Eric Barker
Eric Barker is an American author and blogger who explores success, productivity, happiness, and relationships through behavioral science. He is best known for the long-running blog Barking Up the Wrong Tree and the book of the same name, which brought research-driven self-improvement ideas to a broad mainstream audience.
Biography & Author's Journey
Eric Barker came to authorship by way of an indirect education and career path. He studied philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, earned an MFA from UCLA’s film program, and later completed an MBA at Boston College. Before he was known for synthesizing social science, he spent about a decade in Hollywood, writing or developing projects for Walt Disney Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Revolution Studios, and Stan Lee-related work. That unconventional route became the seed of his later writing: after exposure to research on negotiation and human behavior at Boston College, he began questioning the standard rules people repeat about success and looking instead to academic studies and expert insight. ((https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/carroll-school/news/2017/eric-barker.html?utm_source=openai))
Quotes
You May Also Like
Popular Books
Barking up the Wrong Tree
Eric Barker
Challenging conventional wisdom, this book reveals surprising truths about success and offers unconventional strategies to achieve your goals.
Plays Well with Others
Eric Barker
A science-backed guide to building better relationships, from friendships to romance, with surprising insights and practical advice.
Barking up the Wrong Tree
Eric Barker
Challenging conventional wisdom, this book reveals surprising truths about success and offers unconventional strategies to achieve your goals.
Plays Well with Others
Eric Barker
A science-backed guide to building better relationships, from friendships to romance, with surprising insights and practical advice.
Discover more
Self-Improvement, Business & Behavior Science
Self-Improvement, Business & Behavior Science
This plan bridges the gap between psychological theory and practical business execution. It is designed for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs who want to master their own behavior while scaling their professional influence.
Bio, Psych, Self-Help & Tech Exploration
Bio, Psych, Self-Help & Tech Exploration
This plan bridges the gap between hard science and practical self-improvement, offering a roadmap for navigating the complexities of the human experience. It is ideal for curious minds and lifelong learners who want to leverage biology and tech trends to master their own behavior.
Master behavioral economics
Master behavioral economics
Behavioral economics has revolutionized how we understand human decision-making, revealing that people consistently make predictable errors in judgment that traditional economics cannot explain. This learning plan is essential for professionals in business, policy, marketing, product design, and leadership roles who want to understand what truly drives human behavior and how to design systems that lead to better outcomes. Whether you're optimizing user experiences, crafting policies, developing marketing strategies, or simply seeking to make better decisions yourself, mastering these principles provides a powerful competitive advantage.
Psychology, Habits & Personal Growth Guide
Psychology, Habits & Personal Growth Guide
This guide bridges the gap between psychological theory and practical self-improvement, offering a roadmap for anyone seeking to master their behavior. It is ideal for professionals, students, or individuals looking to optimize their mental frameworks and daily routines for long-term success.
Mindful Growth, Relationships & Psychology
Mindful Growth, Relationships & Psychology
This plan bridges the gap between mindfulness and behavioral psychology to foster holistic personal development. It is ideal for individuals seeking to improve their emotional intelligence and build healthier, more conscious relationships through self-reflection.
I'm curious about Self-Improvement, Habits, Psychology, Mindfulness, Philosophy, Investing, Economics, Financial Freedom, Personal Finance, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Marketing, Productivity, Parenting, Love & Partnership, Social Skills, Communication, Nutrition, Mental Health, Fitness, Sleep & Recovery, Sexual Health, Desire & Relationships, Body & Pleasure, Technology, Innovation, Environment, History, Culture, Education, Politics, Creativity, Biography & Memoir, Inspiration
I'm curious about Self-Improvement, Habits, Psychology, Mindfulness, Philosophy, Investing, Economics, Financial Freedom, Personal Finance, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Marketing, Productivity, Parenting, Love & Partnership, Social Skills, Communication, Nutrition, Mental Health, Fitness, Sleep & Recovery, Sexual Health, Desire & Relationships, Body & Pleasure, Technology, Innovation, Environment, History, Culture, Education, Politics, Creativity, Biography & Memoir, Inspiration
This comprehensive curriculum bridges the gap between personal well-being and professional mastery, offering a holistic roadmap for the modern achiever. It is designed for lifelong learners seeking to integrate psychological insight, financial literacy, and leadership excellence into a single, actionable framework.
Community Voices
"Eric Barker distills what we know about how to make our most important relationships flourish"
— Daniel H. Pink
"Smart, yet funny, Barker frequently draws from scientifically backed studies"
— Library Journal
"Eric Barker’s wit and explanatory powers shine through every page"
— David Epstein
"Eric Barker explodes many myths we have about success"
— AudioFile
"Barker’s wide-eyed curiosity and intellectual openness make him an ideal tour guide"
— Publishers Weekly
"Barker’s irreverence is so consistently on-target"
— Robert B. Cialdini
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
