Deceitful Messages, Scarcity, American Abyss

Links and recommendations + Miami meetup

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Miami meetup:

You are invited to attend my meetup in Miami. December 28 at 8pm. Details and RSVP here.

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The Psychology of Social Status:

My new lecture series “The Psychology of Social Status” is now available exclusively at Peterson Academy.

I delivered six lectures in front of a live studio audience, exploring the psychology of social status, examining its evolutionary roots, developmental origins, and the fundamental role it plays in shaping human behavior. We examine individual differences in status-seeking, the evolutionary reasons behind status pursuit, and the complex relationships between status, envy, emotions, and intrasexual competition for romantic partners. We also investigate the dynamics of social status in relation to stories, plot lines, and arenas of competition, and conclude by discussing the concept of luxury beliefs and their impact on society.

Enroll here for immediate access.

Here’s the trailer:

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From the archives:

Scarcity and Gratitude. Reflections on the beauty of impermanence.

Scarcity and Gratitude

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Links and recommendations:

• Luigi Mangione and the American Abyss by Heather Mac Donald

• Psychological resilience, entrepreneurship and personality by

  W. Keith Campbell

• Gen Z really does have a work ethic problem by

  Jean M. Twenge

• The Trump Bump: The Republican Fertility Advantage in 2024 by Grant Bailey and Lyman Stone

• the ultimate guide to holding world class dinner parties by

  Auren Hoffman

• How to practice 'deep reading'

• Follow me on Instagram here. The platform is less volatile and more chill than Twitter/X, so I post some spicier excerpts from my readings on my IG stories

• You can follow me on TikTok here

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Three interesting findings:

1. Americans now spend less quality time with their spouses than they did 50 years ago. Couples are less likely to engage in activities together, such as eating meals, participating in leisure activities, or even visiting friends together, compared with five decades ago. (source: The Social Paradox by William von Hippel).

2. Men's nasal passages are slightly bigger than women’s. Human puberty builds a bigger nose in boys in order to provide the oxygen they need to run their larger muscle mass. A typical teenage male will grow a nose about 10% bigger than a girl his size. (source: Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution by Cat Bohannon).

3. People seem to be happiest when they are making good progress in pursuing goals that are both meaningful and manageable—grand enough to provide their lives with a sense of purpose and satisfaction but humble enough so that they can actually be achieved. (source: The Person: A New Introduction to Personality Psychology, 6th Edition by Dan P. McAdams and William L. Dunlop).

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My Reading List is Still Available

I spent several months compiling a list of the most interesting and impactful books I’ve ever read.

The list contains my mini-reviews summarizing each book and explaining its importance.

If you are interested in getting it, just follow these two steps:

1. Order a copy of my book Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class in whatever format you want (print, ebook, or audiobook)

2. Send a screenshot or photo of your receipt or proof of purchase to the email address troubledmemoir@gmail.com and use the subject line SECRET READING LIST

Already purchased a copy? Just send a screenshot of your receipt to troubledmemoir@gmail.com with the subject line SECRET READING LIST and you’ll get the secret reading list right away.

That's it!

And if you don’t receive it within 24 hours, please check your spam/junk.