]. Their work has significantly advanced the application of cognitive sciences to real-life scenarios by demonstrating some of the tangible impacts cognitive biases can have on decision-making. Specifically, they show how cognitive biases may lead to unwanted variability in judgments, which they call noise. I conducted three studies, a review of online information, a study, and interviews to investigate how noise-reduction strategies from the literature could apply to charity evaluations and which recommendations can be derived for Don Efficace. In this text, I summarize my findings as they may be relevant to charity evaluators. If you want to know more, I invite you to read my thesis as well as "Noise: a flaw in human judgment" by Kahneman et al.[1]. The text will be structured as follows: First I introduce noise and why it matters in charity evaluations. Then I will present strategies that have been found to reduce noise in other fields that involve complex judgments, like judicial sentencing, medical diagnoses, or hiring decisions. For each of the strategies, I add the results from my research, setting them into the charity evaluation context. Lastly, I will give an outlook on what future research efforts in the field may look like. Noise in Charity Evaluations You may be familiar with cognitive biases like the confirmation bias, the halo effect, desirability bias, or the anchoring effect and how they can predi...

The world is complex. The state is primitive. Regulation is where they meet. Bhargavi Zaveri-Shah joins Amit Varma in episode 389 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss her experiences with the regulatory state at the intersection of law & economics. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Bhargavi Zaveri Shah on Twitter, LinkedIn, The Leap Blog and her own website. 2. The accountability framework of UIDAI: Concerns and solutions -- Vrinda Bhandari and Renuka Sane and Bhargavi Zaveri. 3. Institutionalise formal regulatory independence -- Bhargavi Zaveri. 4. Regulators don't need constitutional status -- Bhargavi Zaveri. 5. Measuring Regulatory Responsiveness in India: A Framework for Empirical Assessment -- Anirudh Burman and Bhargavi Zaveri. 6. Participatory governance in regulation making: How to make it work? -- Bhargavi Zaveri. 7. IBBI's draft framework sets new standards of regulatory governance in India -- Bhargavi Zaveri. 8. FIU's Penalty on PayPal: The Wisdom of Jurisprudence by Committee -- Bhargavi Zaveri. 9. Survey-based measurement of Indian courts -- Pavithra Manivannan, Susan Thomas, and Bhargavi Zaveri-Shah. 10. Helping litigants make informed choices in resolving debt disputes -- Pavithra Manivannan, Susan Thomas, and Bhargavi Zaveri-Shah. 12. Judicial triage in the lockdown: evidence from India's largest commercial tribunal -- Anjali Sharma and Bhargavi Zaveri. 13. The Loneliness of the Indian Woman — Episode 259 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shrayana Bhattacharya). 14. Young India -- Episode 83 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Snigdha Poonam). 15. Dreamers: How Young Indians Are Changing Their World -- Snigdha Poonam. 16. The Loneliness of the Indian Man — Episode 303 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Nikhil Taneja). 17 Alice Evans on Twitter and The Seen and the Unseen. 18. The End of History? — Francis Fukuyama's essay. 19. The End of History and the Last Man — Francis Fukuyama's book. 20. Economic Facts and Fallacies — Thomas Sowell. 21. The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression -- Amity Shlaes. 22. Public Choice Theory Explains SO MUCH -- Episode 33 of Everything is Everything. 23. Parkinson's Law. 24. Statutory Regulatory Authorities and the Federal System in India -- KP Krishnan, Amrita Pillai and Karan Gulati. 25. Suits on Netflix. 26. The Accidental Prime Minister -- Sanjaya Baru. 27. The Life and Times of KP Krishnan — Episode 355 of The Seen and the Unseen. 28. The Life and Times of Montek Singh Ahluwalia — Episode 285 of The Seen and the Unseen. 29. The Four Quadrants of Conformism — Paul Graham. 30. Stay Away From Luxury Beliefs -- Episode 46 of Everything is Everything. 31. The Anxious Generation -- Jonathan Haidt. 32. Concrete Island -- JG Ballard. 33. High-Rise -- JG Ballard. 34. Judicial Reforms -- Episode 62 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Alok Prasanna Kumar). 35. Noise -- Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony and Cass R. Sunstein. 36. Court on Trial: A Data-Driven Account of the Supreme Court of India -- Aparna Chandra, Sital Kalantry and William HJ Hubbard. 37. Fixing the Knowledge Society -- Episode 24 of Everything is Everything. 38. The Plague -- Albert Camus. 39. The Outsider -- Albert Camus. 40. The Life and Times of the Indian Economy -- Episode 387 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Rajeswari Sengupta). 41. Shoe Dog -- Phil Knight. 42. Laapataa Ladies -- Kiran Rao. 43. The Incredible Curiosities of Mukulika Banerjee — Episode 276 of The Seen and the Unseen. 44. The Life and Times of Mrinal Pande — Episode 263 of The Seen and the Unseen. 45. Caste, Capitalism and Chandra Bhan Prasad — Episode 296 of The Seen and the Unseen. Amit's newsletter is active again. Subscribe right away to The India Uncut Newsletter! It's free! Amit Varma and Ajay Shah have launched a new video podcast. Check out Everything is Everything on YouTube. Check out Amit's online course, The Art of Clear Writing. Episode art: ‘Warrior' by Simahina.

Chapter 1:Summary of Wiser Book"Wiser: Getting Beyond Groupthink to Make Groups Smarter" by Cass R. Sunstein examines the phenomenon of groupthink and offers solutions for making groups and organizations smarter and more effective. Sunstein argues that group decision-making processes often lead to errors and biases, but individuals and groups can become wiser by adopting certain strategies.One key strategy is to encourage dissent and diverse perspectives within a group, as this can help avoid groupthink and lead to better decision-making. Sunstein also highlights the importance of creating a culture of transparency and accountability, where mistakes are identified and learned from instead of being hidden or denied.Additionally, Sunstein emphasizes the value of focusing on the quality of arguments and evidence, rather than relying on social dynamics or consensus to make decisions. By promoting a culture of open debate and critical thinking, groups can become wiser and more effective in their decision-making processes.Overall, "Wiser" provides valuable insights and practical strategies for individuals and organizations looking to overcome the challenges of groupthink and improve their decision-making processes.Chapter 2:the theme of Wiser BookKey plot points:- The book follows a young woman named Sophia who is struggling with her life decisions and career path. She meets a mysterious guru named Wiser who claims to have the answers to all of life's questions.- Wiser takes Sophia on a journey through various philosophical ideas and psychological insights, helping her to confront her fears and doubts.- Throughout the book, Sophia learns to trust herself and her own intuition, leading to personal growth and self-discovery.Character development:- Sophia starts off as a hesitant and indecisive individual, unsure of her own abilities and purpose in life. Through her interactions with Wiser and the challenges he presents her with, she grows more confident and self-assured.- Wiser is a enigmatic figure who serves as a mentor to Sophia, guiding her through her journey of self-discovery. He challenges her to think differently and pushes her to confront her deepest fears.- Other characters in the book include Sophia's friends and family members, who provide support and perspective as she navigates her personal and professional life.Thematic ideas:- The book explores themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and finding one's true purpose in life. It delves into questions of identity, meaning, and the search for happiness.- It also delves into philosophical and psychological concepts, such as the power of belief, the nature of reality, and the importance of self-reflection.- Ultimately, the book emphasizes the idea that wisdom and insight come from within, and that by trusting in oneself and following one's own path, one can find fulfillment and contentment.Chapter 3:Meet the Writer of Wiser BookCass R. Sunstein is known for his clear and concise writing style that makes complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. In his book "Wiser," Sunstein continues to utilize this straightforward language style to effectively convey the emotions and meanings embedded within the text.Sunstein's writing skills are particularly evident in how he presents the research and insights on decision-making and judgment in a structured and logical manner. By breaking down complex concepts into digestible pieces, he is able to guide readers through the nuances of cognitive biases and behavioral economics with ease.Additionally, Sunstein's language style in "Wiser" is characterized by a sense of empathy and understanding towards the struggles that individuals...

We talk about the health issues faced by flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs and cats and why these breeds are still to popular with Dr. Dan O'Neill and Dr. Rowena Packer of the Royal Veterinary College.We start by talking about what we mean when we talk about brachycephalic dogs. Pugs, Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs are the poster children for these breeds and get the most attention, but we also get some surprising good news about Shih Tzus.When dogs are bred for flat faces it means they can struggle to breathe. Dan and Rowena talk about the health issues these dogs can face and the effects it has on their lifespan.We talk about their co-edited book, The Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic (Flat-Faced) Companion Animals: A Complete Guide for Veterinarians and Animal Professionals. The book covers a wide range of information and we talk about how the intended audience is not just vets but anyone who cares about these dogs.And there's a note of optimism as we talk about what would make a difference to the welfare of flat-faced dogs.Finally we talk about the books we're reading:The Signal and the Noise by Nate SilverNudge: The Final Edition by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. SunsteinLetters From a Lady Rancher by Monica HopkinsBookworm: A Novel by Robin YeatmanAbout the co-hosts: Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers and has her PCBC-A from the Pet Professional Accreditation Board. She lives in beautiful northern British Columbia, where she helps dog guardians through online teaching and consultations. Kristi is on staff at the Academy for Dog Trainers, helping to shape the next generation of canine professionals. Kristi's dogs are rescue sled dogs, mostly retired and thoroughly enjoying a good snooze in front of the woodstove. Kristi Benson's website Facebook Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. She is the creator of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology, and also has a column at Psychology Today. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and one cat. Facebook Instagram BlueSky

Professor Cass Sunstein and Judge Raymond Kethledge will open the symposium with a fireside chat exploring the conceptual question of why states choose to separate powers along with the relationship between the separation of powers and the rule of law.FeaturingHon. Raymond M. Kethledge, Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Lecturer on Law, Harvard Law SchoolProf. Cass R. Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor, Harvard Law School

Hello and welcome to a Big Beatles Sort Out bonus episode! We have once again been speaking with author, Beatles fan, legal scholar, Harvard professor, and all round interesting chap, Cass R. Sunstein, about his new book: 'How To Become Famous' published by Harvard Business Review Press out on the 21st May 2024. The book features The Beatles as one of several case studies into the phenomenon, philosophy and mechanisms of 'fame', so we caught up with him via internet link to the US East Coast to chat the Beatles and fame! His book can be pre-ordered/purchased here (depending on when you are listening to this!): https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Become-Famous-Einsteins-Superstars/dp/1647825369 Enjoy!

Bronwyn Williams, Trend Translator and Future Finance Specialist at Flux Trends reviews “Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There” by Tali Sharot  and Cass R. Sunstein. In the book, the two experts investigate why we stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around us and how to “dishabituate” at the office, in the bedroom, at the store, on social media, and in the voting booth. Williams shares what she learned from the book.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much time are you spending talking about work vs. actually working?In this episode of Success Genius, we're talking about how to use workflows to get more done in less time with a behavioral economics concept known as nudges. This episode covers the difference between work and workflows, how to categorize your workflows, and how to use the concept of nudges to make your workflows more efficient. Topics covered in this episode include:What a workflow is How to get work done in the most efficient wayHow to use nudges in your workflowsIf you find yourself and your team spending more time talking about work than actually doing it, this is for you. Resources Mentioned:Read Nudge by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein: https://www.amazon.com/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/014311526X Connect with me @neillwilliamscoach on Instagram and FacebookIf you're loving what you're learning on this podcast every week - the simple high-impact habits, tools and mindsets to optimize your whole body focus, motivation and energy - please follow, rate and review by heading to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.Full show notes available at www.neillwilliams.com/podcast

Nobel laureate, bestselling author, and groundbreaking psychologist Daniel Kahneman died in March. In 2021 he talked with Steve Levitt — his friend and former business partner — about his book Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment (cowritten with Olivier Sibony and Cass Sunstein) and much more. SOURCES:Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University. RESOURCES:Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment, by Olivier Sibony, Daniel Kahneman, and Cass R. Sunstein (2021).Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (2011). EXTRAS:"What's the Secret to Making a Great Prediction?" by No Stupid Questions (2021)."The Men Who Started a Thinking Revolution," by Freakonomics Radio (2017)."How to Be Less Terrible at Predicting the Future," by Freakonomics Radio (2016).

Neuroscience professor Tali Sharot and Harvard law professor (and presidential advisor) Cass R. Sunstein have investigated why people stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around them and how to “dishabituate” at the office, in the bedroom, at the store, on social media, and in the voting booth. Have you ever noticed that what is thrilling on Monday tends to become boring on Friday? Even exciting relationships, stimulating jobs, and breathtaking works of art can lose their sparkle after a while. Sharot and Sunstein say that many people stop noticing what is most wonderful in their own lives. They also stop noticing what is terrible. They get used to dirty air. They stay in abusive relationships. People grow to accept authoritarianism and take foolish risks. They become unconcerned by their own misconduct, blind to inequality, and are more liable to believe misinformation than ever before. But what if we could find a way to see everything anew? What if you could regain sensitivity, not only to the great things in your life, but also to the terrible things you stopped noticing and so don't try to change? For fans of Thinking Fast and Slow and The Power of Habit, Sharot and Sunstein offer a new study of how disrupting our well-worn routines, both good and bad, can rejuvenate our days and reset our brains to allow us to live happier and more fulfilling lives. Join us for a talk with Sharot and Sunstein about their work, based on decades of research in the psychological and biological sciences, and how they say it illuminates how people can reignite the sparks of joy, innovate, and recognize where improvements urgently need to be made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Share this episode: https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/359-getting-used-to-it Sam Harris speaks with Cass Sunstein about habituation and its consequences. They discuss habituation to positive and negative experiences, marriage, happiness, meaning, variety, doing good vs feeling good, midlife crises, kids, wealth and happiness, things vs experience, the “illusory truth effect,” misinformation and social media, echo chambers and extremism, what governments can do to respond to misinformation, free speech on college campuses, the 2024 Presidential election, and other topics. Cass R. Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School, where he is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy. He is the most cited law professor in the United States. From 2009 to 2012 he served in the Obama administration as Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. He has testified before congressional committees, been involved in constitution-making and law reform activities in a number of nations, and written many articles and books, including Nudge (with Richard Thaler), #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media, Impeachment: A Citizen’s Guide, Too Much Information, Noise (with Daniel Kahneman and Olivier Sibony), and most recently Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There (with Tali Sharot). He is now working on a variety of projects involving the regulatory state, fake news, and freedom of speech. Website: https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/cass-r-sunstein/ Twitter: @CassSunstein Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.

The majority of Israelis are in favor of early elections, according to Dahlia Scheindlin, a political analyst and pollster. As the government faces growing calls for change and international critics voice their concerns regarding Israeli leadership, the author of "The Crooked Timber of Democracy in Israel" joins Bianna Golodryga to discuss the future of Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli democracy.  Also on today's show: singer/songwriter Paul Simon; author Cass R. Sunstein  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Tuesday and we're looking at the biggest stories of the week. First, it's been five years and the Avalanche and Nuggets still aren't available on most Denver TVs! Kroenke Sports & Entertainment just hired a new guy who is promising to end the Altitude Sports vs. Comcast dispute for good, so can he pull it off? Then, Denver City Council is considering a proposal to ban sugary drinks in kid's meals at fast food restaurants, which one man says is just politicians attempting to “micromanage” their constituents. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi dissect these stories and share listener comments on The Epoch Times's billboards and how, exactly, you're supposed to eat oysters.  We went deep on the Altitude/Comcast dispute with our pal Jake Shapiro from Denver Sports back in 2021. Bree mentioned an episode of the If Books Could Kill podcast about the book “Nudge” by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. What do you think about a ban on sugary drinks? We want to hear from you (especially if you work for Pepsi)! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬ Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Get your Annual Portal Pass to Meow Wolf today! Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vitamin C is a cure for the common cold. Bats are blind. Sugar makes children hyperactive.All of these statements are false. So why are they so pervasive? And why do they feel so true?In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at a phenomenon that can cause us to believe inaccurate information more than we should, and also lead us to trust reliable information less than we should.If you're over a certain age, you might remember friends or family panicking about MSG, or monosodium glutamate, particularly in American Chinese food. But those health concerns stemmed from a single letter to the editor in The New England Journal of Medicine—and a media storm that repeated false information. Jennifer LeMesurier learned about this letter and set off on a journey to trace the origins of the MSG scare and find out why the myths about this ingredient are so persistent. Jennifer LeMesurier is an associate professor of writing and rhetoric at Colgate University and the author of Inscrutable Eating: Asian Appetites and the Rhetorics of Racial Consumption.Next, Katy speaks with Tali Sharot about her research on the illusory truth effect—the idea that people are more likely to believe and share repeated information, whether or not the information is accurate.You can learn more in the paper Tali co-authored, titled "The Illusory Truth Effect Leads to the Spread of Misinformation."Tali Sharot is a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London and an affiliated professor in MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Her most recent book, co-authored with Cass R. Sunstein, isLook Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There.Choiceology is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. Important DisclosuresThe comments, views, and opinions expressed in the presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Charles Schwab.​Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable source. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed and Charles Schwab & Co. expressly disclaims any liability, including incidental or consequential damages, arising from errors or omissions in this publication.All corporate names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request. Investing involves risk including loss of principal.The book How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co.). Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co.) has not reviewed the book and makes no representations about its content.​Apple, the Apple logo, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Podcasts are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.Google Podcasts and the Google Podcasts logo are trademarks of Google LLC.Spotify and the Spotify logo are registered trademarks of Spotify AB.(0324-HG17) 

Today's book is: Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024), by Tali Sharot and Cass R. Sunstein, a book that asks why stimulating jobs and breathtaking works of art lose their sparkle after a while. People stop noticing what is most wonderful in their own lives. They also stop noticing what is terrible, due to something called habituation. Because of habituation, people get used to dirty air, become unconcerned by their own misconduct, and become more liable to believe misinformation. But what if you could dishabituate? Could you find a way to see everything anew? What if you could regain sensitivity, not only to the great things in your life, but also to the terrible things you stopped noticing and so don't try to change?  In Look Again, neuroscience professor Tali Sharot and Harvard law professor Cass R. Sunstein investigate why we stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around us and how to “dishabituate.” This groundbreaking work, based on decades of research in the psychological and biological sciences, illuminates how we can reignite the sparks of joy, innovate, and recognize where improvements urgently need to be made. The key to this disruption—to seeing, feeling, and noticing again—is change. By temporarily changing your environment, changing the rules, changing the people you interact with—or even just stepping back and imagining change—you regain sensitivity, allowing you to more clearly identify the bad and more deeply appreciate the good. Our guest is: Cass R. Sunstein, who is the nation's most-cited legal scholar. For the past fifteen years, he has been at the forefront of behavioral economics. From 2009 to 2012, he served as the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Since that time, he has served in the US government in multiple capacities and worked with the United Nations and the World Health Organization, where he chaired the Technical Advisory Group on Behavioral Insights and Sciences for Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School. His book Nudge, coauthored with Richard Thaler, was a national bestseller. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. He lives in Boston and Washington, DC, with his wife, children, and labrador retrievers. He is the co-author [along with Tali Sharot, who could not join us for this episode] of Look Again. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is the creator of the Academic Life podcast. She holds a PhD in history, which she uses to explore what stories we tell and what happens to those we never tell. Welcome to Academic Life, the podcast for your academic journey—and beyond! Join us again to learn from more experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world. Missed any of the 200+ Academic Life episodes? You'll find them all archived here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Today's book is: Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024), by Tali Sharot and Cass R. Sunstein, a book that asks why stimulating jobs and breathtaking works of art lose their sparkle after a while. People stop noticing what is most wonderful in their own lives. They also stop noticing what is terrible, due to something called habituation. Because of habituation, people get used to dirty air, become unconcerned by their own misconduct, and become more liable to believe misinformation. But what if you could dishabituate? Could you find a way to see everything anew? What if you could regain sensitivity, not only to the great things in your life, but also to the terrible things you stopped noticing and so don't try to change?  In Look Again, neuroscience professor Tali Sharot and Harvard law professor Cass R. Sunstein investigate why we stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around us and how to “dishabituate.” This groundbreaking work, based on decades of research in the psychological and biological sciences, illuminates how we can reignite the sparks of joy, innovate, and recognize where improvements urgently need to be made. The key to this disruption—to seeing, feeling, and noticing again—is change. By temporarily changing your environment, changing the rules, changing the people you interact with—or even just stepping back and imagining change—you regain sensitivity, allowing you to more clearly identify the bad and more deeply appreciate the good. Our guest is: Cass R. Sunstein, who is the nation's most-cited legal scholar. For the past fifteen years, he has been at the forefront of behavioral economics. From 2009 to 2012, he served as the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Since that time, he has served in the US government in multiple capacities and worked with the United Nations and the World Health Organization, where he chaired the Technical Advisory Group on Behavioral Insights and Sciences for Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School. His book Nudge, coauthored with Richard Thaler, was a national bestseller. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. He lives in Boston and Washington, DC, with his wife, children, and labrador retrievers. He is the co-author [along with Tali Sharot, who could not join us for this episode] of Look Again. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is the creator of the Academic Life podcast. She holds a PhD in history, which she uses to explore what stories we tell and what happens to those we never tell. Welcome to Academic Life, the podcast for your academic journey—and beyond! Join us again to learn from more experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world. Missed any of the 200+ Academic Life episodes? You'll find them all archived here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

Today's book is: Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024), by Tali Sharot and Cass R. Sunstein, a book that asks why stimulating jobs and breathtaking works of art lose their sparkle after a while. People stop noticing what is most wonderful in their own lives. They also stop noticing what is terrible, due to something called habituation. Because of habituation, people get used to dirty air, become unconcerned by their own misconduct, and become more liable to believe misinformation. But what if you could dishabituate? Could you find a way to see everything anew? What if you could regain sensitivity, not only to the great things in your life, but also to the terrible things you stopped noticing and so don't try to change?  In Look Again, neuroscience professor Tali Sharot and Harvard law professor Cass R. Sunstein investigate why we stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around us and how to “dishabituate.” This groundbreaking work, based on decades of research in the psychological and biological sciences, illuminates how we can reignite the sparks of joy, innovate, and recognize where improvements urgently need to be made. The key to this disruption—to seeing, feeling, and noticing again—is change. By temporarily changing your environment, changing the rules, changing the people you interact with—or even just stepping back and imagining change—you regain sensitivity, allowing you to more clearly identify the bad and more deeply appreciate the good. Our guest is: Cass R. Sunstein, who is the nation's most-cited legal scholar. For the past fifteen years, he has been at the forefront of behavioral economics. From 2009 to 2012, he served as the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Since that time, he has served in the US government in multiple capacities and worked with the United Nations and the World Health Organization, where he chaired the Technical Advisory Group on Behavioral Insights and Sciences for Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School. His book Nudge, coauthored with Richard Thaler, was a national bestseller. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. He lives in Boston and Washington, DC, with his wife, children, and labrador retrievers. He is the co-author [along with Tali Sharot, who could not join us for this episode] of Look Again. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is the creator of the Academic Life podcast. She holds a PhD in history, which she uses to explore what stories we tell and what happens to those we never tell. Welcome to Academic Life, the podcast for your academic journey—and beyond! Join us again to learn from more experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world. Missed any of the 200+ Academic Life episodes? You'll find them all archived here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/academic-life

Today's book is: Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024), by Tali Sharot and Cass R. Sunstein, a book that asks why stimulating jobs and breathtaking works of art lose their sparkle after a while. People stop noticing what is most wonderful in their own lives. They also stop noticing what is terrible, due to something called habituation. Because of habituation, people get used to dirty air, become unconcerned by their own misconduct, and become more liable to believe misinformation. But what if you could dishabituate? Could you find a way to see everything anew? What if you could regain sensitivity, not only to the great things in your life, but also to the terrible things you stopped noticing and so don't try to change?  In Look Again, neuroscience professor Tali Sharot and Harvard law professor Cass R. Sunstein investigate why we stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around us and how to “dishabituate.” This groundbreaking work, based on decades of research in the psychological and biological sciences, illuminates how we can reignite the sparks of joy, innovate, and recognize where improvements urgently need to be made. The key to this disruption—to seeing, feeling, and noticing again—is change. By temporarily changing your environment, changing the rules, changing the people you interact with—or even just stepping back and imagining change—you regain sensitivity, allowing you to more clearly identify the bad and more deeply appreciate the good. Our guest is: Cass R. Sunstein, who is the nation's most-cited legal scholar. For the past fifteen years, he has been at the forefront of behavioral economics. From 2009 to 2012, he served as the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Since that time, he has served in the US government in multiple capacities and worked with the United Nations and the World Health Organization, where he chaired the Technical Advisory Group on Behavioral Insights and Sciences for Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School. His book Nudge, coauthored with Richard Thaler, was a national bestseller. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. He lives in Boston and Washington, DC, with his wife, children, and labrador retrievers. He is the co-author [along with Tali Sharot, who could not join us for this episode] of Look Again. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is the creator of the Academic Life podcast. She holds a PhD in history, which she uses to explore what stories we tell and what happens to those we never tell. Welcome to Academic Life, the podcast for your academic journey—and beyond! Join us again to learn from more experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world. Missed any of the 200+ Academic Life episodes? You'll find them all archived here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/public-policy

Today's book is: Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There (Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024), by Tali Sharot and Cass R. Sunstein, a book that asks why stimulating jobs and breathtaking works of art lose their sparkle after a while. People stop noticing what is most wonderful in their own lives. They also stop noticing what is terrible, due to something called habituation. Because of habituation, people get used to dirty air, become unconcerned by their own misconduct, and become more liable to believe misinformation. But what if you could dishabituate? Could you find a way to see everything anew? What if you could regain sensitivity, not only to the great things in your life, but also to the terrible things you stopped noticing and so don't try to change?  In Look Again, neuroscience professor Tali Sharot and Harvard law professor Cass R. Sunstein investigate why we stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around us and how to “dishabituate.” This groundbreaking work, based on decades of research in the psychological and biological sciences, illuminates how we can reignite the sparks of joy, innovate, and recognize where improvements urgently need to be made. The key to this disruption—to seeing, feeling, and noticing again—is change. By temporarily changing your environment, changing the rules, changing the people you interact with—or even just stepping back and imagining change—you regain sensitivity, allowing you to more clearly identify the bad and more deeply appreciate the good. Our guest is: Cass R. Sunstein, who is the nation's most-cited legal scholar. For the past fifteen years, he has been at the forefront of behavioral economics. From 2009 to 2012, he served as the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Since that time, he has served in the US government in multiple capacities and worked with the United Nations and the World Health Organization, where he chaired the Technical Advisory Group on Behavioral Insights and Sciences for Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School. His book Nudge, coauthored with Richard Thaler, was a national bestseller. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. He lives in Boston and Washington, DC, with his wife, children, and labrador retrievers. He is the co-author [along with Tali Sharot, who could not join us for this episode] of Look Again. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is the creator of the Academic Life podcast. She holds a PhD in history, which she uses to explore what stories we tell and what happens to those we never tell. Welcome to Academic Life, the podcast for your academic journey—and beyond! Join us again to learn from more experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world. Missed any of the 200+ Academic Life episodes? You'll find them all archived here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics

LOOK AGAIN! A world full of colors can become gray due to habituation. Waking ourselves up to truly see the amazing things around us, as well as the problems that should be fixed, takes dishabituation. This conversation focuses on habituation and dishabituation, how they are defined, and what we can do to get life to resparkle. Cass R. Sunstein is the nation's most cited legal scholar and is also a prolific writer of popular nonfiction. His most recent book, which he coauthored with Dr. Tali Sharot, is Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There, which will be hitting bookstores on 2/27/24. He is also the coauthor of Nudge with Dr. Richard Thaler as well as the coauthor of Noise with Drs. Daniel Kahneman and Olivier Sibony. He served in multiple different capacities in the US government and has advised the United Nations as well as the World Health Organization. He is currently the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School.

What is the difference between ch*tiya and dusht? Why are vegetarians evil? Why do Indians do the best bench pressing? Krish Ashok and Naren Shenoy join Amit Varma in episode 362 of The Seen and the Unseen for the most fun conversation ever. Really, ever. We got it certified. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Krish Ashok on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, his own website and Spotify/Apple Music/Soundcloud. 2. Naren Shenoy on Twitter, Instagram and Blogspot. 3. We Are All Amits From Africa -- Episode 343 of The Seen and the Unseen. 4. A Scientist in the Kitchen — Episode 204 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Krish Ashok). 5. Narendra Shenoy and Mr Narendra Shenoy — Episode 250 of The Seen and the Unseen. 6. Masala Lab: The Science of Indian Cooking — Krish Ashok. 7. We want Narendra Shenoy to write a book. 8. Fixing Indian Education — Episode 185 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Karthik Muralidharan). 9. Kashmir and Article 370 — Episode 134 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan). 10. Indian Society: The Last 30 Years — Episode 137 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Santosh Desai). 11. The Life and Times of Shanta Gokhale — Episode 311 of The Seen and the Unseen. 12. The Life and Times of Jerry Pinto — Episode 314 of The Seen and the Unseen. 13. The Life and Times of KP Krishnan — Episode 355 of The Seen and the Unseen. 14. Natasha Badhwar Lives the Examined Life — Episode 301 of The Seen and the Unseen. 15. The Adda at the End of the Universe — Episode 309 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vikram Sathaye and Roshan Abbas). 16. Dance Dance For the Halva Waala — Episode 294 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Jai Arjun Singh and Subrat Mohanty). 17. Narendra Modi on climate change. 18. Yes Minister -- Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay. 19. Yes Prime Minister -- Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay. 20. The Overview Effect. 21. The Day Ryan Started Masturbating -- Amit Varma. 22. Security Check -- Varun Grover. 23. Nothing is Indian! Everything is Indian! -- Episode 12 of Everything is Everything. 24. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe -- Douglas Adams. 25. Arrival — Denis Villeneuve. 26. The Hidden Life of Trees — Peter Wohlleben. 27. Self-Esteem (and a Puddle) — Amit Varma's post with Douglas Adams's puddle quote. 28. Bittu Sahgal on Wikipedia, Instagram, Twitter and Amazon. 29. I Contain Multitudes -- Ed Yong. 30. Song of Myself — Walt Whitman. 31. How I Reversed My Type 2 Diabetes -- Episode 9 of Everything is Everything. 32. Fat Chance -- Robert Lustig on Fructose 2.0. 33. How Sugar & Processed Foods Impact Your Health -- Robert Lustig on The Huberman Lab Podcast. 34. Rahul Matthan Seeks the Protocol -- Episode 360 of The Seen and the Unseen. 35. Privacy 3.0 — Rahul Matthan. 36. Abby Philips Fights for Science and Medicine — Episode 310 of The Seen and the Unseen. 37. Shruti Jahagirdar's Twitter thread on Bournvita. 38. Shruti Jahagirdar is the Sporty One -- Episode 289 of The Seen and the Unseen. 39. The Incredible Curiosities of Mukulika Banerjee — Episode 276 of The Seen and the Unseen. 40. Seven Stories That Should Be Films -- Episode 23 of Everything is Everything. 41. What's Wrong With Indian Agriculture? -- Episode 18 of Everything is Everything. 42. The Walrus and the Carpenter -- Lewis Carroll. 43. There is no Frigate like a Book -- Emily Dickinson. 44. Why I'm Hopeful About Twitter -- Amit Varma. 45. A decontextualized reel of Dr Pal on The Ranveer Show. 46. The Liver Doctor's feisty response to the reel above. 47. The full interview of Dr Pal on The Ranveer Show. 48. The Gentle Wisdom of Pratap Bhanu Mehta — Episode 300 of The Seen and the Unseen. 49. Aakash Singh Rathore, the Ironman Philosopher — Episode 340 of The Seen and the Unseen. 50. Dunbar's number. 51. Snow Crash --  Neal Stephenson. 52. Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson. 53. The Selfish Gene -- Richard Dawkins. 54. GianChand Whisky. 55. Beware of Quacks. Alternative Medicine is Injurious to Health — Amit Varma. 56. Homeopathic Faith — Amit Varma. 57. Homeopathy, quackery and fraud — James Randi. 58. Fallacy of Composition. 59. The Secret to a Happy Marriage -- Mike and Joelle. 60. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud -- William Wordsworth. 61. WD 40 on Amazon. 62. Dog Songs -- Mary Oliver. 63. The Evolution of Cooperation -- Robert Axelrod. 64. The Interpreter -- Amit Varma (on Michael Gazzaniga's split-brain experiments). 65. Human -- Michael Gazzaniga. 66. The Blank Slate -- Steven Pinker. 67. Minority Report -- Steven Spielberg. 68. Free Will -- Sam Harris. 69. Determined: Life Without Free Will -- Robert Sapolsky. 70. Behave -- Robert Sapolsky. 71. Noise -- Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony and Cass R. Sunstein. 72. Brave New World -- Aldous Huxley. 73. Cicada -- Shaun Tan. 74. Don't think too much of yourself. You're an accident — Amit Varma's column on Chris Cornell's death. 75. Are You Just One Version of Yourself? -- Episode 3 of Everything is Everything. 76. Lat Uljhi Suljha Ja Balam -- Bade Ghulam Ali Khan performs Raag Bihag. 77. Danish Husain and the Multiverse of Culture -- Episode 359 of The Seen and the Unseen. 78. Danish Husain's anecdote about Mahatma Gandhi and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. 79. Pushpesh Pant Feasts on the Buffet of Life -- Episode 326 of The Seen and the Unseen. 80. Arijit Singh on Autotune. 81. How Music Works -- David Byrne. 82. Raga Lalita Gauri -- Mallikarjun Mansur. 83. Raag Lalita Gauri (1947) -- Kesarbai Kerkar. 84. Raga Vibhas -- Mallikarjun Mansur. 85. Mohe Rang Do Laal -- Song from Bajirao Mastani. 86. Raag Basanti Kedar -- Mallikarjun Mansur. 87. Travelling through Pakistan; from Karachi to K2 -- Salman Rashid on The Pakistan Experience, hosted by Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. 88. A rare video of Balasaraswathi dancing while singing Krishna Nee Begane. 89. Krishna Nee Begane Baro -- Madras String Quartet. 90. Albela Sajan -- Hard rock adaptation by Krish Ashok and Vijay Kannan. 91. [Don't Fear] The Reaper -- Blue Oyster Cult. 92. Krish Ashok's Sanskrit version of the song above. 93. Purple Haze -- Jimi Hendrix. 94. All That She Wants — Ace of Base. 95. Caste, Gender, Karnatik Music — Episode 162 of The Seen and the Unseen (w TM Krishna). 96. Brown Eyed Girl -- Van Morrison. 97. Astral Weeks -- Van Morrison. 98. Moondance -- Van Morrison. 99. Episode on Astral Weeks in the podcast, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs. 100. In a Silent Way — Episode 316 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Gaurav Chintamani). 101. Advaita on YouTube Music, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram and Twitter. 102. Raman Negi on YouTube Music, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram and Twitter. 103. Greta Van Fleet and The Mars Volta on Spotify. 104. Shakti and Indian Ocean on Spotify. 105. Pink Floyd and Kendrick Lamar on Spotify. 106. Analysis of Food Pairing in Regional Cuisines of India -- Anupam Jain, Rakhi NK and Ganesh Bagler. 107. Krish Ashok's reel explaining the above paper. 108. Amitava Kumar Finds the Breath of Life -- Episode 265 of The Seen and the Unseen. 109. How to Show, Not Tell: The Complete Writing Guide -- Diane Callahan. 110. We Love Vaccines! We Love Freedom! -- Episode 27 of Everything is Everything. 111. Math Is Better Than the Brigadier's Girlfriend -- Episode 15 of Everything is Everything. 112. Chintaman and I -- Durgabai Deshmukh. 113. Kavitha Rao and Our Lady Doctors — Episode 235 of The Seen and the Unseen. 114. Lady Doctors -- Kavitha Rao. 115. Jeff Bezos on The Lex Fridman Podcast talking about one-way doors and two-way doors. 116. It is immoral to have children. Here's why — Amit Varma. 117. Population Is Not a Problem, but Our Greatest Strength — Amit Varma. 118. Our Population Is Our Greatest Asset -- Episode 20 of Everything is Everything. 119. ChuChuTV. 120. A Deep Dive Into Ukraine vs Russia — Episode 335 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ajay Shah). 121. The State of the Ukraine War -- Episode 14 of Everything is Everything. 122. King Lear -- William Shakespeare. 123. Churchill: Walking with Destiny -- Andrew Roberts. 124. Churchill and the genocide myth — Zareer Masani. 125. Perplexity. This episode is sponsored by CTQ Compounds. Check out The Daily Reader and FutureStack. Use the code UNSEEN for Rs 2500 off. Amit Varma and Ajay Shah have launched a new video podcast. Check out Everything is Everything on YouTube. Check out Amit's online course, The Art of Clear Writing. And subscribe to The India Uncut Newsletter. It's free! Episode art: ‘'Let's Dance" by Simahina.

Will big data and scary AI take over the world? Not a chance, says Gary Smith, as he joins Vasant Dhar in episode 68 of Brave New World. The human brain is special. Useful resources: 1. Gary Smith on Twitter, Amazon, Pomona College, Google Scholar and his own website. 2. The AI Delusion -- Gary Smith. 3. Distrust: Big Data, Data-Torturing, and the Assault on Science -- Gary Smith. 4. Standard Deviations: Flawed Assumptions, Tortured Data, and Other Ways to Lie with Statistics -- Gary Smith. 5. Security Analysis -- Benjamin Graham and David Dodd. 6. Sam Bowman on ChatGPT & Controlling AI — Episode 58 of Brave New World. 7. Raphaël Millière Looks Under the Hood of AI -- Episode 60 of Brave New World. 8. Nandan Nilekani on an Egalitarian Internet — Episode 15 of Brave New World. 9. Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment --  Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony and Cass R. Sunstein. 10. Daniel Kahneman on How Noise Hampers Judgement — Episode 21 of Brave New World. 11. The Nature of Intelligence — Episode 7 of Brave New World (w Yann le Cunn). 12. Ellie Pavlick on the Cutting Edge of AI -- Episode 67 of Brave New World. Check out Vasant Dhar's newsletter on Substack. Subscription is free!

Chapter 1 What's Nudge about"Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" is a book written by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein. The book explores the concept of "nudge," which refers to any aspect of choice architecture that alters people's behavior in a predictable way without restricting their freedom of choice. Thaler and Sunstein delve into behavioral economics, which studies how psychological biases often lead individuals to make choices that may not align with their best interests. They argue that by understanding these biases, policymakers and individuals can make small changes to the environment or context in which decisions are made to encourage better outcomes. The authors provide numerous examples and case studies from various domains, including personal finance, healthcare, education, and environmental conservation. They discuss how subtle changes in the presentation of choices, such as framing, default options, and incentives, can significantly influence decision-making and improve outcomes for individuals and society as a whole. Additionally, the book explores the ethical implications of nudges, highlighting the importance of transparency, accountability, and respect for individual autonomy. Thaler and Sunstein emphasize that nudges should be used to guide individuals towards better choices while still giving them the freedom to decide for themselves. Overall, "Nudge" offers valuable insights into human decision-making and provides practical strategies for designing environments that help individuals make better choices about their health, wealth, and overall happiness.Chapter 2 Why is Nudge A Good BookAccording to reddit comments on Nudge, "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein is widely regarded as a good book for several reasons: 1. Insightful concepts: The book introduces the concept of "nudging," which refers to the idea that small changes in the way choices are presented can significantly influence people's decisions. Thaler and Sunstein explore how subtle tweaks in decision-making environments can help individuals make better choices without restricting their freedom. 2. Practical applications: "Nudge" provides numerous examples of how nudging can be applied in various aspects of life, including personal finance, healthcare, education, and public policy. The authors present practical tools and strategies that can be used to design choice architecture effectively, leading to improved outcomes. 3. Accessible writing style: Despite diving into behavioral economics, the book maintains an engaging and accessible writing style. Thaler and Sunstein explain complex concepts using relatable examples, making it easy for readers to understand and apply the ideas discussed. 4. Evidence-based reasoning: The authors support their arguments with a wealth of research from the fields of psychology, economics, and behavioral science. They present empirical evidence to back up their claims, making the book more credible and trustworthy. 5. Relevance to everyday life: The topics covered in "Nudge" have significant implications for our daily lives. By understanding the principles of nudging, readers can gain insights into how their own decisions are influenced and learn techniques to make more informed choices in various areas,...

Chapter 1 What's Noise aboutThe book "Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment" is co-authored by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein. It explores the concept of noise, which refers to unwanted variability in human judgment and decision-making. In the book, Kahneman and his co-authors argue that while biases (systematic errors) in decision-making have received substantial attention, people often neglect the detrimental impact of noise. Noise occurs when individuals facing the same decision problem make different judgments or decisions due to random or irrelevant influences. These variations can lead to inconsistent and unfair outcomes, affecting various domains like law, medicine, hiring processes, and more. Kahneman and his colleagues provide insights into the sources of noise and its consequences, stressing the importance of reducing noise to achieve greater accuracy and fairness. They delve into the root causes of noise, such as flawed measurement tools, poorly designed procedures, and subjective human judgment. Additionally, the authors discuss potential remedies to mitigate noise, including using algorithms, decision aids, structured judgment protocols, and training. "Noise" sheds light on a critical yet often overlooked aspect of decision-making and highlights the need for organizations and individuals to address and minimize noise to improve the quality of their judgments and outcomes.Chapter 2 Is Noise ValuedAccording to reddit comments on Noise, "Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment" by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, and Cass R. Sunstein is valued because it sheds light on an important yet often overlooked aspect of human decision-making: the presence of noise. While much research has been focused on biases and errors in judgment, this book highlights the role of inconsistency and randomness in decision-making processes. Here are some reasons why this book is valued: 1. Awareness of noise: The book raises awareness about the concept of noise and its impact on decision-making. Noise refers to unwanted variability or inconsistency in judgments made by different individuals assessing the same situation. By highlighting this flaw, the book prompts readers to question their own judgments and consider the possibility of noise affecting their decisions. 2. Understanding decision-making: By exploring the root causes of noise, such as individual differences, contextual factors, and situational influences, the book provides insights into the complexities of decision-making. It helps readers understand that even when people have access to the same information and face similar circumstances, their judgments can differ significantly due to inherent noise. 3. Practical implications: "Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment" emphasizes the practical implications of noise for various fields, including law, healthcare, hiring practices, and policy-making. It demonstrates how reducing noise in decision-making processes can lead to improved outcomes and more consistent results. By providing actionable recommendations, the book offers a framework for reducing noise and increasing fairness in a variety of domains. 4. Collaboration and transparency: The book promotes collaboration and transparency by encouraging organizations and institutions to adopt methods that minimize noise. By...

We make countless decisions throughout our lives that range from the mundane to the monumental. But how do you decide how you decide? That is the fundamental question in our esteemed guest, Cass R. Sunstein's new book Decisions about Decisions: Practical Reason in Ordinary Life. Cass currently serves as the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard University and is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. He is also a prolific author, with one of his most notable works being the hugely popular and impactful book, Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness, which he co-wrote with Richard Thaler in 2008. In today's conversation, we sit down with Cass to discuss the difficulties inherent to understanding why people make the decisions they make and what the latest research teaches us about how we should approach decision-making to maximize our well-being. Cass provides insight into second-order thinking strategies, the difference between picking and choosing, and why delegating a particular decision is sometimes the right call. We also unpack what to consider when making major life choices, the strengths and weaknesses of algorithms when it comes to decision-making, and much more. To hear Cass's many insights on the topic of behaviour, knowledge, and decision-making, be sure to tune in! Key Points From This Episode:   The challenges of understanding why people make the decisions that they make. (0:03:38) Second-order decisions and why they are sometimes preferable to on-the-spot decisions. (0:04:50) An overview of various second-order decision strategies.  (0:06:45) Guidelines to help you choose which decisions to delegate and how to determine whether you have a trustworthy delegate. (0:11:28) What to consider when making a transformative and irrevocable life decision. (0:16:07) Why people avoid seeking out information that might make them feel bad, even if it could help them make better decisions. (0:21:29) How people decide what information to believe and when to update their beliefs. (0:28:01) Asymmetries in how we update our beliefs and factors that can deter people from updating their beliefs when faced with new evidence. (0:32:28) How joint evaluation and separate evaluation influences your decision making and which one you should use depending on the context. (0:43:12) Insights on well-being and what to value when you're making everyday decisions. (0:48:14) The strengths and weaknesses of algorithms when it comes to making decisions and what we gain when we make decisions ourselves. (0:52:38) Examples of when using algorithms can be harmful or dangerous. (0:59:25) How our decisions can be manipulated and the importance of doing due diligence. (01:01:30) Cass's well-known work on nudges and how nudges differ from manipulation. (01:02:59) Happiness, meaning, variety, and how Cass defines success in life. (1:05:50)   Links From Today's Episode:   Cass R. Sunstein — https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/cass-r-sunstein/ Cass R. Sunstein on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/csunstein/ Cass R. Sunstein on on X — https://twitter.com/CassSunstein/ The Behavioural Insights Team — https://www.bi.team/ Decisions About Decisions: Practical Reason in Ordinary Life — https://www.amazon.com/Decisions-about-Practical-Reason-Ordinary/dp/1009400460 Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness — https://www.amazon.com/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/014311526X Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582. Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/  Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/ Rational Reminder on X — https://twitter.com/RationalRemind Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ Rational Reminder Email — info@rationalreminder.ca Benjamin Felix — https://www.pwlcapital.com/author/benjamin-felix/  Benjamin on X — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/ Cameron Passmore — https://www.pwlcapital.com/profile/cameron-passmore/ Cameron on X — https://twitter.com/CameronPassmore Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/

It's not an exaggeration to say that “clock time” runs our lives. From the moment our alarms go off in the morning, the clock reigns supreme: our meetings, our appointments, even our social plans are often timed down to the minute. We even measure the quality of our lives with reference to time, often lamenting that time seems to “fly by” when we're having fun and “drags on” when we're bored or stagnant. We rarely stop to think about time, but that's precisely because there are few forces more omnipresent in our lives.“You are the best time machine that has ever been built,” Dean Buonomano writes in his book “Your Brain Is a Time Machine: The Neuroscience and Physics of Time.” Buonomano is a professor of neurobiology and psychology at U.C.L.A. who studies the relationship between time and the human brain. His book tackles the most profound questions about time that affect all of our lives: Why do we feel it so differently at different points in our lives? What do we miss if we live so rigidly bound to the demands of our clocks and appointments? Why during strange periods like pandemic lockdowns do we feel “lost in time”? And what if — as some physicists believe — the future may already exist, with grave implications for our ability to act meaningfully in the present?We discuss what time would be in an empty universe without humans, why humans have not evolved to understand time the way we understand space, how our ability to predict the future differs from animals', why time during the Covid lockdowns felt so bizarre, why scientists think time “flies” when we're having fun but slows down when people experience near-death accidents, what humans lost when we invented very precise clocks, why some physicists believe the future is already determined for us and what that would mean for our ethical behavior, why we're so bad at saving money, what steps we could take to feel as if we're living longer in time, why it's so hard — but ultimately possible — to live in the present moment and more.Mentioned:Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes by Daniel L. EverettBook Recommendations:Noise by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony and Cass R. SunsteinWhen We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin LabatutThe Age of A.I. by Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt and Daniel HuttenlocherThoughts? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. (And if you're reaching out to recommend a guest, please write  “Guest Suggestion” in the subject line.)You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.“The Ezra Klein Show” is produced by Emefa Agawu, Annie Galvin, Jeff Geld, Rogé Karma and Kristin Lin. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris and Kate Sinclair. Original music by Isaac Jones. Mixing by Jeff Geld and Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta.

Using Family Photos Of Fall Foliage To Track Climate Change Leaf-peeping, or tourism based on observing the colors of fall foliage, is a big industry in parts of the Northeast. So as leaves continue to change across the northern United States with the turning of the seasons, researchers are working to better understand how climate change may be affecting fall colors—changes that may affect the bottom line for those tourism-rich areas. But to tease out the factors involved with the timing of peak leaf color, the researchers need data on when leaves started to change color, when they arrive at their peak color, and when the leaf-peeping season ends. Unfortunately, satellite imagery showing leaf color is only available dating back to the year 2000—and so Stephanie Spera of the University of Richmond is trying to get data in some unconventional ways. Spera and colleagues are engaging in a massive citizen-science project, asking for tourist snapshots of Acadia National Park that show the colors of fall. While they'll accept your cellphone selfies, they're especially interested in older, pre-digital images—the sort of vacation pictures that might be in your family albums, or in shoe boxes in an elderly relative's attic. Adding those images to their data set, she says, will both help them to validate the satellite data and to extend the boundaries of their data set outwards. Heather Goldstone, host and executive producer of Living Lab Radio on WCAI, joins Ira to talk about the project and how listeners can participate.   The ‘Grandfather' Of The Voyager Mission Retires 45 years ago, the Voyagers 1 and 2 spacecraft were launched into the cosmos from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Since then, they've traveled over 14 billion miles from Earth, on a grand tour of our solar system, and beyond. The mission is still running, making Voyager 1 the farthest human-built artifact from Earth. Even before launch, scientists and engineers were hard at work planning and designing the mission. Last week, NASA announced the retirement of Dr. Ed Stone, who some called the ‘grandfather' of the mission. Dr. Stone shepherded the Voyager program as its project scientist for 50 full years. In this conversation from 2013, just after Voyager 1 had entered interstellar space, Ira spoke with Dr. Stone for a status update on the mission.   A Flaw in Human Judgment: How Making Decisions Isn't As Objective As You Think If two people are presented with the same set of facts, they will often draw different conclusions. For example, judges often dole out different sentences for the same case, which can lead to an unjust system. This unwanted variability in judgments in which we expect uniformity is what psychologist Daniel Kahneman calls “noise.” The importance of thoughtful decision-making has come in stark relief during the pandemic and in the events leading up to the January 6th insurrection. Ira talks with Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman about the role of ‘noise' in human judgment, his long career studying cognitive biases, and how systematic decision-making can result in fewer errors. Kahneman is the co-author of “Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment,” along with Oliver Sibony and Cass R. Sunstein, now available in paperback.   Frenemies, Lovers, And The Fate Of The Cosmos: Our Galaxy Tells All Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is 13.6 billion years old, all-knowing, and a little sassy. It has a rich social life of friends, frenemies, and even love interests—all other galaxies in the local group, including the stunning Andromeda. And the Milky Way is a little disappointed that we've stopped telling as many stories about it. Or at least, that's how folklorist and astronomer Dr. Moiya McTier imagines the galaxy's personality when writing her new book, The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy. The book stretches from the beginning of the universe to the birth of our planet, and then on to the eventual theoretical end of the cosmos. Along the way, we learn both the science of how stars form and galaxies collide, and the many stories and myths humans have told about these bodies throughout our relatively brief lives. McTier joins Ira to tell all (on behalf of the Milky Way), and explain the importance of story in scientific knowledge and discovery.   Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.