Best quote from The Scarcity Myth and Real Global Risks with Wojciech Janicki
The Stone Age didn't end because we ran out of stones; it ended because we found something better. Our current age won't end in a catastrophic collapse unless we let our fear paralyze our progress.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
Use this link to get my point: https://youtu.be/JpRetw4yWkc
Frequently Asked Questions
The scarcity myth refers to the persistent but irrational fear that the world is rapidly running out of essential resources like oil. Political geographer Wojciech Janicki argues that these anxieties are often a byproduct of simple ignorance and psychological traps rather than scientific reality. Despite constant warnings in the media, Janicki points out that there is no rational basis for the belief that we are currently facing an immediate depletion of global oil supplies.
According to the research of Professor Wojciech Janicki, the narrative that we are running out of oil is not grounded in reality. He highlights that society has been hearing these warnings since shortly after the first oil well was drilled in 1859. For example, the U.S. Geological Survey once predicted that American oil would be completely gone by 1930, a claim that history has proven to be entirely incorrect.
In 'The Scarcity Myth and Real Global Risks,' political geography provides a lens to analyze why humans consistently fear the wrong things. Professor Wojciech Janicki explains that while information is more accessible than ever, we remain susceptible to ancient psychological traps. By analyzing resource scarcity through this academic field, Janicki demonstrates how historical narratives and misinformation shape our modern anxieties about climate change and resource depletion.
Discover more
Think like Nassim taleb
In an increasingly volatile world, traditional linear thinking often leads to catastrophic failure. This plan is essential for decision-makers, investors, and strategists who want to move beyond mere resilience and learn to profit from uncertainty.
The Management Shadow: Taleb/Kahneman/Greene
In an era of radical uncertainty, traditional management frameworks often fail because they ignore human irrationality and the impact of rare events. This plan is designed for leaders and strategists who want to master the hidden psychological and systemic forces that govern success and power.
The Machinery of Global Crashes
Understanding the structural vulnerabilities of the global economy is essential for navigating today's volatile financial landscape. This plan is ideal for investors, policy enthusiasts, and professionals seeking to grasp how interconnected market forces and government levers precipitate large-scale crashes.
The Geopolitical Chessboard of 2025
As the global order undergoes a fundamental transformation, understanding the intersection of geography and systemic risk is essential for strategic decision-making. This plan is designed for policy analysts, business leaders, and global thinkers who need to navigate the complexities of a multipolar world.
Learn The Misbehavior of Markets tenets
Modern finance often relies on outdated models that ignore the reality of extreme market events. This plan is essential for investors and analysts who want to move beyond standard deviations to understand the true nature of risk and fractal patterns in financial systems.
Macro Forces and Portfolio Decisions
In an era of high volatility, understanding the intersection of monetary policy and global conflict is essential for capital preservation. This plan is designed for investors and analysts who need to translate macroeconomic signals into actionable portfolio adjustments.
Trade stocks based on global politics
In an increasingly volatile world, political events move markets more than ever before. This plan is designed for investors who want to turn global uncertainty into a strategic advantage by combining macro analysis with disciplined risk management.
Macroeconomics for Personal Wealth
Understanding the forces that drive the global economy is essential for anyone looking to protect their assets from inflation and policy shifts. This plan is designed for individual investors and curious professionals who want to translate high-level economic data into actionable personal financial strategies.
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"
