Freakonomics Radio

Arthur Brooks, an economist and former head of the American Enterprise Institute, believes that there is only one remedy for our political polarization: love. In this 2021 episode, we ask if Brooks is a fool for thinking this — and if perhaps you are his kind of fool? SOURCES:Arthur Brooks, professor of public and nonprofit leadership at Harvard University. RESOURCES:“Vital Statistics on Congress,” by Molly Reynolds and Naomi Maehr (Brookings Institute, 2024).Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, by Anna Lembke (2021).“Reading Too Much Political News Is Bad for Your Well-Being,” by Arthur Brooks (The Atlantic, 2020).Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt, by Arthur Brooks (2019).“This 75-Year Harvard Study Found the 1 Secret to Leading a Fulfilling Life,” by Melanie Curtin (Inc., 2017).The Conservative Heart: How to Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America, by Arthur Brooks (2015).“Grin and Bear It: The Influence of Manipulated Facia