#613: Russ Roberts on Lessons from F.A. Hayek and Nassim Taleb, Decision-Making Insights from Charles Darwin, The Dangers of Scientism, Wild Problems in Life and the Decisions That Define Us, Learnings from the Talmud, The Role of Prayer, and The Journey to Transcendence
The Tim Ferriss Show
<p><strong>Russ Roberts on Lessons from F.A. Hayek and Nassim Taleb, Decision-Making Insights from Charles Darwin, The Dangers of Scientism, Wild Problems in Life and the Decisions That Define Us, Learnings from the Talmud, The Role of Prayer, and The Journey to Transcendence | Brought to you by </strong><a href="http://athleticgreens.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Athletic Greens</strong></a><strong> all-in-one nutritional supplement, </strong><a href="http://eightsleep.com/Tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover</strong></a><strong> sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and </strong><a href="https://www.piquetea.com/pages/tim?rfsn=4667015.e001c3&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=podcast_campaign&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=timferriss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Pique</strong></a><strong> premium pu’er tea crystals. More on all three below.</strong></p><p><strong>Russ Roberts </strong>(<a href="https://twitter.com/EconTalker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@EconTalker</a>) is the President of Shalem College in Jerusalem and the John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Roberts is interested in making complicated ideas understandable. He founded and hosts the award-winning weekly podcast<em> </em><a href="https://russroberts.info/econtalk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>EconTalk: Conversations for the Curious</em></a>—with more than 800 episodes available in the archives. Past guests include Christopher Hitchens, Martha Nussbaum, Michael Lewis, Angela Duckworth, and Nassim Nicholas Taleb. His two <a href="https://russroberts.info/videos/#rap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">rap videos</a> on the ideas of John Maynard Keynes and F.A. Hayek have more than thirteen million views on YouTube. </p><p>His latest book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Problems-Guide-Decisions-Define/dp/0593418255/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us</em></strong></a>, explores the challenges of using rationality when facing big life decisions. He is also the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gambling-Other-Peoples-Money-Incentives-ebook/dp/B07NQNWHN3/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Gambling With Other People’s Money</em></a><em>,</em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Adam-Smith-Change-Your-Life/dp/1591847958/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life</em></a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Price-Everything-Parable-Possibility-Prosperity/dp/0691143358/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Price of Everything</em></a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Heart-Economic-Romance/dp/0262681358?tag=offsitoftimfe-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Invisible Heart</em></a><em>,</em> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Choice-Fable-Free-Trade-Protection/dp/0131433547/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Choice</em></a>.</p><p>Please enjoy!</p><p><em>*</em></p><p><strong>This episode is brought to you by </strong><a href="http://eightsleep.com/Tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Eight Sleep</strong></a><strong>!</strong> <a href="http://eightsleep.com/Tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eight Sleep’s <strong>Pod Pro Cover</strong></a> is the <strong>easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature</strong>. 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Just go to <a href="https://www.piquetea.com/pages/tim?rfsn=4667015.e001c3&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=podcast_campaign&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=timferriss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PiqueLife.com/Tim</a> to learn more.</p><p>*</p><p><strong>This episode is also brought to you by </strong><a href="https://www.athleticgreens.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Athletic Greens</strong></a><strong>.</strong> I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually <a href="https://www.athleticgreens.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AG1</a> by <a href="https://www.athleticgreens.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Athletic Greens</a>, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in <em>The 4-Hour Body</em> in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but <a href="https://www.athleticgreens.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AG</a> further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system. </p><p><strong>Right now, </strong><a href="https://www.athleticgreens.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Athletic Greens</strong></a><strong> is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase</strong>—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. <strong>Visit </strong><a href="https://www.athleticgreens.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>AthleticGreens.com/Tim</strong></a><strong> to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! </strong>That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.</p><p>*</p><p>[06:36] How Russ’ father chose to cultivate fatherhood.</p><p>[10:45] Does quality time demand quantity time?</p><p>[12:31] What does Shalem mean?</p><p>[14:10] What’s wrong with scientism?</p><p>[20:56] The curious task of economics, according to F.A. Hayek.</p><p>[23:18] What is a Hayekian?</p><p>[25:09] What prompted Russ to write Wild Problems?</p><p>[29:05] How Russ’ ideas about data have changed over the years.</p><p>[33:04] Making decisions: Charles Darwin vs. Homer vs. Russ.</p><p>[43:30] What makes people ideal life partners?</p><p>[52:19] Marriage as a form of growing up.</p><p>[56:53] Life lessons from Bill Belichick.</p><p>[1:02:04] Why Russ and his wife decided to move to Israel.</p><p>[1:07:45] Impressions of Jerusalem since making the move.</p><p>[1:13:34] The role of religion in Russ’ life.</p><p>[1:22:00] Life lessons from Nassim Nicholas Taleb.</p><p>[1:29:16] Thoughts on The Talmud, reading, and spending time in a finite life.</p><p>[1:35:14] You don’t have to be religious to have transcendent experiences.</p><p>[1:41:31] Tips for staying humble.</p><p>[1:48:48] Parting thoughts.</p><p>*</p><p><strong>For show notes and past guests on </strong><a href="http://tim.blog/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Tim Ferriss Show</em></strong></a><strong>, please visit</strong> <a href="https://tim.blog/podcast/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast-description" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>tim.blog/podcast</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><p><strong>For deals from sponsors of </strong><a href="http://tim.blog/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Tim Ferriss Show</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em>please visit </strong><a href="http://tim.blog/podcast-sponsors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>tim.blog/podcast-sponsors</strong></a></p><p><strong>Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (<em>5-Bullet Friday</em>) at </strong><a href="https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-1/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>tim.blog/friday</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><p><strong>For transcripts of episodes, go to </strong><a href="http://tim.blog/transcripts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>tim.blog/transcripts</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><p><strong>Discover Tim’s books: </strong><a href="http://tim.blog/books" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>tim.blog/books</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><p><strong>Follow Tim:</strong></p><p><strong>Twitter</strong>: <a href="https://twitter.com/tferriss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">twitter.com/tferriss</a> </p><p><strong>Instagram</strong>: <a href="https://instagram.com/timferriss/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">instagram.com/timferriss</a></p><p><strong>YouTube</strong>: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/timferriss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">youtube.com/timferriss</a></p><p><strong>Facebook</strong>: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TimFerriss/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facebook.com/timferriss</a> </p><p><strong>LinkedIn: </strong><a href="http://linkedin.com/in/timferriss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linkedin.com/in/timferriss</a></p><p>Past guests on <a href="http://tim.blog/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Tim Ferriss Show</em></strong></a> include <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/12/08/jerry-seinfeld/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jerry Seinfeld</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/06/26/hugh-jackman/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hugh Jackman</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/04/16/jane-goodall/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dr. Jane Goodall</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2018/11/27/lebron-james-mike-mancias/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LeBron James</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/05/20/kevin-hart/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kevin Hart</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2018/09/07/doris-kearns-goodwin-leadership/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Doris Kearns Goodwin</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2015/12/06/jamie-foxx/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jamie Foxx</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/10/19/matthew-mcconaughey/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matthew McConaughey</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2017/05/21/esther-perel/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Esther Perel</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/05/08/elizabeth-gilbert/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elizabeth Gilbert</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2017/12/20/terry-crews-how-to-have-do-and-be-all-you-want/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Terry Crews</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/08/12/sia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sia</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/10/27/yuval-noah-harari/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yuval Noah Harari</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2016/06/21/malcolm-gladwell/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Malcolm Gladwell</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/05/27/secretary-madeleine-albright/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Madeleine Albright</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2017/03/30/cheryl-strayed/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cheryl Strayed</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2019/02/18/jim-collins/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jim Collins</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/11/11/mary-karr/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mary Karr,</a> <a href="https://tim.blog/2014/10/21/brain-pickings/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maria Popova</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/05/15/sam-harris-2/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Harris</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2021/01/21/michael-phelps-grant-hackett/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Michael Phelps</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2020/01/16/bob-iger/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bob Iger</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2019/10/31/edward-norton-motherless-brooklyn/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Edward Norton</a>, <a href="https://tim.blog/2015/02/02/arnold-schwarzenegger/" 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