
What's Our Problem?
A Self-Help Book for Societies
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $31.26
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Tim Urban
-
Written by:
-
Tim Urban
About this listen
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 UrbanYou may also enjoy...
-
Secrets of Dynamic Communications
- Prepare with Focus, Deliver with Clarity, Speak with Power
- Written by: Ken Davis, Michael Hyatt - foreword
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you are one who speaks only on rare occasions or you find yourself addressing an audience every day, this book will be an invaluable tool. Beneficial to the experienced pro as well as the new beginner, Secrets of Dynamic Communication is a practical and effective handbook for powerful presentations of all kinds. It takes the listener through the process of selecting and developing a theme, giving it focus, fleshing it out, and communicating well with the audience. The first half is devoted to preparation, the second to delivery.
-
-
Excellent book for any communicator
- By Professor and Strength Coach on 2021-12-16
Written by: Ken Davis, and others
-
The Joy of Saying No
- A Simple Plan to Stop People Pleasing, Reclaim Boundaries, and Say Yes to the Life You Want
- Written by: Natalie Lue
- Narrated by: Natalie Lue
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you still playing a role you learned in childhood to please others, such as the Good Girl/Boy, the Overachiever, or the Helper? Though these kinds of roles may have gained us attention and affection, they prohibited us from becoming our true selves. People-pleasing—putting others ahead of ourselves to avoid something negative or to get something we want or need—runs rampant in our society. Saying yes when we should say no leaves us stuck in frustrating patterns.
-
-
Amazing
- By Patricia Sookwa on 2023-06-06
Written by: Natalie Lue
-
The Experience Machine
- How Our Minds Predict and Shape Reality
- Written by: Andy Clark
- Narrated by: Andy Clark
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For as long as we’ve studied human cognition, we’ve believed that our senses give us direct access to the world. What we see is what’s really there—or so the thinking goes. But new discoveries in neuroscience and psychology have turned this assumption on its head. What if rather than perceiving reality passively, your mind actively predicts it?
Written by: Andy Clark
-
The Future of Geography
- How the Competition in Space Will Change Our World (Politics of Place)
- Written by: Tim Marshall
- Narrated by: Tim Marshall
- Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Humans are venturing up and out, and we’re taking our competitive spirit with us. Soon, what happens in space will shape human history as much the mountains, rivers, and seas have impacted civilizations around the world. It’s no coincidence that Russia, China, and the USA are leading the way. The next fifty years will change the face of global politics and the world order as we know it. In this must-listen work, bestselling author Tim Marshall navigates the new astropolitical reality to show how we got here and where we’re heading.
Written by: Tim Marshall
-
The Psychology of Totalitarianism
- Written by: Mattias Desmet
- Narrated by: Dan Crue
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Totalitarianism is not a coincidence and does not form in a vacuum. It arises from a collective psychosis that has followed a predictable script throughout history. In The Psychology of Totalitarianism, world-renowned Professor of Clinical Psychology Mattias Desmet deconstructs the societal conditions that allow this collective psychosis to take hold. By looking at our current situation and identifying the phenomenon of “mass formation”—a type of collective hypnosis—he clearly illustrates how close we are to surrendering to totalitarian regimes.
-
-
Powerfully informative and inspiring of hope.
- By Pyper Weiss on 2022-10-10
Written by: Mattias Desmet
-
The Attributes
- 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance
- Written by: Rich Diviney
- Narrated by: Rich Diviney
- Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During his 20 years as a Navy officer and SEAL, Rich Diviney was intimately involved in a specialized SEAL selection process, which whittled a group of hundreds of extraordinary candidates down to a handful of the most elite performers. Diviney was often surprised by which candidates washed out and which succeeded. Some could have all the right skills and still fail, while others he might have initially dismissed would prove to be top performers.
-
-
A must read!!!
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-12-26
Written by: Rich Diviney
-
Secrets of Dynamic Communications
- Prepare with Focus, Deliver with Clarity, Speak with Power
- Written by: Ken Davis, Michael Hyatt - foreword
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you are one who speaks only on rare occasions or you find yourself addressing an audience every day, this book will be an invaluable tool. Beneficial to the experienced pro as well as the new beginner, Secrets of Dynamic Communication is a practical and effective handbook for powerful presentations of all kinds. It takes the listener through the process of selecting and developing a theme, giving it focus, fleshing it out, and communicating well with the audience. The first half is devoted to preparation, the second to delivery.
-
-
Excellent book for any communicator
- By Professor and Strength Coach on 2021-12-16
Written by: Ken Davis, and others
-
The Joy of Saying No
- A Simple Plan to Stop People Pleasing, Reclaim Boundaries, and Say Yes to the Life You Want
- Written by: Natalie Lue
- Narrated by: Natalie Lue
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you still playing a role you learned in childhood to please others, such as the Good Girl/Boy, the Overachiever, or the Helper? Though these kinds of roles may have gained us attention and affection, they prohibited us from becoming our true selves. People-pleasing—putting others ahead of ourselves to avoid something negative or to get something we want or need—runs rampant in our society. Saying yes when we should say no leaves us stuck in frustrating patterns.
-
-
Amazing
- By Patricia Sookwa on 2023-06-06
Written by: Natalie Lue
-
The Experience Machine
- How Our Minds Predict and Shape Reality
- Written by: Andy Clark
- Narrated by: Andy Clark
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For as long as we’ve studied human cognition, we’ve believed that our senses give us direct access to the world. What we see is what’s really there—or so the thinking goes. But new discoveries in neuroscience and psychology have turned this assumption on its head. What if rather than perceiving reality passively, your mind actively predicts it?
Written by: Andy Clark
-
The Future of Geography
- How the Competition in Space Will Change Our World (Politics of Place)
- Written by: Tim Marshall
- Narrated by: Tim Marshall
- Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Humans are venturing up and out, and we’re taking our competitive spirit with us. Soon, what happens in space will shape human history as much the mountains, rivers, and seas have impacted civilizations around the world. It’s no coincidence that Russia, China, and the USA are leading the way. The next fifty years will change the face of global politics and the world order as we know it. In this must-listen work, bestselling author Tim Marshall navigates the new astropolitical reality to show how we got here and where we’re heading.
Written by: Tim Marshall
-
The Psychology of Totalitarianism
- Written by: Mattias Desmet
- Narrated by: Dan Crue
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Totalitarianism is not a coincidence and does not form in a vacuum. It arises from a collective psychosis that has followed a predictable script throughout history. In The Psychology of Totalitarianism, world-renowned Professor of Clinical Psychology Mattias Desmet deconstructs the societal conditions that allow this collective psychosis to take hold. By looking at our current situation and identifying the phenomenon of “mass formation”—a type of collective hypnosis—he clearly illustrates how close we are to surrendering to totalitarian regimes.
-
-
Powerfully informative and inspiring of hope.
- By Pyper Weiss on 2022-10-10
Written by: Mattias Desmet
-
The Attributes
- 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance
- Written by: Rich Diviney
- Narrated by: Rich Diviney
- Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
During his 20 years as a Navy officer and SEAL, Rich Diviney was intimately involved in a specialized SEAL selection process, which whittled a group of hundreds of extraordinary candidates down to a handful of the most elite performers. Diviney was often surprised by which candidates washed out and which succeeded. Some could have all the right skills and still fail, while others he might have initially dismissed would prove to be top performers.
-
-
A must read!!!
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-12-26
Written by: Rich Diviney
-
Friedrich Nietzsche Collection
- The Will to Power, Beyond Good and Evil, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, and Genealogy of Morals
- Written by: Friedrich Nietzsche
- Narrated by: Gregory T. Luzitano
- Length: 40 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Artfully compiling a selection of Nietzsche’s timeless philosophy and intellectual musings, this book seeks to dispel the mystery and unravel the profound ideas behind this 19th-century intellectual giant. Exploring the driving forces behind Nietzsche’s philosophy, the Friedrich Nietzsche Collection draws on four of his most influential works, painting a rich and compelling picture of his immense legacy. This collection breaks down Nietzsche’s most impactful reflections, ranging from poignant questions about the nature of morality to a passionate call for self-discovery.
Written by: Friedrich Nietzsche
-
Superintelligence
- Paths, Dangers, Strategies
- Written by: Nick Bostrom
- Narrated by: Napoleon Ryan
- Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Superintelligence asks the questions: What happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? Will artificial agents save or destroy us? Nick Bostrom lays the foundation for understanding the future of humanity and intelligent life. The human brain has some capabilities that the brains of other animals lack. It is to these distinctive capabilities that our species owes its dominant position. If machine brains surpassed human brains in general intelligence, then this new superintelligence could become extremely powerful - possibly beyond our control.
-
-
Unnecessary Jargon
- By Bogdan on 2020-07-26
Written by: Nick Bostrom
-
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- Written by: Benjamin Franklin
- Narrated by: Qarie Marshall
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Left unfinished at the time of his death, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin has endured as one of the most well-known and influential autobiographies ever written. From his early years in Boston and Philadelphia to the publication of his Poor Richard's Almanac to the American Revolution and beyond, Franklin's autobiography is a fascinating, personal exploration into the life of America's most interesting founding father.
Written by: Benjamin Franklin
-
How Emotions Are Made
- The Secret Life of the Brain
- Written by: Lisa Feldman Barrett
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The science of emotion is in the midst of a revolution on par with the discovery of relativity in physics and natural selection in biology. Leading the charge is psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, whose research overturns the long-standing belief that emotions are automatic, universal, and hardwired in different brain regions. Instead, Barrett shows, we construct each instance of emotion through a unique interplay of brain, body, and culture.
-
-
Repetition is Repetitive
- By Anonymous User on 2018-09-19
Written by: Lisa Feldman Barrett
-
How We Learn
- Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine...for Now
- Written by: Stanislas Dehaene
- Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The human brain is an extraordinary machine. Its ability to process information and adapt to circumstances by reprogramming itself is unparalleled and it remains the best source of inspiration for recent developments in artificial intelligence. In How We Learn, Stanislas Dehaene decodes the brain's biological mechanisms, delving into the neuronal, synaptic, and molecular processes taking place. He explains why youth is such a sensitive period, but assures us that our abilities continue into adulthood and that we can enhance our learning and memory at any age.
-
-
Definitely one of the best pop-education books
- By Cal on 2021-04-18
Written by: Stanislas Dehaene
-
This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends
- The Cyberweapons Arms Race
- Written by: Nicole Perlroth
- Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
- Length: 18 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Zero day: a software bug that allows a hacker to break into your devices and move around undetected. One of the most coveted tools in a spy's arsenal, a zero day has the power to silently spy on your iPhone, dismantle the safety controls at a chemical plant, alter an election and shut down the electric grid (just ask Ukraine). For decades, under cover of classification levels and non-disclosure agreements, the United States government became the world’s dominant hoarder of zero days.
-
-
Illuminating at all levels
- By Anonymous User on 2021-10-15
Written by: Nicole Perlroth
What listeners say about What's Our Problem?
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sharon Laplante
- 2023-05-02
Enjoyable and important
Solid and timely advocacy for rational thought and open conversation. Useful mental model. The mass of cited evidence gets a little heavy to listen to but makes a strong case that vigilance and courage is currently called for to keep our societies healthy and peaceful.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- fdt
- 2023-09-02
Essential Reading/Listening
The most accurate and measured account of today's societal problems I have come across. Brilliant
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Katie
- 2023-04-28
Very interesting deep dive into WHY
Very worth taking the time to listen and try to understand what is happening around us.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Zachary Moore
- 2023-03-15
Thank you so much Tim
Wow, I don’t know how he did it, but this is such a valuable contribution to the world. This needs to be read as widely as possible.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Nick
- 2023-04-29
I'm insisting that all my friends read this
So much in this book was a confirmation bias for me that I feel a need to search for an alternative point of view for balance. It is a very coherent and well structured piece.
Listening to all the examples, I realized that I had no idea how bad it got. The parallels between what is happening now and the Soviet Union as well as the third Reich are striking. It left me in a mild state of panic.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dayne Odendaal
- 2023-03-20
A Breath of Fresh Air
Tim delivers a breath of fresh air at a time where we as a society seem to be suffocating from polarisation.
My hope is that everyone who reads or listens to this book makes a concerted effort to foster Idea Lab culture where genies can battle it out on the high rungs.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Robert Williams
- 2023-05-19
Thanks Tim
Why we’re effed for dummies. A much needed weapon tool in the golem slayer’s toolkit.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ms Chan
- 2023-02-28
Everyone should read this
If you are a parent, teacher, leader, anyone who cares about more critical thinking in our society and the future of humanity, you will find this a great read. I can’t put it down.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Evan M
- 2023-05-22
Insightful and thought provoking
I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was thought provoking, insightful, and well written. I recommend!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sam
- 2023-03-08
Finally a framework to facilitate discussion!
This is a must read for anyone curious about the growing divide in our society across the political spectrum. Tim Urban does a fantastic job of creating frameworks for discussion and analyzing the pitfalls to which both sides of the political spectrum have fallen victim.
This isn't a left vs right problem but a higher rung vs lower rung problem and we could all benefit from taking a step back and recognizing the humanity of everyone involved.
Highly recommend this book regardless of what side of the political spectrum you sit on and if you can keep an open mind (or stay in a higher rung form of thought), I think we could all benefit.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!