Chapter 12: Chris Anderson on tackling tribalism, trusting trust, and transforming TED talks

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Let's fly down to New York City and take the elevator to the TED Headquarters overlooking the Hudson...

Let's fly down to New York City and take the elevator to the TED Headquarters overlooking the Hudson...

What was the first TED Talk you ever watched?

Was it Do schools kill creativity? by Ken Robinson?

Was it The power of vulnerability by Brené Brown?

Whatever it is I bet you felt a bit like you stumbled onto an oasis. The Internet is junky! The whole thing feels like a pack of cougars just ran through a dollar store. Pop-up everything, ads screaming at you, and everything feels like a fish-hooks tugging at your eyeballs.

TED is the opposite.

TED doesn't beg for personal info, force you to open an account, quick-pick your wallet for your credit card, or do anything other than help spread ideas to shape, grow, and inspire your thoughts.  

It is beauty in the scat-filled dollar store. 

Our recording studio! You can see my setupin the background and the thickness (not the titles!) of Chris's three books...

Our recording studio! You can see my setupin the background and the thickness (not the titles!) of Chris's three books...

So, who's Ted? Who runs TED? Who's the 18-minute-or-less Emperor? 

It's Chris Anderson.

The Pakistani-born, Oxford-educated, New York Times bestselling... Chris Anderson. 

In this Chapter, I fly down to New York City and sit with Chris in his office. We uncover his three most formative books and discuss developing willpower, tackling deeper issues, supporting ambitious spouses, and what being a dreamer really means... 

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Chris Anderson, Head of TED. 

 

Listen to Chapter 12:

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What You'll Learn:

  • Which book taught Chris more in a weekend than his entire Oxford philosophy degree?

  • What does Chris say is one of the chief criticisms of TED?

  • What does Chris see as humanity's greatest superpower?

  • Should you work with your spouse? What is Chris's view and why?

  • What is the "shooting an asteroid out of space" view of intelligent life?

  • How do we inspire others to feel wonder, awe, and optimism?

  • What media tricks must we watch out for these days?

  • How can we regain control over our attention?

  • How do we become better dreamers?

notable quotes from chris anderson:

"Without dreaming we're destined to a very drab world. The only way to survive is to constantly dream about tackling things that are ugly and imagining things that are beautiful." @TEDChris #3bookspodcast

“Reading is a slower, deeper exercise that actually takes willpower, determination, and  commitment. It takes brain muscle to do it. It takes patience. You have to go on this softer, deeper, longer journey with someone.” @TEDChris #3bookspodcast

“If the only job of journalism is to ask the question ‘What is the most dramatic thing that happened in the last four hours?’ then that will always be a certain type of story, and it ends up building a false world view.” @TEDChris #3bookspodcast

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