I’ve studied the fresh start effect, so naturally, I relish endings — they usher in fresh starts! To wrap up the year, I’m breaking from my usual newsletter format and sharing a few of my favorite reads, listens and sources of laughs from 2021.
But first, I want to share a quick highlight from my month. If you follow me on social media, you may recognize this post of my reaction to learning that the New York Times’ well desk put How to Change atop the list of their eight favorite books for healthy living in 2021. What an honor! I’m still on Cloud 9.
Okay, now onto my favorite things. Drum roll please…
My Favorite Book and Book List of 2021
“The Power of Us” by Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer
2021 was a great year for books about behavioral science. It was hard to pick a favorite, but I’m going with The Power of Us, which is a book about the science of groups and group influence. It’s excellent, and it's filled with valuable insights you'll particularly appreciate in this age of increasing political polarization.
Book List: For those of you interested in more than just one book recommendation, Behavioral Scientist recently published my favorite book list of 2021. It includes 36 books by some incredible researchers and writers. I strongly encourage you to check it out!
My Favorite Podcast Episode of 2021
Sendhil Mullainathan Explains How to Generate an Idea a Minute on “People I (Mostly) Admire”
In this episode of Steve Levitt’s terrific podcast, Steve interviews one of the most original thinkers I’ve met on how to generate more creative ideas. This podcast episode is magic. Don’t miss it! More generally, I highly recommend all episodes of this show.
Runner up: Any episode of Maya Shankar’s wonderful new podcast “A Slight Change of Plans.”
My Favorite Article of 2021
“Being in Time” by Paul Bloom
This beautifully-written New Yorker article explores the way our decisions, feelings and thoughts are shaped by how we think about time, drawing on research from a wide range of disciplines.
Runner up: “Did Covid Change the Way We Dream?” by Brooke Jarvis in The New York Times Magazine is a fascinating exploration of the science of dreams (and how the pandemic changed things).
My Favorite Newsletter of 2021
“Dear Good People” by Dolly Chugh
NYU Professor, TED Speaker and Author of “The Person You Mean to Be,” Dolly Chugh produces this fantastic newsletter. “Dear Good People” provides a monthly dose of wisdom on how we can all become more inclusive. It’s fun to read and wonderfully practical. Highly recommended.
My Favorite Research Paper of 2021
“People Systematically Overlook Subtractive Changes” by Gabrielle Adams, Benjamin Converse, Andrew Hales and Leidy E. Klotz
This paper shows that when we’re trying to improve an object, idea or situation, we systematically overlook opportunities to remove features, focusing instead on ways to add complexity, even when there are clear advantages to subtraction. For a book-length treatment, check out “Subtract” by Leidy Klotz.
Runner Up: “Opt-out Choice Framing Attenuates Gender Differences in the Decision to Compete in the Laboratory and in the Field” by Joyce He, Sonia Kang, and Nicola Lacetera offers a practical solution to a very important social problem — that women choose to compete less often than men.
My Favorite Source of Comic Relief from 2021
“Oh My Fucking God, Get the Fucking Vaccine Already, You Fucking Fucks” by Wendy Molyneux
Really… enough said. Read it. You will laugh.
My Favorite Virtual Event Series of 2021
Naturally, my favorite virtual event series was one we hosted at the Behavior Change for Good Initiative! If you missed it, never fear: you can catch up by checking out the recordings on our YouTube Channel. I host these events along with my fellow Wharton Professor Angela Duckworth, and we’ll be continuing our monthly interviews of academic authors discussing their recent books in the winter and spring. Register for free to join us and ask your questions live: https://bit.ly/33Dy5R3
I hope you’ll enjoy exploring some of my favorite things.
That’s all for this month’s newsletter. See you in the New Year!
Katy Milkman, PhD
Professor at Wharton, Host of Choiceology, an original podcast from Charles Schwab, and Bestselling Author of How to Change