A.J. Jacobs on Solving Life's Puzzles

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Russ Roberts and A.J. Jacobs discuss Jacobs’ book The Puzzler and use puzzles as a lens for language, curiosity, competition, and uncertainty. They cover crosswords, cryptics, jigsaws, Rubik’s Cubes, chess, and Spelling Bee, arguing that puzzles can be meditative, instructive, and even philosophical, while also warning against treating life as if every problem has a neat answer.

Main Topics: Crossword puzzles and wordplay: The conversation begins with New York Times crosswords, differences between weekdays, the temptation to use Google, and the value of puns and ambiguous words for sharpening linguistic sensitivity. Jigsaw puzzles as meditation and competition: Jacobs recounts moving from jigsaw snob to convert, describing their meditative appeal, artisanal difficulty, and the surprising existence of a world jigsaw championship. Rubik’s Cube, algorithms, and huge numbers: They discuss speedcubing, the vast number of cube states, the role of algorithms versus discovery, and the cube as a metaphor for solvable problems and optimization. Chess as a window into focus and decision-making: Roberts and Jacobs compare chess to life, discuss distraction, multitasking, mood effects, and Kasparov’s view that humans and machines should work together. Puzzles, certainty, and the limits of solutions: A recurring theme is the tension between wanting certainty and accepting uncertainty; puzzles offer closure, but life often does not. Jacobs emphasizes curiosity over anger. Puzzle culture, personalities, and craftsmanship: The interview highlights puzzle makers, the social history of crosswords and Sudoku, competition formats, and the artistry and testing behind high-quality puzzle design. Meaning of life through the search: Jacobs argues that the meaning of life may lie in the search itself—embracing the ‘arrow’ of trying, struggling, and exploring rather than demanding final answers.

Key Arguments: Wordplay and ambiguous clues train people to recognize multiple meanings, which improves linguistic awareness and even how they read politics and news. Jigsaws are not merely simplistic; they can be meditative, difficult, and creatively rich, offering a different kind of intelligence and satisfaction. Competition and speed can coexist with contemplation: puzzles can be savoring exercises or timed contests depending on the setting. Rubik’s Cubes and chess show the power of algorithms, but also their limits; many real-world problems cannot be reduced to a single correct method. Curiosity is more productive than anger when confronting disagreement or frustration; ‘don’t get furious, get curious.’ Puzzle-solving can become a form of coping and solace because it provides a bounded world with answers, unlike many real-life problems. The search for the meaning of life may matter more than any final answer; the journey itself is part of the meaning.

Data Points: Podcast date: May 16, 2022 - Russ Roberts introduces the episode date at the start of the conversation. Crossword day preference: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday - Jacobs says he does not do Monday/Tuesday and prefers harder mid-to-late week NYT crosswords. Rubik’s Cube combinations: 43 quintillion - Jacobs cites the number of possible Rubik’s Cube configurations as a way to illustrate combinatorial scale. Rubik’s Cube world record: about 4.5 seconds - The speakers discuss the astonishing speed of top cubers; Jacobs corrects the claim to about four and a half seconds. World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship countries: 40 countries - Jacobs says the competition had 40 countries signed up when he discovered it. U.S. team placement: 85th out of 86 - Jacobs and his family finished near the bottom in the world jigsaw championship. Spelling Bee threshold: genius rating - Roberts describes reaching genius on the NYT Spelling Bee app but not necessarily all words. Bobby Fischer match reference: 1972 - Roberts references the Fischer-Spassky match era as part of the chess discussion.

Pivotal Quotes: "don’t get furious, get curious" — A.J. Jacobs: Jacobs relays advice from a child psychologist and applies it broadly to disagreement, parenting, and politics. "the meaning of life is partly in the search for the meaning of life" — A.J. Jacobs: Jacobs explains his conclusion that curiosity and the process of searching provide meaning even without final answers. "there are different shades of blue" — A.J. Jacobs: Used in the jigsaw discussion to argue that life, like a puzzle sky, is rarely black and white.

Implications: The episode suggests puzzles are more than entertainment: they sharpen language, model problem-solving, and teach tolerance for uncertainty. For listeners, the takeaway is to value curiosity, focus, and process over outrage or simplistic certainty.