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

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.

Thoughtful take on a complex issue

I think this book shows a fair amount of courage, intellectual honesty, and patience. Made me think a lot harder about something I now realise I was afraid to engage with.

Great book

Time breaks down the most important challenges to our social fabric in an extremely level headed manner. Would recommend

A real eye opener

One of the best books I listened to. Social and political discussions will not be the same anymore,

The book we need now

This book tells us so much about what's going on in our world today. Every time I open the news or Facebook, I'm hit with an article that just makes me shake my head. Tim Urban explains what's going so thoughtfully, thoroughly, and honestly. I wish everyone would read it!

wonderful book

objective look at what's wrong today and strong support for enlightenment principles that make our world better.

Tim stays true to his style and delightfully delivers the message we all need to hear.

Tim’s a gifted writer with an incredibly important message for us all. His relaxed, relatable tone and style make this sobering and salient essay easy to grasp and very actionable for everyone, including those outside the ivory tower. I fear that many may find the conclusion and resolution grossly oversimplified, but in my view, he nailed it. The path forward isn’t terribly complex and Tim’s use of relatable metaphors, aphorisms and the occasional cuss word truly make this book live up to its title. Now it’s time for all of us to do the work.

Excellent and challenging

Fun and difficult, joyful and painful, this is an excellent book worth your time and mine. It calls you on your BS, encourages you to rise above it, and lays out an important framework you can use to navigate this landscape with your sanity intact. I’m grateful Tim wrote it and I’m impressed with his narration.

We need so much more of this kind of content

I’ve always enjoyed Tim’s writing, analogies and specially drawings. And his work is shining the brightest ever in this book.

The analytical tools he develops are extremely valuable for anyone discussing complex topics. The multiple analogies are spot on for relating complex concepts to others simpler and mundane.

I’m not American and don’t follow much of its politics so it’s really hard for me to judge. But what is presented seems a very fair and precise critique of society and politics. My only real reservation is that the author is not a credible scientist. If he was, all his points, which I like and agree, would land even harder with me.

Thank you so much for this book Tim! We definitely need more of this. There’s no us vs them, only one big us.

Nice insight, somewhat tilted focus

Book is truly excellent. Although I am a little befuddled when the author dedicates 3-5% of the book to pointing out Republicans/Conservative/Far Right issues as being problematic, when they’re actually passing bills that affect our daily lives in a negative way.

The other 80% of the book is dedicated to how cancel culture and wokeness is the true evil of humanity. I get it, I am not advocating for wokeness, or excess Social Justice fundamentalism, but the perspective seemed so tilted.

The 3rd act of the book (if you can call it that) was a chore to get through as the author keep repeating the same critiques about “wokeness”.

Nevertheless it does succeed in shifting some paradigms here and there.