42. How Does When You Are Born Affect Who You Are?

In this episode of "No Stupid Questions," Angela Duckworth and Stephen Dubner explore the impact of birth timing on various life outcomes. They discuss cultural beliefs, such as the Chinese zodiac's Year of the Dragon, and their effects on parental investment and children's education. The conversation covers the Pygmalion effect, biological factors related to the season of birth, and the relative age effect in sports and academics. They analyze the magnitude of these effects, comparing them to factors like having a parent in Major League Baseball. Additionally, they touch on birth effects related to events like the Chernobyl disaster and the 1918 influenza pandemic. The episode also includes a segment where Angela discusses her attempt to quit putting sugar in her coffee, experimenting with mindfulness to enhance her coffee experience.