EPISODE · Jul 15, 2025 · 31 MIN
The World Until Yesterday - Jared Diamond - Stone Age Lessons on Innovation
from Wiser Than Yesterday: Educational Book Reviews and Summaries
Heard enough lame insights about caveman psychology? Jared Diamond goes hard into what life was really like, how we thought and how it compares to today.A masterclass of a book when it comes to truly understanding our history and humanity and packed full of insights.Sam digests the book from a lens of innovation and what the reality of our life meant for taking risks and trying new ideas and making them happen.We cover various tribe studies across the world and the episode is brimming with stories and statistics that will make you think and a little bit Wiser than Yesterday.Part two is available on the How to Change the World: History and Future of Innovation podcast:SpotifyAppleNote - Nico is taking a reading break, and Sam has a season to cover some of his favourite books in depth 🙃- - -About Wiser Pod 📚Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster Harris👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology🚀 New Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas Vereecke👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc---Chapters00:00 Intro to The World Until Yesterday02:12 The Hand Axe Conundrum04:05 Episode Goals05:21 1 - SURVIVAL LOCK06:00 Energy requirements08:09 Time Scarcity10:38 Risk and Psychological Safety12:56 2 - CULTURE LOCK14:17 Culture in New Guinea15:16 Results of trying ideas17:01 The Grandmother Hypothesis17:57 Widowhood statistics19:21 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing21:03 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis22:12 3 - KNOWLEDGE LOCK24:18 Losing knowledge25:41 Maths26:28 Communication and Language27:29 Ice Age Picasso Paradox29:30 Wrap up - Book review and teasers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
Heard enough lame insights about caveman psychology? Jared Diamond goes hard into what life was really like, how we thought and how it compares to today.A masterclass of a book when it comes to truly understanding our history and humanity and packed full of insights.Sam digests the book from a lens of innovation and what the reality of our life meant for taking risks and trying new ideas and making them happen.We cover various tribe studies across the world and the episode is brimming with stories and statistics that will make you think and a little bit Wiser than Yesterday.Part two is available on the How to Change the World: History and Future of Innovation podcast:SpotifyAppleNote - Nico is taking a reading break, and Sam has a season to cover some of his favourite books in depth 🙃- - -About Wiser Pod 📚Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster Harris👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology🚀 New Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas Vereecke👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc---Chapters00:00 Intro to The World Until Yesterday02:12 The Hand Axe Conundrum04:05 Episode Goals05:21 1 - SURVIVAL LOCK06:00 Energy requirements08:09 Time Scarcity10:38 Risk and Psychological Safety12:56 2 - CULTURE LOCK14:17 Culture in New Guinea15:16 Results of trying ideas17:01 The Grandmother Hypothesis17:57 Widowhood statistics19:21 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing21:03 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis22:12 3 - KNOWLEDGE LOCK24:18 Losing knowledge25:41 Maths26:28 Communication and Language27:29 Ice Age Picasso Paradox29:30 Wrap up - Book review and teasers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The World Until Yesterday - Jared Diamond - Stone Age Lessons on Innovation
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