Summarize the Episode
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In the episode titled "A.J. Jacobs — How to Be Less Furious and More Curious" on , A.J. Jacobs, an American journalist, delves into various intriguing topics. Here are some key points discussed:
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Chess Puzzles and Life Lessons: A.J. shares his experience interviewing grandmaster Gary Kasparov, highlighting the counterintuitive nature of chess puzzles and the value of taking the long view in both chess and life. The best chess puzzles often involve short-term sacrifices, like giving up a queen, for long-term gains 1.
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The Power of Puzzles: Tim and A.J. explore how thinking of life challenges as puzzles can help improve problem-solving skills. They emphasize identifying and playing the right "games" or puzzles in life to align with desired outcomes. A.J. also introduces his book, "The Puzzler" 2.
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Current Puzzle Boom: There is a surge in interest in puzzles during the pandemic. A.J. expresses hope that this trend continues, as puzzles can bring joy and improve cognitive skills. He also mentions sending a curated box of puzzles to Tim to reignite his passion for puzzling 3.
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Fact Checking Life: They discuss the anxiety that can come with fact-checking one’s life and the importance of compassionate connections in achieving success. A.J. touches on the story of Nellie Bly, a pioneering journalist who conducted groundbreaking life experiments 4.
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The Puzzler's Pivot: A.J. recounts his experience pivoting from another book project to "The Puzzler" after realizing the initial project was making him miserable. This pivot underscores the importance of flexibility and being open to new ideas, a major theme in his book 5.
This episode provides deep insights into how puzzles, both literal and metaphorical, can enrich our lives and thinking processes.
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