One of the most radical ideas I've come across is this: People are not free ultimately because they voluntarily consent to their servitude. Etienne de La Boetie wrote "A Discourse on Voluntary Servitude" during the Renaissance period. His book had a huge influence on many philosophers and inspired the civil disobedience movement. But, is it relevant to your personal life as well?

Show Notes:

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• "Discourse on Voluntary Servitude" by Etienne de La Boetie

I've had some interesting listener feedback from the recent episodes about questioning education. In this episode I respond to some of the points raised by listeners.

Show Notes:

339 Questioning Education

340 Review of The Case Against Education

The Paradox of Choice, by psychologist Barry Schwarz, is a book that has influenced many people interested in minimalism. Schwarz argues that the extensive freedom of choice in affluent societies has become detrimental to psychological and emotional well-being. This episode provides a critical review of Barry Schwarz's arguments.

Show Notes:

• Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!
• The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz
• The Paradox of Choice TED Talk
• 227 Review of The Better Angels of Our Nature by Stephen Pinker

A interview with James and Taylor Davis from the One Free Family podcast. James and Taylor explain their approach to peaceful parenting and unschooling. We had a great discussion about questioning the concept of self-directed learning, and many other interesting topics.

Show Notes:

• Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!
• One Free Family Podcast
• 338: Leadership and Parenting
• 17 Unschooling Part 1: Instead of Education

Most of what you learn in school and college is practically useless, yet education is (often) a very good investment. How can this be? This episode is a review of Bryan Caplan's book, The Case Against Education.

Show Notes:

• Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!
• The Case Against Education by Bryan Caplan
• 339 Questioning Education
• 261 Thinking Rationally Part 7: The Irrationality Of Politics

This episode is the first in a series questioning key life choices around the topic of education. How valuable is education? How much education does it make a sense to get? Does education lead to greater freedom and fulfillment in life? I introduce different views on education that I will be exploring: the traditional view, the rebel view, and the realist view. I talk about why I think it is valuable to question education, even though getting a good education worked very well for me.

Show Notes:

• Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!
• The Case Against Education by Bryan Caplan
• 40 Alternatives to College by James Altucher

What kind of leadership role do you have as a parent? What are the most important responsibilities of parents? This episode explores different answers to these questions.

Show Notes:

• Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!
• One Free Family Podcast - A new take on peaceful parenting
• Unruffled Podcast by Janet Lansbury
• 336: A Review of Jordan Peterson's Parenting Principles
• 312: The Unjobbing Way

This episode is about managing and tracking investments, as part of your journey towards financial independence. I explain the calculations that I find useful to track my portfolio. I'm not a financial advisor and I've had to teach myself about money, so I'm explaining what I've learned as food for thought for other independent investors working towards FI.

Show Notes:

• Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!
• Episode 181 Financial Independence Part 1: What You Need To Know About Your Money
• Episode 219 How To Do A Monthly Financial Review
• Episode 223 A Guide To Passive Investment Portfolios: Interview With Tyler From Portfolio Charts
• PortfolieCharts.com
• Becoming an Entrepreneur: How to Find Freedom and Fulfillment as a Business Owner by Jake Desyllas
• Job Free: Four Ways to Quit the Rat Race and Achieve Financial Freedom on Your Terms by Jake Desyllas

This episode is a review of Jordan Peterson's suggested principles for parenting, which he put forward in a chapter of his book "12 Rules For Life". In the episode, I explain why I disagree with Peterson's ideas and recommendations regarding parenting. Listen to the episode to find out more.

Show Notes:

• Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!
• 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote for Chaos by Jordan Peterson
• TVL 328: Punished By Rewards Part 1
• Parent Effectiveness Training By Thomas Gordon
• Unruffled Podcast

Harry Browne's book, "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree world" had a huge influence on me. This episode examines the subject of one chapter in that book: freedom from pretence. I explore Harry's suggestions about finding freedom from pretence, and then provide my own thoughts on the topic.

Show Notes:

• Become a Patron of TVL to get bonus episodes and rewards!
• How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World by Harry Browne
• Self-Deception - Episode 202 of The Voluntary Life
• Getting Real: 10 Truths Skills You Need to Live an Authentic Life by Susan Campbell - Episode of the Psychology Book Club Podcast