How Eyeglasses Changed the World & The Art of Effective Complaining
Something You Should Know
From Handmade to Peddlers and Wire Frames
David traces glasses from bespoke craft to peddlers, then 17th-century wire frames and interchangeable lenses.
If you’re a coffee drinker, you’ve probably wondered at some point whether you’re drinking too much. Coffee gets blamed for everything from poor sleep to heart trouble — but a major long-term study tells a very different story. This episode begins with findings that may surprise (and reassure) coffee lovers. https://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5024
Eyeglasses are so common today that it’s easy to forget how revolutionary they are. Before glasses, millions of people were cut off from reading, learning, working, and fully participating in society. The invention of eyeglasses didn’t just improve vision — it reshaped education, labor, science, and culture. David King Dunaway joins me to tell this surprisingly underappreciated story. He’s a professor of English at the University of New Mexico and the University of São Paulo, and author of A Four-Eyed World: How Glasses Changed the Way We See (https://amzn.to/46nqL9y).
David’s website is here: https://afoureyedworld.com/
Most people avoid complaining — it feels awkward, time-consuming, or not worth the effort. But when you don’t complain, you often end up paying for mistakes that aren’t yours. When done the right way, complaining can be effective, respectful, and surprisingly rewarding. Eric Zse explains when to speak up, what to say, and how to get results without being rude or angry. He’s author of The Art of the Constructive Complaint: How to Speak Up, Get Heard, and Turn Everyday Frustrations into Fair Outcomes (https://amzn.to/45Sdi9L).
And finally — have you ever walked into another room and instantly forgotten why you went there? It happens to almost everyone, and it has a name: the doorway effect. We wrap up with the fascinating reason this happens — and why it has nothing to do with memory loss or aging. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21563019/)
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS
QUINCE: Refresh your wardrobe with Quince! Go to https://Quince.dom/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
HIMS: For simple, online access to personalized and affordable care for Hair Loss, ED, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/SOMETHING for your free online visit!
SHOPIFY: Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/sysk
DELL: Dell Tech Days are here. Enjoy huge deals on PCs like the Dell 14 Plus with Intel® Core™ Ultra processors. Visit https://Dell.com/deals
PLANET VISIONARIES: We love the Planet Visionaries podcast, so listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you're listening to this podcast! In partnership with The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The AI-powered Podcast Player
