Tom Vanderbilt author photo
Image via Wikimedia Commons, sous licence CC BY 3.0.

Tom Vanderbilt

Tom Vanderbilt is an American journalist and author who writes about design, technology, travel, and everyday behavior. He is best known for Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us), and has also written You May Also Like and Beginners, bringing behavioral insight to ordinary experience.

Biographie et Parcours de l'Auteur

Tom Vanderbilt built his career by turning ordinary systems into subjects of cultural inquiry. Born in Illinois, raised in Wisconsin, and educated at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he moved to New York with the aim of becoming a writer. His early path ran through criticism, reporting, and essays for outlets that rewarded intellectual range rather than narrow specialization. Work for publications such as Slate, Design Observer, Artforum, Wired, and other magazines helped establish the method that would define him: start with a familiar object or routine, then widen the frame until it reveals something larger about design, technology, psychology, and everyday life. ((https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/tom-vanderbilt/?utm_source=openai))

Afficher Plus

Citations

quote
What could traffic tell us, if someone would just stop to listen?
-Traffic
quote
When we forget that driving isn’t necessarily as easy as it seems to be, we get into trouble
-Traffic Q&A
quote
The street had gone from a rich ecosystem to a monoculture
-The Pandemic Gives Us a Chance to Change How We Get Around
quote
Which is extraordinary, considering how murky the world of traffic can be
-Why Waymo’s Fleet of Self-Driving Cars Is Finally Ready for Prime Time
quote
Learning is forgetting; or, more accurately, it's virtually forgetting that we know something, but then being able to magically retrieve it when called upon
-How Duolingo uses dirty gaming tricks to get you addicted to French
quote
We don’t tend to think on paper. We think in our heads
-Autonomous Cars: How Safe Is Safe Enough?
quote
Now, under the guise of fatherly supervision, I again had a controller in hand
-‘Wait, Sylvie’s Dad Plays?!’ The Joy of Fortnite Parenting
quote
Perhaps more than anything else, Tesla represents a disruption of the imagination
-Elon Musk and the dangerous cliché of the disruptive visionary
quote
In a cynical, despairing world, a sugar pill that calls itself a sugar pill might be the sweetest thing around
-You Know It’s a Placebo. So Why Does It Still Work?
quote
Like the robots, I feel I’m moving around in the dark, never seeing everything at once
-Here Come the Underdogs of the Robot Olympics

Découvrir plus

The Architecture of Choice
PLAN D'APPRENTISSAGE

The Architecture of Choice

Understanding the hidden mechanics of decision-making is essential for anyone navigating complex social and professional landscapes. This plan is ideal for leaders, marketers, and curious minds looking to master the psychological triggers that drive human choice and collective action.

3 h 4 m4 Sections
Thinking, Fast and Slow: Decision Toolkit
PLAN D'APPRENTISSAGE

Thinking, Fast and Slow: Decision Toolkit

In an era of information overload, understanding the mechanics of human judgment is a critical superpower for leaders and professionals. This toolkit is essential for anyone looking to minimize cognitive errors and master the psychological drivers behind every choice we make.

3 h 15 m4 Sections
The Arrival Fallacy and the Science of Satisfaction
PLAN D'APPRENTISSAGE

The Arrival Fallacy and the Science of Satisfaction

High-achievers often find themselves trapped in a cycle of chasing milestones that never yield the expected joy. This plan is essential for anyone struggling with burnout or the 'what's next' syndrome, offering a scientific roadmap to decouple identity from external validation.

1 h 30 m3 Sections
The Elastic Self: Sustainable Habit Design
PLAN D'APPRENTISSAGE

The Elastic Self: Sustainable Habit Design

In an unpredictable world, rigid routines often lead to burnout and failure. This plan is designed for high-performers and busy professionals who need habit systems that bend without breaking under stress.

2 h4 Sections
Systems Thinking for UI/UX Design
PLAN D'APPRENTISSAGE

Systems Thinking for UI/UX Design

This learning plan is essential for designers looking to move beyond surface-level aesthetics to solve complex organizational challenges. It is ideal for UI/UX professionals and product designers who want to master the intersection of human-centered design, iterative prototyping, and AI-driven scalability.

2 h 30 m5 Sections
Surviving the Algorithmic Age
PLAN D'APPRENTISSAGE

Surviving the Algorithmic Age

In an era where algorithms dictate our reality, understanding the mechanics of digital influence is essential for mental autonomy. This plan is designed for students, professionals, and daily internet users who want to move beyond passive scrolling and master their information environment.

1 h 30 m3 Sections
Vincent’s Vision: The Man Behind the Stars
PLAN D'APPRENTISSAGE

Vincent’s Vision: The Man Behind the Stars

This plan offers a unique interdisciplinary look at Van Gogh by blending art history with physical science. It is perfect for curious minds who want to understand the emotional depth and technical brilliance behind one of history's most famous painters.

1 h 30 m3 Sections
The Daily Regulation Roadmap
PLAN D'APPRENTISSAGE

The Daily Regulation Roadmap

Modern life often keeps our nervous systems in a state of high alert, leading to burnout and social anxiety. This roadmap is essential for high-sensitivity individuals and professionals seeking practical, science-backed somatic tools to regain physical calm and resilience.

1 h 45 m3 Sections

Voix de la Communauté

"Tom Vanderbilt takes up pursuits that are actually fun—surfing, chess, even juggling—and finds power in being a novice"

Bloomberg

"Tom Vanderbilt uncovers a raft of counterintuitive facts about what happens when we get behind the wheel, and why"

BusinessWeek

"Tom Vanderbilt shows us why it's never too late to be a beginner, and that there should be no shame associated with the word 'dilettante."

A.J. Jacobs

"A genuinely engaging book, perhaps because Tom Vanderbilt is skillful at conveying his own sense of engagement to the reader"

Los Angeles Times

"Tom Vanderbilt's book explores how to learn completely new skills, how to change our world - even after we're supposed to be done with schooling"

Charles Duhigg

"It's impossible to pick up a book by Tom Vanderbilt without learning something"

Robert Colvile

FAQ sur cette page

Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed rassemble une communauté mondiale d'esprits curieux

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
1,5 k notes4.7
Commencez votre parcours d'apprentissage, maintenant