Dr. Bill von Hippel

So of course it could have been different a quarter million years ago. But it could have been exactly like they live today. And so when you look at the Hadza, this particular team asked them, over the last week, have you been happy? Sometimes happy and sometimes sad? Sad. Over 90% of the Hadza said happy. That was their answer.

So of course it could have been different a quarter million years ago. But it could have been exactly like they live today. And so when you look at the Hadza, this particular team asked them, over the last week, have you been happy? Sometimes happy and sometimes sad? Sad. Over 90% of the Hadza said happy. That was their answer.

When you ask Westerners that same question, you get about 50% will say happy over the last week. And so the data suggests the Hadza are literally happier than we are. Now, they bury almost half their children. They live a life where they've got no savings whatsoever. They've got nothing in the bank. They don't know what tomorrow's going to bring.

When you ask Westerners that same question, you get about 50% will say happy over the last week. And so the data suggests the Hadza are literally happier than we are. Now, they bury almost half their children. They live a life where they've got no savings whatsoever. They've got nothing in the bank. They don't know what tomorrow's going to bring.

They don't know if tomorrow's hunt's going to be successful. They have so many cultural rules that they have to abide by that requires them to be constantly connected with each other because they rely on each other like an insurance policy. And yet... They look a lot happier than we are. Now, we can see those same stats in different modern contexts.

They don't know if tomorrow's hunt's going to be successful. They have so many cultural rules that they have to abide by that requires them to be constantly connected with each other because they rely on each other like an insurance policy. And yet... They look a lot happier than we are. Now, we can see those same stats in different modern contexts.

But in my mind, that's a stat that blows me away.

But in my mind, that's a stat that blows me away.

Well, I think it's the balance that they've struck. And I think it's that balance between connection and autonomy. And so that's really the focus of this, of my second book is, so I'll tell you how I got there. How's that? So I'm visiting a friend of mine, also named Steven, and he struck it rich. And he invites me over. I'm like, this is going to be cool. I'm going to see how the super rich live.

Well, I think it's the balance that they've struck. And I think it's that balance between connection and autonomy. And so that's really the focus of this, of my second book is, so I'll tell you how I got there. How's that? So I'm visiting a friend of mine, also named Steven, and he struck it rich. And he invites me over. I'm like, this is going to be cool. I'm going to see how the super rich live.

And it was over the top, you know, this monumentally huge apartment, beautiful view, cooks over there, maids over there, et cetera. And so I turned to him, I'm like, Steve, man, your life is over the top. And he's like, yeah, it seems that way, but it's just not. And I'm like, seriously? And he goes, yeah, I'm no happier than I used to be.

And it was over the top, you know, this monumentally huge apartment, beautiful view, cooks over there, maids over there, et cetera. And so I turned to him, I'm like, Steve, man, your life is over the top. And he's like, yeah, it seems that way, but it's just not. And I'm like, seriously? And he goes, yeah, I'm no happier than I used to be.

And he starts listing off all the problems that he's facing. And I'm like, how could this person not appreciate these amazing benefits that he has? How is it even possible that a person could have so much and not just feel happy about it every day? And I have to admit, I felt this sense of superiority. I thought to myself, if I were crazy rich like you were, I'd be happy every day.

And he starts listing off all the problems that he's facing. And I'm like, how could this person not appreciate these amazing benefits that he has? How is it even possible that a person could have so much and not just feel happy about it every day? And I have to admit, I felt this sense of superiority. I thought to myself, if I were crazy rich like you were, I'd be happy every day.

I would appreciate this lifestyle that I had earned rather than just taking it for granted. So then, fast forward a few years. This is a decade or so ago. Fast forward a few years, and I'm reading Frank Marlowe's wonderful book on the Hadza. And I'm reading about their lives and how content they are. And I'm like, holy cow, I'm just like my friend Steve. Compared to them, I'm a multimillionaire.

I would appreciate this lifestyle that I had earned rather than just taking it for granted. So then, fast forward a few years. This is a decade or so ago. Fast forward a few years, and I'm reading Frank Marlowe's wonderful book on the Hadza. And I'm reading about their lives and how content they are. And I'm like, holy cow, I'm just like my friend Steve. Compared to them, I'm a multimillionaire.

When my kids get sick, I'm off to the doctor immediately. I don't have this horrible life where I bury my own children. I have savings. I don't have to worry about tomorrow. I get up and get something out of the fridge. I'm comfortable when it's hot. I'm comfortable when it's cold. The list goes on. Compared to them, I'm a zillionaire. And yet they're probably happier than we are.

When my kids get sick, I'm off to the doctor immediately. I don't have this horrible life where I bury my own children. I have savings. I don't have to worry about tomorrow. I get up and get something out of the fridge. I'm comfortable when it's hot. I'm comfortable when it's cold. The list goes on. Compared to them, I'm a zillionaire. And yet they're probably happier than we are.

And so I realized it's not just Steve, it's all of us. You know, we're failing to appreciate this amazing modern world we live in. And, you know, even if we look back 100 years, 100 years ago, a quarter of the children died by, 150 years ago, a quarter of the children died by the time they turned five. You know, you got the flu or you got, you know, typhus.

And so I realized it's not just Steve, it's all of us. You know, we're failing to appreciate this amazing modern world we live in. And, you know, even if we look back 100 years, 100 years ago, a quarter of the children died by, 150 years ago, a quarter of the children died by the time they turned five. You know, you got the flu or you got, you know, typhus.