Spencer Greenberg On The only 12 proven self-help tools for a meaningful life and improving the world
With Spencer Greenberg
Spencer Greenberg, mathematician and founder of the self-help research nonprofit Clearer Thinking, breaks down how over 450 self-help techniques from 100 books and 20 types of therapy boil down to just 12 core psychological levers. He co-authored the book The 12 Levers with clinical psychologist Jeremy Stevenson, mapping out evidence-based tools for identifying your values, boosting productivity, building optimism, and more.
In this conversation, Spencer explains why so many people live by values they absorbed from their parents or environment rather than ones they actually chose, and shares a simple exercise for figuring out what you truly value. We get into the real formula for productivity (which weighs how important your work is, not just the hours you put in), the most evidence-backed exercise for building genuine optimism, and the exposure therapy techniques Spencer used to overcome severe social anxiety.