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

Food for thought

I find myself conflicted about this book. I've been following Tim Urban's blog since 2016, and I've always really appreciated the subjects he chooses to write about, the meticulous research that go into them, and the somewhat informal writing style and drawings.

The initial chapters of The Story Of Us, which turned into this book, had me eagerly looking forward to the final version. The metaphors of the higher mind and the golem for different types of thinking really resonated with me. I was curious to see what applying that theory to our current society would bring to light.

What I didn't expect was that so much of the book would be about _who_ was doing the low rung thinking. I've gone back to the chapter that defines Social Justice Fundamentalism, the main antagonist of this non-fiction work, but I'm still not exactly sure where the definition came from and who are and aren't part of it. I think i have a rough idea, and I find myself agreeing with a lot of the assessments of what the problems are. But i still can't shake the feeling that halfway through, the book turns into a witch hunt. It feels like this is not merely an objective look at what's going on in society, it feels _personal_. I did not expect that.

As a very left wing climate activist, I realize that I spend a lot of time with people in the SJF sphere. I also realize this triggers some of my own lower rung thinking, when it feels like "my people" are under attack. I do push back when i feel like friends are succumbing to fundamentalist thinking, and i don't feel entirely addressed by this book, but I do feel I'm sometimes part of what Tim describes as the problem. This is food for thought. How can I stay true to high rung thinking and help the movement I'm part of stay (or become) an idea lab?

Thanks, Tim, for putting this out there. I've put it on the long list for our little climate activist bookclub. The resulting discussions shall be interesting..

Must read

One of the first digestible books on politics I’ve read. Flew through it and learned a ton about US politics. I have more hope for the future of our country and new language and concepts to talk about some complex topics.

People need to read this book

Tim applies his famous reasoning from first principles approach to current American politics, explaining recent trends and calling for productive and civil discourse, complete with stick figure drawings.

Amazing

have been waiting for this for a long time, and really enjoyed finally reading it

Nailed it.

A very well articulated analysis of where we are as a society and how we got here. Regardless of your political ideology, expect to be challenged on your beliefs.

Absolute masterpiece

This is a book for everyone to read. As disheartening as it is, it gives hope for the future. Thanks Tim.

Great & Timely Book

Wow, what a great book. Really sheds a light on a very important topic that I haven’t heard much about before reading this book. It made me aware of a major gap in my knowledge and understanding that I feel many others may also have.

needs more solution.

Way to much about the problem and very little about the solution. The author also tries to change the meaning of words to make his point. He tells us golumb means some kind of person and liberal doesn't mean what everyone thinks it does. Or is he just wanting to be known for catch phrases. In any case, they are very distracting. The book is still worth a read but it could be a lot better.

Amazingly insightful and helpful

Best book on the subject of our society’s current condition. Helps us understand what is really going on and how we can approach our charges environment in a way that is productive and helpful to others. “It’s not us verses them. It’s just one giant us.” 👏🏼 👏🏼 🙌🏼

Insightful and timely

Although flawed in some respects at least from my perspective, overall an incredibly worthwhile read - a cogent critique of the rise of the illiberal Left.