Essays
Long reads on how we actually think, decide and live.
A short history of the rounding error
The story we tell afterwards is tidier than the choice we made at the time.
Kindness is a public bargain
Not every irrational act is a mistake. Some are the point.
What the round number teaches us about generosity
What feels like a preference is often just a default nobody questioned.
Why we change our minds so rarely
The evidence is clear, the incentives are not, and the incentives usually win.
What wealth feels like
The number in the account and the feeling of security are only loosely related.
In praise of the slow lane
Most advice assumes a person who never existed.
Fairness is a slow bargain
Before we try to fix people, it is worth understanding what they are for.
A short history of the group chat
Before we try to fix people, it is worth understanding what they are for.
A short history of the shortcut
The mind is built for a different world. It copes remarkably well with this one.
Envy is a slow form of trust
The cost is obvious, the benefit is diffuse, and so the benefit loses.
Patience is a stubborn way of keeping score
Most advice assumes a person who never existed.
What the last biscuit teaches us about kindness
The cost is obvious, the benefit is diffuse, and so the benefit loses.