Chaos Theory: The Hidden Force That Secretly Controls Your Life - Brian Klaas - #806

**Chris Williamson** (0:00)
Hello everybody, welcome back to the show. My guest today is Brian Klaas. He's a political scientist, a professor at University College London, and an author. Small, seemingly insignificant events can have profound effects on the world. But how much of our fate is truly determined by chance? And if chaos plays such a huge role, how much control do we actually have over anything? Expect to learn the chance story of the atomic bombs targeting, the difference between contingency and convergence, why our brains are so good at distorting reality, the link between Donald Trump's election and the dinosaurs, how a cigar changed the course of the American Revolution, why floorboards in New England are 23 inches wide, and much more. Those of you who subscribe to the 3 Minute Monday newsletter will have already seen that I was blown away by this episode. It's one of my favorites this year. That Brian is a total underground hero. His stories are fantastic. He's got these anecdotes. I have no idea where he's found them. Unbelievable stories. And I love his thesis. It's really, really cool. Massive fan of his work. And yeah, there is so much to take away from this one. I've been loving my cold plunge and sauna from the team over at Plunge. I literally use them every single week because the benefits of hot and cold contrast therapy make me feel fantastic. I have more energy during the day, sleep better at night and recover faster after hard workouts. Plunge's Evolve collection includes four brand new offerings made to fit your lifestyle, space and goals. The new Plunge Pure Pro Chiller uses state-of-the-art technology to filter water and chill it. At the same time, the all-new Plunge Air is amazing if you're looking for a lightweight, space-efficient option. You can connect it to the Plunge Pop-Up for maximum portability and affordability, or go with the XL Plunge Pro for their signature style. They are quick to set up and always ready to go. It only takes three minutes to feel amazing. That's how long I spend in it. And they offer a 30-day return policy. Head to plunge.com/modernwisdom and use the code MW150 for $150 off any purchase. That's plunge.com/modernwisdom and MW150. A checkout. This episode is brought to you by Manscaped. If you are a guy who is still using an old face shaver from four Christmases ago to trim your gentleman's area, grow up, come on, join us here in the modern world. There are purpose-built tools for the job and Manscaped Lawnmower 4 is the best ball and body hair trimmer ever created. It's got a cutting edge ceramic blade to reduce grooming accidents, a 90 minute battery so that you can take a longer shave, waterproof technology which allows you to groom in the shower and an LED light which illuminates grooming areas for a closer and more precise trim or if you just wanted to do it in the dark. They've also upgraded to a 7,000 RPM motor with QuietStruck technology. It's got a wireless charging system that helps the battery to last even longer. Altogether, it means that you're going to hate trimming your body hair far less and you can get free shipping worldwide plus a 20% discount if you go to manscaped.com/modernwisdom and use the code modern wisdom at checkout. That's manscaped.com/modernwisdom and modern wisdom at checkout. This episode is brought to you by Element. Stop having coffee first thing in the morning. I think your adenosine system that caffeine acts on isn't even active for the first 90 minutes of the day, but your adrenal system is and salt acts on your adrenal system. Element contains a science-backed electrolyte ratio of sodium, potassium and magnesium with no junk, no sugar, no coloring, artificial ingredients, gluten fillers or any other BS. It plays a critical role in reducing muscle cramps and fatigue whilst optimizing brain health, regulating appetite and curbing cravings. It's how I've started my morning every single day for over three years now. And I absolutely love it. The orange flavor in a cold glass of water first thing in the morning is fantastic. It is the best way to start the day. Also they have a no BS, no questions, ask refund policy. So if you do not like it for any reason, they will give you your money back and you don't even need to return the box. That's how confident they are that you love it. Head to drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom to get a free sample pack of all eight flavors with your first box. That's drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom.
But now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Brian Klaas.
What is the chance story of the atomic bombs targeting?

**Brian Klaas** (4:42)
Well, so this story starts in 1926, and it's where a couple goes on vacation to Kyoto, Japan. And Kyoto is an incredibly charming city. It's a place where this couple sort of looked around. They recorded a beautiful day of sightseeing in the man's diary. And 19 years later, this man from this couple turns out to be America's secretary of war. His name is Henry Stimson.