YOUniversity with David Epstein

How do we do more with less?

Fireside Chat with David Epstein and Derek Coburn

“I thought David Epstein’s first two books were brilliant, but Inside the Box is his best. I’ll never think about my own work the same way again.” — Malcolm Gladwell

We will be in conversation with the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Range, discussing many of the ideas from his upcoming book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better.

We live in a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and prizes freedom above all else. We have an unprecedented number of options regarding what to do, who to be, and how to spend our time. All that choice is wonderful; it is also overwhelming. The irony is that total freedom can be paralyzing, and unlimited resources don’t necessarily lead to the biggest breakthroughs. In fact, overvaluing complete freedom can be disastrous for everything from starting a company to harnessing creativity to finding personal satisfaction.

David Epstein argues that all of us—individuals, businesses, institutions, even societies—can benefit from narrowing our options.

We’ll dive into the science and practice of constraints, exploring exactly when and how guardrails can be beneficial, whether we’re working with limited resources or using self-imposed boundaries to tap unexpected wells of focus and innovation.

BONUS: All attendees will receive a copy of Inside the Box (a $30 value).