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The trick that offloads intrusive thoughts so your brain can actually work
with
David Epstein
The chemical reason love makes you irrational
with
Meghan Sullivan
How one decision can create “a new self”
with
L.A. Paul
The unpopular truth about the myth of the lone genius
with
David Epstein
Play this card game to solve your team’s biggest problem
with
David Sherwin
The psychological reason complete freedom is a creative dead end
with
David Epstein
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Columns
Mini Philosophy
A philosophy column for personal reflection.
Starts With A Bang
An astrophysics column on big questions and our universe.
Books
A literature column to feed your curiosity.
The Long Game
A business column on long-term thinking.
Strange Maps
A geography column on history and society.
The Well
A collection of essays and videos on life’s biggest questions.
13.8
A column at the intersection of science and culture.
Work Wise
A behavioral scientist’s weekly playbook for smarter work and a deeper life.
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Members
10 videos
Pay Attention to Your Attention
Amishi Jha
Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami, Author “Peak Mind”
Members
6 videos
Make Deals Like an FBI Negotiator
Chris Voss
CEO – Founder, The Black Swan Group
Members
5 videos
How to Recognize Bad Arguments
Multiple Instructors
Members
6 videos
A Primatologist’s Guide to Human Behavior
Frans de Waal
C.H. Candler Professor Emeritus at EMORY University, Atlanta, GA
Members
10 videos
How to Outsmart Misinformation
Alex Edmans
Professor of Finance, London Business School, and Author,
May Contain Lies
Members
6 videos
The Secrets of Unreasonable Hospitality
Will Guidara
Restaurateur and Author,
Unreasonable Hospitality
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Energy
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See all videos
The trick that offloads intrusive thoughts so your brain can actually work
David Epstein, author of Range and Inside the Box, breaks down what's actually happening inside the brain when we multitask,...
The chemical reason love makes you irrational
Falling in love can feel like finding “the one.” But to your brain, romance may look less like affection and...
How one decision can create “a new self”
From Copernicus to Flatland, Yale philosopher L.A. Paul shares examples of transformative experiences, and how participating in them changes more...
The unpopular truth about the myth of the lone genius
David Epstein argues that the myth of the lone genius is a story we tell, but the actual history of...
Play this card game to solve your team’s biggest problem
The $25 card game that unlocks high-achieving teams.
The psychological reason complete freedom is a creative dead end
David Epstein walks through decades of research exploring why constraints, not freedom, are the engine behind creativity, focus, and breakthrough.
Body language expert: 7 cues that make you instantly more likable
Body language expert Vanessa Van Edwards shares a genius formula to create a lasting first impression while debunking body-language myths...
Think you’ve been grieving for too long? You’re wrong.
Older cultures made room for mourning. Today, we often rush it, and it comes with a cost. Three experts explain.
Columns
Back
Columns
Mini Philosophy
A philosophy column for personal reflection.
Starts With A Bang
An astrophysics column on big questions and our universe.
Books
A literature column to feed your curiosity.
The Long Game
A business column on long-term thinking.
Strange Maps
A geography column on history and society.
The Well
A collection of essays and videos on life’s biggest questions.
13.8
A column at the intersection of science and culture.
Classes
Back
Featured Classes
See all classes
Members
10 videos
Pay Attention to Your Attention
Amishi Jha
Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami, Author “Peak Mind”
Members
6 videos
Make Deals Like an FBI Negotiator
Chris Voss
CEO – Founder, The Black Swan Group
Members
5 videos
How to Recognize Bad Arguments
Multiple Instructors
Members
6 videos
A Primatologist’s Guide to Human Behavior
Frans de Waal
C.H. Candler Professor Emeritus at EMORY University, Atlanta, GA
Members
10 videos
How to Outsmart Misinformation
Alex Edmans
Professor of Finance, London Business School, and Author,
May Contain Lies
Members
6 videos
The Secrets of Unreasonable Hospitality
Will Guidara
Restaurateur and Author,
Unreasonable Hospitality
Store
My Account
Back
My Classes
My Account
My List
BT+ for my Business
Early Releases
Sign Out
More
Back
Newsletters
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Events
Big Think+ Learning
Creative Studio
Advertise with Us
About
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View our Twitter (X) feed
View our Youtube channel
View our Instagram feed
View our Substack feed
View our Spotify feed
Sign In
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View our Twitter (X) feed
View our Youtube channel
View our Instagram feed
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4mins
Explain It Like I’m Smart
How Earth’s 23.4° tilt makes life beautiful
Rituals come as much from religion as they do from the way Earth spins around the Sun.
Sasha Sagan
