The Garden of Forking Paths | Brian Klaas | Substack

The Lost Art of the Ideal and the Cycle of Futility

In modern discourse, we focus on the politics of the possible, with a sense of futility about real, positive change. It's time to say what we really…

Jun 7 •

Representation and the Power of Randomness

A natural experiment with political lotteries points to the benefits of ensuring that candidates fully represent the demographics of their communities.

Jun 2 •

A Tale of Two D-Day Cemeteries

Reflections, for Memorial Day, on my recent trip to the American — and German — military cemeteries in Normandy.

May 29 •

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The Myth of the Secret Genius

Nov 30, 2022 • Brian Klaas

Dec 12, 2022 • Brian Klaas

Billionaires and the Evolution of Overconfidence

Apr 26 • Brian Klaas

The Superb Owl and Nature's Stealth Wisdom

Feb 17 • Brian Klaas

The "Need for Chaos" Voter

Apr 3 • Brian Klaas

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The Case for Pro-Democracy Rituals

Pro-democracy movements are missing a key political tool that authoritarian movements have perfected: the power of ritual. It's time to fight back.

May 26 •

Evolution and Our Obsession with True Crime

Sociological theories try to explain why true crime has such a grip on modern culture. But the best explanation may be hidden in the evolutionary…

May 19 •

Who Supports Political Violence in America?

A new political science study looks at the traits of people who support political violence in the United States. They develop a "political violence…

May 15 •

"Knowingness" and the Politics of Ignorance

Much ink has been spilled about "polarization." Most of it ignores a major cause: the widespread, misplaced faith that we already know that which we do…

May 12 •

Why Psychopaths Rise / Ask Me Anything

Why are psychopaths so effective at getting power? Will Trump be indicted for federal crimes? Is 81 too old to be president? And is there a better…

May 8 •

The Billion Dollar Shack

Nauru, a tiny little belly button nation in the vast emptiness of the Pacific Ocean, is the most interesting island you've never heard of.

May 5 •

Billionaires and the Evolution of Overconfidence

To understand billionaires, you need to understand horizontal inequality, illusory control, self-selection bias, quantified self-worth, and the…

Apr 26 •

The Garden of Forking Paths

The Garden of Forking Paths

Wandering around an infinitely complex, ever changing world.

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