What Were They Thinking?




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ClassGraphic Why do smart people make catastrophic mistakes? How do well-designed systems fail spectacularly? Join us to explore these questions through Tim Harford's award-winning Cautionary Tales podcast. Tim Harford—Financial Times columnist, BBC broadcaster, and acclaimed economist—weaves gripping stories of human error with insights from psychology, economics, and behavioral science. Each week, discussion leaders will select two podcast episodes (30–60 minutes total), supplemented with videos, photos, and articles. Topics span aviation disasters, medical system failures, financial catastrophes, engineering mishaps, corporate fraud, environmental disasters, and cultural moments like the infamous Oscar mix-up. They include what went wrong with Chicago's parking meter sale, why redundant safety features sometimes backfire, how a doctor killed patients undetected, and what radical protest can and cannot achieve. Beyond compelling stories, you'll sharpen your critical thinking about risk and decision-making. As Harford promises: “Each story will make you wiser.”
 

Class Details

4 Session(s)
Weekly - Wed

Location
TBD

Instructor
Multiple

Tuition: 

$0.00

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Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
1/21/2026 - 2/11/2026 Weekly - Wed 09:45 AM - 11:45 AM TBD Susan Salpeter  ; Bill King 

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