About Me
I am a physician and behavioral scientist. My research and writing explore the quirks in human nature that influence our lives -- the mixture of rational and irrational forces that affect our health, our happiness, and the way our society functions. (more...)- Have a question or just want to get in touch? Email me at peter.ubel@duke.edu
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Tag Archives: favorite quotes
Celebrating Colorful Language
I realize that I do not have the most focused blog in the world. Some people blog about nothing other than, say, capital punishment or new developments in whiskey. I write about psychology, behavioral economics, ethics, the doctor-patient relationship, health … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged favorite quotes
One of My Favorite Paragraphs from Being Mortal
Atul Gawande has received appropriate praise for his new book. Read it if you haven’t. Meanwhile, here is one of my favorite paragraphs from the book, to whet your appetites: Even as our bones and teeth soften, the rest of … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged favorite quotes
Mind-Boggling Partisan Dysfunction
I have done some research on political partisanship, as well as some writing. I think political dysfunction in this country threatens our future. So it was nice to read this opening paragraph, in a relatively recent and wonderfully written article … Continue reading
Posted in Political Psychology
Tagged bipartisanship, favorite quotes
Heart-Wrenching Words from Beethoven on Deafness
It is an awful irony that Ludwig van Beethoven, who I consider the greatest composer in the history of the world, experienced deafness from an early age, a disability that did not seem to interfere with his musical productivity one … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged disability, favorite quotes, happiness
Power of Analogy
From time to time in this blog, I take a moment to celebrate fine writing. Here is an example I came across in an article in Smithsonian magazine from May 2014. The author, Corey Powell , was trying to explain how astronomers … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged favorite quotes
Something I Have in Common with Beethoven
Friends and family are painfully aware of how obsessed I have become with Beethoven lately. My plan is to have 10 of his piano sonatas in my brain and fingertips at any one time, ready to play by memory on … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged favorite quotes
Influencing Young Minds
I really like teaching Duke undergraduates. They are an ambitious and intelligent group. But sometimes their ambition and intelligence get in the way of creative thinking, especially in regards to careers. They all want to remain high achievers, so they … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged favorite quotes
Emotional Adaptation and Desire
I’ve done a fair amount of research on how people emotionally adapt to life circumstances. My research is mainly in the context of illness and disability, where people bounce back from adversity more than expected. But people can also emotionally … Continue reading
Posted in Behavioral Economics and Public Policy
Tagged behavioral economics, favorite quotes
Sagan the Quipster
In 1996, a man wrote to Carl Sagan asking him the distance to heaven. Sagan was a very public agnostic. He replied brilliantly: “Thanks for your letter. Nothing like the Christian notion of heaven has been found out to about … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged favorite quotes
Science Writing Prodigy
I’ve been teaching college for four years now, at a pretty darn good college. But I’m not sure I’ve seen student writing quite as good as this undergraduate writing sample: There is a wide yawning black infinity. In every direction … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged favorite quotes