“Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien,” wrote Voltaire, usually translated to “the perfect is the enemy of the good,” and more often rendered in the imperative as “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” The quote rang in my head recently while on a journalistic junket that had me flying business class to Dubai, which is not how or where I usually fly. We hit some turbulence somewhere over Europ...
The strongest version of this narrative is a thoughtful critique of the optimizer mindset, highlighting how an excessive focus on quantification and efficiency can drain joy and meaning from life. The author effectively contrasts the Points Guy’s analytical approach to travel with his own preference for spontaneity, illustrating how different values shape behavior. The piece also raises valid concerns about the potential pitfalls of effective altruism, where rigid optimization can lead to absurd...