Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less

Written by Leidy Klotz

Narrated by Leidy Klotz and Robert Petkoff

This program includes an introduction and epilogue read by the author.

Blending evidence across science and design, Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less offers a revolution in problem-solving: proving why we overlook subtraction, and how we can access its true potential

We pile on “to-dos” but don’t consider “stop-doings.” We create incentives for good behavior, but don’t get rid of obstacles to it. We collect new-and-improved ideas, but don’t prune the outdated ones. Every day, across challenges big and small, we neglect a basic way to make things better: we don’t subtract.

Leidy Klotz’s pioneering research shows why. Whether we’re building Lego models or cities, grilled-cheese sandwiches or strategic plans, our minds tend to add before taking away. Even when we do think of it, subtraction can be harder to pull off because an array of biological, cultural, and economic forces push us towards more. But we have a choice—our blind spot need not go on taking its toll on our cities, our institutions, and our minds. By diagnosing our neglect of subtraction, we can treat it.

Subtract will change how you change your world. In these pages you’ll meet subtracting exemplars: design geniuses, Nobel Prize-winners, rock-stars, and everyday heroes, who have subtracted to dismantle racism, advance knowledge, heal the planet, and even tell better jokes. These and more guiding lights show how we can revolutionize not just our day-to-day lives, but our collective legacy. A paradigm shift of a book, Subtract shows us how to find more of the options we’ve been missing—and empowers us to pursue them.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

“This is a captivating, perceptive read on one of the most basic mistakes that we make in the pursuit of success and happiness...If the defining word of your life is ‘more,’ you need to read this book.”--Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Originals, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Apr 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781250791450

Leidy Klotz

Leidy Klotz is the Copenhaver Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, where he is appointed in the Schools of Engineering, Architecture, and Business. He co-founded and co-directs the university's Convergent Behavioral Science Initiative, which engages and supports applied, interdisciplinary research. Klotz earned a highly-selective CAREER award from the National Science Foundation, one of the NSF's first awards through its INSPIRE program, and over $7 million in competitive research funding. He advises influential decision-makers that straddle academia and practice, working with the Departments of Energy and Homeland Security, the National Institutes of Health, Resources for the Future, ideas42, and Nature Sustainability. A columnist for the Behavioral Scientist, Klotz has written for venues such as Science, Nature, Fast Company, and The Daily Climate.

Reviews for Subtract

[Bek Urban · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The book could be a lot shorter in my opinion. Traditionally popular science books include stories/examples followed by the evidence supporting what the book tries to say. Here there is some of this, mostly in the beginning of the book, which is good. But as the book continues, there is a lot of examples/anecdotal evidence that is paralleled with an existing research (flow, cognitive load etc.). But no evidence. Only parallels that you can see if you want to, but are not necessarily nor correllation neither causality... And at the end are some ideas about how to implement subtraction to solve our current problems (climate change, information overload...). That is ok, but little too descriptive in my opinion (because they are not too difficult to understand to justify so many words). So I think this book would benefit from implementing the message it is trying to convey.
Fun anecdote: I was pondering not finishing the book, when the author suggested just that - he said he is flattered that we listened so far and we could have just done something else or have read a different book :)

[Luis Alberto Guzman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It change the way I see less, now I can see that less could be more.

[Will · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Remarkably terrible reader. I evidently need my post to have at least ten words. The first three say everything.

[Kelly Kandra Hughes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A worthwhile read for how to look at life differently.

[Dieter Schwarz · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This is the new definition of hypocrisy. Great idea (in fact my main life philosophy) but the worst execution of all time. Endless stories that go on for 10-15 minutes that could be summed up in 2 sentences. First I thought it’s just the unnecessary complicated description of his studies, but it’s everywhere. This book was an absolute torture. Just listen to the last takeaway chapter - there isn’t much more food of thought in it. You got an F, Prof. Congratulations for making it into Wikipedia as the new definition of hypocrisy!