Rolf Dobelli
Born: July 15, 1966 – Lucerne, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland
Rolf Dobelli is a Swiss writer and entrepreneur whose work explores cognitive biases, decision-making, and practical philosophy. He is best known for The Art of Thinking Clearly and also wrote The Art of the Good Life and Stop Reading the News; his books have been published in 50 languages. ((https://www.dobelli.com/de/person/))
Biography & Author's Journey
Rolf Dobelli was born in Lucerne, Switzerland, in 1966 and studied business administration and philosophy at the University of St. Gallen, where he earned a PhD in philosophy. After university he worked in business, including at Swissair, and later co-founded getAbstract, an entrepreneurial move that helped define the practical, managerial cast of his later writing. Years spent living in Hong Kong, Australia, England, and the United States broadened that outlook further. He did not begin as an early literary wunderkind: by his own account, he wrote his first book at 35, a relatively late start that became part of his public identity. The delay also helps explain the character of his work, which tends to synthesize experience, research, and observation rather than present itself as purely academic theory. He lives in Bern with his wife, the novelist Clara Maria Bagus, and their sons. ((https://www.dobelli.com/?utm_source=openai))
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The Art of Thinking Clearly
Rolf Dobelli
Uncover cognitive biases and logical fallacies to make better decisions in all aspects of life through 99 insightful chapters.
Stop Reading the News
Rolf Dobelli
A manifesto on the dangers of news and how to live a calmer, more insightful life without it.
The Art of the Good Life
Rolf Dobelli
Practical toolkit with 52 happiness hacks for optimized living.
The Art of Thinking Clearly
Rolf Dobelli
Uncover cognitive biases and logical fallacies to make better decisions in all aspects of life through 99 insightful chapters.
Stop Reading the News
Rolf Dobelli
A manifesto on the dangers of news and how to live a calmer, more insightful life without it.
The Art of the Good Life
Rolf Dobelli
Practical toolkit with 52 happiness hacks for optimized living.
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Community Voices
"Rolf Dobelli has a gift for identifying the best ideas in the world"
— Jonathan Haidt ((
"Rolf Dobelli’s works are informative, insightful, and accessible"
— Lou Marinoff ((
"Rolf Dobelli possesses the fascinating knack to present modern scientific insights in an inspiring and thrilling way"
— Bruno S. Frey ((
"Rolf Dobelli possesses one of Europe’s finest minds"
— Matt Ridley ((
"Robert B. Cialdini says Rolf Dobelli turns scientific research into practical steps that improve outcomes"
— Robert B. Cialdini ((
"Rolf Dobelli is endowed with both imagination and realism"
— Nassim Nicholas Taleb ((
"Rolf Dobelli is a virtuosic synthesizer of ideas"
— Joshua Greene ((
"Christoph Franz says Rolf Dobelli’s clear prose illuminates how we think"
— Christoph Franz ((
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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"
