Self-Help Is Like a Vaccine: Essays on Living Better
About this book
Bryan Caplan, Professor of Economics at George Mason University and New York Times Bestselling author, blogged for EconLog from 2005-2022. His latest book combines the very best of his EconLog writings on finding happiness, success, meaning, connection, and convenience in a world that too often lacks all five.In the title essay, Caplan challenges the all-forgiving idea that people who make poor choices "can't do otherwise." If you don't accept this excuse from anti-vaxxers, why would you accept it from alcoholics or overeaters? Humoring the pseudo-helpless may be kind, but reinforces poor behavior and often leads to the scapegoating of innocent bystanders. Yourself included.Self-Help Is Like a Vaccine is packed with helpful life hacks. How to stop packing for trips. How to turn arguments into bargains. The high cost of being single. A long-time homeschooler, Caplan tells readers to turn truancy into a peak experience -- and master math along the way.