A guide to dealing with uncertainty at a time when our lives have never felt less certain, from the acclaimed author of The Good Enough Job . Uncertainty surrounds us. From our careers to our politics to our personal lives, the future grows more uncertain by the day. And yet, our capacity to tolerate this uncertainty is in decline, leaving us feeling constantly anxious and unmoored. The good news is that our uncertainty tolerance is not a fixed trait. We can learn to develop more comfort with the unknown--unlocking greater openness, adaptability, and resilience. In How to Not Know , journalist Simone Stolzoff blends original reporting with eye-opening insights from psychology, economics, and philosophy to show how we can improve our relationship with uncertainty--and even come to appreciate it. Through gripping, real-world stories--from an economist trying to predict the next market crash to an island nation reckoning with the existential impact of climate change--Stolzoff reveals the "certainty traps" that quietly shape our lives.

The drive for comfort stifles us, hubris blinds us, and the urge for control limits us. Yet on the flip side of each trap is a virtue that can help us face uncertainty and open ourselves up to discovery and delight. How to Not Know invites us to embrace discomfort and relinquish control--showing us that uncertainty can be the precursor to possibility. Blending vivid storytelling, striking research, and practical insights, How to Not Know is an essential guide to navigating the unknown with courage and clarity.