Luca Dellanna on Compulsion, Self-deception, and the Brain

In 'Wild Problems,' Russ Roberts addresses the big, uncertain decisions in life—such as who to marry, whether to have children, where to move, and how to forge a life well-lived—that cannot be solved using data, science, or traditional rational approaches. He suggests focusing less on the path that promises the most happiness and more on figuring out who you actually want to be. Roberts draws on the experiences of great artists, writers, and scientists to lay out strategies for reducing fear and the loss of control when facing these 'wild problems. ' He argues that life should be experienced as a mystery rather than a problem to be solved, and he critiques the idea of relying solely on cost-benefit analysis and utilitarianism for making life's major decisions.

The Control Heuristic provides a new perspective on understanding human behavior, exploring why we behave irrationally and why change is difficult. It offers practical steps to overcome resistance to change by dissecting behavior through neurology, risk management, evolution, and complex systems. The book is a densely packed analysis with actionable rules to guide human behavior.