What's Our Problem?

A Self-Help Book for Societies

By: Tim Urban

Narrated by: Tim Urban

Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

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 with this book. Narrated by the author, 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 and sticky metaphors. 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. Listeners 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 listen to the book.

©2023 Tim Urban (P)2023 Tim Urban

First!

This is great! I really love the representative descriptions of larger concepts so they can creatively interact. It’s an honor to be the first Audible review for what I’m sure will be recognized as an intellectually stimulating work. Cheers Tim, love thinking with ya

A centrist manifesto in a world of extremism

I loved the thoughtful, thorough and balanced approach Tim took with the book (as he always does with all his blogs and scribbles). While the current societal/political challenges are unsettling and our fate as a society far from certain, what could give us a better chance to come through dark periods like this than research communicated in a straightforward voice (and drawings to match) like that of Tim?

Eye-opening

The way Tim articulates the reasons that our society is circling the drain. Its funny seeing the one and two starts on here. If that's you, you might be part of the problem that Tim's talking about.

Great book about the zeitgeist

The book is read by the author and is accompanied with a PDF containing illustrations from the author as well which makes it helpful to comprehend some concepts and ideas. Highly recommended!

Our society needs this book

Best read of the last few years. I hope as many people as possible read this

Incisive insight in a digestible format

Incisive insight in a digestible format. this book is a must read for anybody who wants to be honest in the way they conduct themselves and help reduce the growing gaps between political parties

this was a thoughtful analysis of a hard topic

I'm a long-time fan of Tim's well-thought-out, in-depth writing style. He almost always teaches me something, which was also true here, with this lengthy work of nonfiction.

I think the narrative may have been too long, but I almost hesitate to say that because some of the more difficult aspects of the book needed considerable care and detail in order to make their points. I would love it if he could supervise the production of a condensed version of this, because I think that its length might be a barrier to other readers. I think he said it was in the order of 120,000 words. Wow!

I think that more people need the opportunity to consider these issues in a thoughtful way, not in a rage state of mind.

One comment I have is that his use of unfamiliar labels (like golem) challenged my flow to try to remember how those concepts were relevant in a given sentence. I understand that he needed shorthand, but at least in my case it formed a bit of a barrier to understanding.

It must have been difficult to write about the topics in this book, navigating a minefield of triggers. I know that this must have added length, to bring out topics with enough care to avoid persistently triggering people every few pages (or paragraphs). Overall, in my opinion, Tim's points were well considered and well made.

Well reasoned and researched

The initial portion of the book establishes a framework for understanding human beings on multiple levels which are indisputable. This is followed by evidence of the status quo which is rather sad. This book will be read widely by both sides, and may begin a return to our sensibilities.

Thank You

Very illuminating. Thank you for writing it. I would love to see a physical book released.

This Surprised Me

I am not familiar with the author but have read some Hait. I came across this with a book recommendation from the Ezra Klein show. I was really surprised that almost half of the book was about left wing fundamentalism. Not upset, just didn’t anticipate it.

I read some of the comments and this seems to have frustrated some, but I have to believe most of the folks coming across this book are going to be pretty familiar with the “red golem” character anyway.

I got two really great things from this book. The first, high rung vs low rung axis to think about politics is something that seems so useful. The second, and maybe the point that got missed (?) that the tit for tat happening between left and right golems really does seem to be driving the car towards the cliff. If we can’t have an honest reckoning with ourselves about this - it’s not going to end well.

Thanks, Tim, for providing some of the vocabulary I needed to keep thinking about this.