
a book
What's Our Problem?
Tim Urban · 2023 · 512 pages
From the creator of the wildly popular blog Wait But Why, a fun and fascinating deep dive into what the hell is going on in our strange, unprecedented modern times.
Between 2013 and 2016, Tim Urban became one of the world’s most popular bloggers, writing dozens of viral, long-form articles about everything from AI to colonizing Mars to procrastination. Then, he turned his attention to a new topic: the society around him. Why was everything such a mess? Why was everyone acting like such a baby? When did things get so tribal? Why do humans do this stuff?
This massive topic sent Tim tumbling down his deepest rabbit hole yet, through mountains of history, evolutionary psychology, political theory, neuroscience, and modern-day political movements, as he tried to figure out the answer to a simple question: What’s our problem?
Six years later, he emerged from the hole holding this book. What’s Our Problem? is a deep and expansive analysis of our modern times, in the classic style of Wait But Why, packed with original concepts, sticky metaphors, and 300 drawings. The book provides an entirely new framework and language for thinking and talking about today’s complex world. Instead of focusing on the usual left-center-right horizontal political axis, which is all about what we think, the book introduces a vertical axis that explores how we think, as individuals and as groups. Readers will find themselves on a delightful and fascinating journey that will ultimately change the way they see the world around them.
Anyway he wanted to say a lot more about all of this but there was a word limit on this book description so just go read the book.
recommended by 9 people
sourced from public statements

Tobi Lütke
“This book is truly remarkable. Tim has spent 6 years on this. You must read it.”↗

Sriram Krishnan
“@elonmusk One of the best books of recent times. A truly new framework to describe the last few years. @waitbutwhy”↗

Sahil Bloom
“@lexfridman @waitbutwhy @Liv_Boeree The book is so good.”↗

Joe Lonsdale
“""How to Conquer a College" & "How to Conquer a Society" are two key chapters in his book. He illustrates how small, radical mobs took down some of our large, elite institutions - and why it only takes a few courageous leaders to stop the madness! Tim's been instrumental in the country's "vibe shift", and his book is a must-read."”↗

Peter Boghossian
“This is one of the best, most detailed, and most important books I have ever read. @waitbutwhy’s What's Our Problem? Spanning multiple domains of thought, it is an entirely new way to think about thinking, language, and even what a book is. #Masterpiece”↗




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