Same as Ever

A Guide to What Never Changes

By: Morgan Housel

Narrated by: Chris Hill

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

“Want to understand the changing world? Start with what stays the same. That’s the amazing conclusion of Morgan Housel’s fascinating, useful, and highly-entertaining book.”

— Arthur C. Brooks, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, and #1 New York Times bestselling author


From the author of the international blockbuster THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY, a powerful new tool to unlock one of life’s most challenging puzzles.

Every investment plan under the sun is, at best, an informed speculation of what may happen in the future, based on a systematic extrapolation from the known past.

Same as Ever reverses the process, inviting us to identify the many things that never, ever change.

With his usual elan, Morgan Housel presents a master class on optimizing risk, seizing opportunity, and living your best life. Through a sequence of engaging stories and pithy examples, he shows how we can use our newfound grasp of the unchanging to see around corners, not by squinting harder through the uncertain landscape of the future, but by looking backwards, being more broad-sighted, and focusing instead on what is permanently true.

By doing so, we may better anticipate the big stuff, and achieve the greatest success, not merely financial comforts, but most importantly, a life well lived.

Cover design by Christopher Parker.

©2023 Morgan Housel (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Morgan Housel has done it again. Same As Ever brims with wisdom and wit, and Housel has an ingenious way of selecting the perfect, unforgettable story to drive home timeless lessons about money, life, storytelling, ambition, and satisfaction. This little book contains a library's worth of wisdom.” (Derek Thompson, The Atlantic)

“This book is both profoundly thoughtful, almost impossible to put down, and really important. Housel explains how so much of what determines our fate is random, seemingly hanging from a thread—and yet, there are also universal truths that have stayed consistent over centuries. What Housel shows is how to find them.” (Bethany McLean, bestselling coauthor of The Smartest Guys in the Room and All the Devils are Here)

“Life changing insights from a fantastic story teller." (Ryan Holiday, bestselling author of The Obstacle is the Way and The Daily Dad)

Great book!

I love the way the author thinks and how his curiosity into history is woven through his sane, grounded outlook. I've desperately needed this counsel around the psychology of money. Great book! Can't wait for the next one

Timeless

Having previously read Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, I thought I should pick this one up too. It did not disappoint one of those books. You should probably read every year.

Wisdom never gets old

Timeless thoughts. This book is a treasure for the young but it will be appreciated by the old for they will see its truth in the pages of their lives.

Full of Wisdom - However...

However, I would not title this book "Same as Ever".
While it is indeed packed with wisdom which was rightfully relevant both 100 years ago and 100 years in the future (hence, the title), this title can be true for many books about human behavior. For example, a book about people falling in love and breaking up could easily also be named Same as Ever. There were some topics I expected in the book which were absent:
The lindy effect - was not deliberately addressed but was kind of refuted through examples from evolution... How could the lindy effect not even be mentioned as it is literally connected to the idea of things that last...
War was addressed - but not closely enough. He didn't try to answer if there always be war. Is war also "Same as Ever"?
Will people always eat meat?
Racism?
Corruption in Politics?
Was expecting these topics...
Still, will give five stars for wisdom packed extremely well and with a lot of compassion as well...

A must listen

Perfect collection of stories and thought provoking questions which will change your perspective on the future.

The Author knows his Craft

I rarely give reviews but couldn't help myself with this one, this is the third time am going through the book and I think am not stopping till every word sinks it. Thank you for writing it

Great book, such a wonderful wake-up call

Wow, I love the amount of history Morgan dug into to make this book so powerful! It makes so much sense, yet it is so hard for us to keep in mind, due to our instincts of greed, fear and needs to feel “right”
This is a must listen book, I am so glad I found out about this one though a podcast!

A book everyone should read at least once!

As the books says, by understanding never changing principles we are able to better understand the world around us.

Timeless insights for life and business

The author didn’t necessary produce new insights. But his stories and approach shined a light on experiences we’ve all had. I had at least 5 “connect the dots “ moments during this book which exceeds my normal expectations. Definitely will listen again and recommend to others.

Excellent content!

Nuggets of wisdom delivered with efficient explanation. Thanks to the pace of the writing and delivery of the reader, I was consistently engaged.