It was the worst advice.

I just started doing stand-up and someone said, “Just be yourself.”

Imagine if someone said that to me at age four.

Imagine if I listened.

I’d still be shitting myself.

I change everyday.

I have to.

Scott Adams is one of the best examples of this. He started writing the famous “Dilbert” cartoon 30 years ago.“It’s the best job in the world,” he said. “But, remember it’s everyday… for 30 years.”

He still writes the cartoon.

But he also turned himself into a persuasion expert. He started studying human behavior. And noticed patterns. Then put them in a book.

He did this again with another book. Because humans are complicated. You can always find new patterns.

This new book is called “ “Loserthink: How Untrained Brains Are Ruining America.”

It’s full of tactics that teach you how to think more logically. And be more persuasive. And (best of all) how to catch other people when they make a baseless argument.

I had him walk me through the tactics on the podcast. I want to get better and better.

Because I hope that each lesson helps me think smarter than I did yesterday.

And be less myself.

Here’s a list of topics:

  • 4:44 | I introduce Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert and the author of “Loserthink: How Untrained Brains Are Ruining America”
  • 7:05 | The effects of fame
  • 8:53 | Do this to become the best in the world at a combination of skills
  • 13:11 | Scot successful predicted the 2016 election. So I ask for his predictions on the 2020 election
  • 16:07 | The meaning of “loserthink”
  • 19:45 | People with these professions are more likely to use “loserthink”
  • 21:50 | Why it’s important to maintain an element of skepticism
  • 22:48 | I ask Scott if he’s engaging in “loserthink” by going on Twitter to argue with people all the time
  • 23:53 | Why I wish I knew how to argue with people better earlier
  • 25:51 | Use this technique to cut an argument short
  • 27:22 | How to exhaust your opponent in a debate
  • 28:31 | How to deal with extreme conspiracy theorists
  • 30:49 | Always ignore people who take this shortcut in an argument
  • 36:21 | How to determine if something reported in the news is really a fact
  • 38:30 | Why I don’t read the news
  • 39:44 | Which critical thinking tactics Scott Adams uses in his life personally
  • 40:43 | How to tell if you’re engaging is loserthink
  • 42:54 | How Dilbert influenced Elon Musk’s company policy
  • 45:04 | How to debate with someone who consistently switches topics
  • 51:20 | What happens if you argue about something that doesn’t directly impact you
  • 53:39 | How to practice self-awareness
  • 55:58 | Which scientific predictions are credible. And which aren’t
  • 1:02:12 | How to avoid loserthink when evaluating new and developing technologies
  • 1:09:11 | Part of loserthink is forgetting that change happens… Scott says how to avoid loserthink in your ideas about what the future looks like
  • 1:11:50 | Scott says what makes Kamala Harris a bad campaigner
  • 1:14:18 | Scott’s thoughts on Andrew Yang’s campaign strategy
  • 1:16:27 | Use this phrase when you can’t prove someone wrong
  • 1:17:19 | I tell Scott what I learned from Chris Voss, an ex-FBI hostage negotiator
  • 1:18:53 | I ask Scott how he uses think persuasive techniques in his romantic relationships
  • 1:19:39 | The worst advice you’ll ever get
  • 1:22:18 | Do this to develop your imagination
  • 1:24:26 | We discuss the David Epstein conspiracy
  • 1:30:52 | Some arguments end friendships. Scott says he’s lost about two-thirds of his friends based on political stances. I ask how that’s impacted him
  • 1:31:55 | How to be unbothered by public humiliation
  • 1:35:14 | The danger of slippery slopes
  • 1:37:22 | One of Scott’s chapters is “Privacy is overrated.” I agree. And asked Scott to expound on his opinion 
  • 1:40:27 | I thanks Scott for coming on. And writing “Loserthink,” which is like a guide to living a rational life.

Links & Resources:

James Altucher is the author of the bestselling book Choose Yourself, editor at The Altucher Report and host of the popular podcast, The James Altucher Show, which takes you beyond business and entrepreneurship by exploring what it means to be human and achieve well-being in a world that is increasingly complicated. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.


Image courtesy of Christina @ wocintechchat.com.

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