When Esther Duflo took her first economics class, she hated it. In 2019, she won a Nobel Prize in economics. Esther talks with Adam about her groundbreaking experiments to fight poverty, busts myths about what motivates people, and reveals how to make meaningful progress toward solving daunting problems. Read the text transcript for this episode at go.ted.com/T4G24

This was an episode of Taken for Granted, but now the podcast is called ReThinking with Adam Grant, and it’s back with weekly episodes. You can listen to them right here in the WorkLife feed, or by following ReThinking with Adam Grant wherever you are right now.

Esther Duflo wants you to think like a plumber

You spend a quarter of your life at work. You should enjoy it! Organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to discover the keys to a better work life. From learning how to love your rivals to harnessing the power of frustration, one thing’s for sure: You’ll never see your job the same way again. Produced in partnership with Transmitter Media.

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Anne Lamott may be your favorite writer’s favorite writer. The author of many beloved books, including the modern classic Bird by Bird, Anne’s writing is singularly insightful, moving, and oftentimes funny. Adam and Anne chat about the art of great writing, the challenges of being kinder to others and ourselves, and the lessons to be learned from a life examined. Then, Anne helps with a special request. Anne’s latest book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love, is out now.

Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

Anne Lamott's thoughts on love, writing, and being judgy

How important are your twenties — and how bad are they? Meg Jay is a clinical psychologist who specializes in young adult development in twenty year-olds. She and Adam review the science of what makes this developmental period important, discuss the common mistakes that we make, and share tips for twentysomethings (and parents) navigating this tumultuous decade. Meg’s latest book, The Twentysomething Treatment, is out now.

How to make the most of your twenties with Meg Jay

Yuval Noah Harari is a historian best known for his book Sapiens, which has sold more than 25 million copies and been translated into 65 languages. Adam and Yuval examine the power of stories in shaping humanity’s success, discuss the tension between justice and peace, and reconsider the true purpose of studying history. Yuval’s latest book, Unstoppable Us, Volume 2: Why The World Isn’t Fair, is for young readers and it’s out now.

Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

Yuval Noah Harari on what history teaches us about justice and peace

Charan Ranganath is a psychologist and neuroscientist who has spent his career studying memory. His new book, Why We Remember, surveys the latest science on the subject and digs into the links between memory and identity. Charan and Adam discuss surprising evidence on why we remember, what we forget, and how learning new ideas happens.

The science of memory with Charan Ranganath

As a political scientist and founder of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer helps business leaders, policymakers and the general public make sense of the world. He gives a stirring analysis of the current state of global affairs and explains what makes 2024 so complex. Ian and Adam discuss the cyclical nature of geopolitics, what’s different about today’s crisis of democracy, and what we can do as individuals to cope with it.

Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts

Esther Duflo wants you to think like a plumber

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