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cover of episode Do Nothing, Then Do Less

Do Nothing, Then Do Less

2024/3/15
logo of podcast Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

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The episode begins with a story about Chuck Yeager's near-disastrous flight in the X-1A, highlighting how doing nothing can sometimes be the best course of action.

Shownotes Transcript

Chuck Yeager's plane pitched and rolled as it plummeted from the sky. He grappled with the controls inside the cockpit, but to no avail: he couldn't steady the aircraft. The test pilot was known for his nerves of steel but, as the barren Mojave Desert hurtled towards him, even he was afraid. What to do?

It's tempting to think that adding to our lives - more action, more work, more possessions - will lead to greater success and happiness. But sometimes doing less is the better option, as Chuck Yeager was to learn the hard way.

In their second crossover episode, Tim Harford teams up with Dr Laurie Santos (host of The Happiness Lab)) to examine why subtraction can be so challenging and so helpful.

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