#400: The Tyranny of Convenience

#400: The Tyranny of Convenience

Modern life has given us lots of conveniences. With a tap of your smartphone screen, and without leaving the house, you can order a car to your door or a hot dinner, or even replenish your toilet paper supply. Right now, you’re listening to this podcast how and when you want to. Yes, life is good in the 21st century.
But what if there’s such a thing as too much convenience? What if it's actually enslaving us in some strange way?
That’s what my guest today argues. His name is Tim Wu, he’s a professor of law at Columbia Law School and the author of several books, including "The Attention Merchants." Today on the show, Tim and I discuss the tyranny of convenience. We begin with a brief history of convenience, discussing how it became a driving force in the economy in the late 19th century and how Tim believes we’re at the beginning of a second convenience revolution. We then discuss how convenience can make us feel more free and unique, but actually limits our freedom and makes us like everyone else. Tim then shares ideas on how to inject some healthy inconvenience in your life for more happiness, freedom, and fulfillment.
Get the full show notes at aom.is/convenience.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(1158)

The Code They Killed For — Honor, Manhood, and the American Gunfighter

The Code They Killed For — Honor, Manhood, and the American Gunfighter

When you picture a gunfighter, you probably think of a Hollywood cowboy — spurs jangling, six-shooter on his hip, squaring off at high noon in a dusty frontier town. But gunfighters weren’t just produ...

26 Aug 202551min

Aristotle’s Art of Self-Persuasion — How to Use Ancient Rhetoric to Change Your Life

Aristotle’s Art of Self-Persuasion — How to Use Ancient Rhetoric to Change Your Life

The ancient art of rhetoric has shaped political policies, influenced social movements, structured legal arguments, and molded cultural narratives throughout history. It's been used for three thousand...

19 Aug 202551min

How to Make a Big Decision (Faster!)

How to Make a Big Decision (Faster!)

Making big decisions can feel paralyzing. Whether it's choosing a new job, moving to a different city, or deciding if you should break up with someone, these choices can keep you agonizingly stuck, fo...

12 Aug 202552min

Rooted Living in a Shallow Age — A Shepherd’s Guide to the Good Life

Rooted Living in a Shallow Age — A Shepherd’s Guide to the Good Life

In a world that often feels dominated by technology and constant change, it’s easy to forget that some people are still living by the rhythms of ancient traditions. James Rebanks, an author and shephe...

5 Aug 202544min

From Plane Crashes to Terrorist Attacks — Who Survives, and Why

From Plane Crashes to Terrorist Attacks — Who Survives, and Why

You're on an airplane that crash lands. Smoke fills the cabin, and you've got only seconds to react. How would you respond? Would you immediately take action — or freeze in place?While you might think...

29 Jul 20251h

The 6 Levels of Wealth and How to Reach Them

The 6 Levels of Wealth and How to Reach Them

You've heard the advice that to build wealth, you need to earn more, spend less, and invest consistently. But what if there was a clearer way to understand exactly where you stand financially — and wh...

22 Jul 202547min

The Microbiome Master Key — How 100 Trillion Bacteria Influence Your Weight, Mood, and All-Around Health

The Microbiome Master Key — How 100 Trillion Bacteria Influence Your Weight, Mood, and All-Around Health

When you think of the microbiome, you probably think of your gut. But bacteria live all over your body. And they’re incredibly numerous; you play host to about as many microbes — a hundred trillion of...

15 Jul 202554min

Tame the Dopamine Drive — How to Stop Chasing and Start Living

Tame the Dopamine Drive — How to Stop Chasing and Start Living

All the neurochemicals in the brain have to do with life in the present. Except for one: dopamine. Dopamine is the one neurochemical that looks to the future. It anticipates what may be to come and dr...

9 Jul 202547min

Populært innen Fakta

mikkels-paskenotter
fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
foreldreradet
treningspodden
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
rss-bisarr-historie
jakt-og-fiskepodden
hverdagspsyken
sinnsyn
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
fryktlos
level-up-med-anniken-binz
gravid-uke-for-uke
rss-kunsten-a-leve
rss-kull
takk-og-lov-med-anine-kierulf
hagespiren-podcast
uroskolen