Ep: 1895 Ward Farnsworth - Should You Tip For Takeout?

Should you tip for takeout? Should you let someone cut in line? And if you’re worried a politician you dislike will win, should you bet on them—and profit if they do? Ward Farnsworth and Saul Levmore explore these everyday dilemmas with humor, curiosity, and a healthy dose of logic. Their point isn’t necessarily to give you the “right” answer, but to show that how you think through a problem matters just as much as the conclusion.Drawing on economics, law, philosophy, and sports, they introduce ideas like Bayesian analysis, optimal stopping, and zero-sum games in surprisingly relatable ways.It’s a fascinating look at the hidden logic behind ordinary decisions—and a reminder that everyday life gets much more interesting when you stop taking things for granted. Farnsworth is Professor and W. Page Keeton Chair at the University of Texas School of Law.