Battling Truth Decay: Communicating nuance in a world hooked on fast factoids (Oct 22, 2025)

A. J. Jacobs discusses his noteworthy experiences communicating ideas that are unusual, and maybe even unpopular. Drawing on guiding texts including the Constitution, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Bible, and George Washington's "110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation," (#98, Drink not nor talk with your mouth full neither Gaze about you while you are a Drinking) he shares his perspectives on how to build up public consensus and excitement about science.

About the Speaker:
A.J. Jacobs is an author, lecturer, journalist, and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers combining humor, science, memoir, and a dash of self-help. He is also editor at large at Esquire magazine, columnist for Mental Floss magazine, and a commentator on NPR. He has written for The New York Times, New York magazine, Dental Economics magazine which is one of the top five magazines about the financial side of tooth care, and Entertainment Weekly. He has made appearances on shows such as Oprah, The Today Show, Conan, The Colbert Report, Good Morning America, CNN, The Dr. Oz Show, and given several TED talks. Jacobs is also a periodic commentator on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday, dispensing world-shaking historical trivia, including segments on 19th century lawmakers who spat chewing tobacco in their opponent’s faces. Jacobs grew up in New York City. His father, a lawyer holds the world record for the most footnotes in a law review article (4,812). His wife works for a highbrow scavenger hunt called Watson Adventures. He lives in New York with his family. He was also the answer to 1-Down in a New York Times crossword puzzle.