Tim Harford
@timharford.ft.com
FT columnist, BBC journalist, author, host of Cautionary Tales, professional nerd.
Reposted by Tim Harford
Cautionary Tales - The Angels, The Stones, and the Dead
timharford.com/2026/02/caut...
timharford.com/2026/02/caut...
February 6, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Cautionary Tales - The Angels, The Stones, and the Dead
timharford.com/2026/02/caut...
timharford.com/2026/02/caut...
Reposted by Tim Harford
When psychologists mislead us
timharford.com/2026/02/when...
timharford.com/2026/02/when...
When psychologists mislead us
In February 1912, noted scientist Arthur Woodward received an intriguing letter from Charles Dawson, a country lawyer with a growing reputation as an amateur geologist. Dawson told Woodward that he…
timharford.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:20 PM
When psychologists mislead us
timharford.com/2026/02/when...
timharford.com/2026/02/when...
Reposted by Tim Harford
Having written about the tyranny of targets, this is a target I'm glad we've surpassed... let's keep going! Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed.
If you're looking to be the person who tips the total over £10,000 (wow!) then now is the time!
(But, actually - this is an amazing charity, supporting people in such difficult circumstances. So any time is a good time.)
www.justgiving.com/page/tim-har...
(But, actually - this is an amazing charity, supporting people in such difficult circumstances. So any time is a good time.)
www.justgiving.com/page/tim-har...
Running the London Marathon in memory of Winnie
Help Tim Harford raise money to support Teenage Cancer Trust
www.justgiving.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Having written about the tyranny of targets, this is a target I'm glad we've surpassed... let's keep going! Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed.
Cautionary Tales - The Angels, The Stones, and the Dead
timharford.com/2026/02/caut...
timharford.com/2026/02/caut...
February 6, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Cautionary Tales - The Angels, The Stones, and the Dead
timharford.com/2026/02/caut...
timharford.com/2026/02/caut...
When psychologists mislead us
timharford.com/2026/02/when...
timharford.com/2026/02/when...
When psychologists mislead us
In February 1912, noted scientist Arthur Woodward received an intriguing letter from Charles Dawson, a country lawyer with a growing reputation as an amateur geologist. Dawson told Woodward that he…
timharford.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:20 PM
When psychologists mislead us
timharford.com/2026/02/when...
timharford.com/2026/02/when...
Having written about the tyranny of targets, this is a target I'm glad we've surpassed... let's keep going! Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed.
If you're looking to be the person who tips the total over £10,000 (wow!) then now is the time!
(But, actually - this is an amazing charity, supporting people in such difficult circumstances. So any time is a good time.)
www.justgiving.com/page/tim-har...
(But, actually - this is an amazing charity, supporting people in such difficult circumstances. So any time is a good time.)
www.justgiving.com/page/tim-har...
Running the London Marathon in memory of Winnie
Help Tim Harford raise money to support Teenage Cancer Trust
www.justgiving.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Having written about the tyranny of targets, this is a target I'm glad we've surpassed... let's keep going! Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed.
Reposted by Tim Harford
The tyranny of targets
as.ft.com/r/b4a19673-1...
as.ft.com/r/b4a19673-1...
The tyranny of targets
[FREE TO READ] Not only is quantification changing our behaviour, but we’re failing to notice this has happened
as.ft.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:39 AM
The tyranny of targets
as.ft.com/r/b4a19673-1...
as.ft.com/r/b4a19673-1...
The tyranny of targets
as.ft.com/r/b4a19673-1...
as.ft.com/r/b4a19673-1...
The tyranny of targets
[FREE TO READ] Not only is quantification changing our behaviour, but we’re failing to notice this has happened
as.ft.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:39 AM
The tyranny of targets
as.ft.com/r/b4a19673-1...
as.ft.com/r/b4a19673-1...
If you're looking to be the person who tips the total over £10,000 (wow!) then now is the time!
(But, actually - this is an amazing charity, supporting people in such difficult circumstances. So any time is a good time.)
www.justgiving.com/page/tim-har...
(But, actually - this is an amazing charity, supporting people in such difficult circumstances. So any time is a good time.)
www.justgiving.com/page/tim-har...
Running the London Marathon in memory of Winnie
Help Tim Harford raise money to support Teenage Cancer Trust
www.justgiving.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:58 PM
If you're looking to be the person who tips the total over £10,000 (wow!) then now is the time!
(But, actually - this is an amazing charity, supporting people in such difficult circumstances. So any time is a good time.)
www.justgiving.com/page/tim-har...
(But, actually - this is an amazing charity, supporting people in such difficult circumstances. So any time is a good time.)
www.justgiving.com/page/tim-har...
Reposted by Tim Harford
How British queues got out of hand
timharford.com/2026/01/how-...
timharford.com/2026/01/how-...
How British Queues Got Out of Hand
As a way of dealing with high demand, the age-old practice of forming a long, orderly queue has something to be said for it: simplicity, transparency and equal treatment for all. But no matter how …
timharford.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:08 PM
How British queues got out of hand
timharford.com/2026/01/how-...
timharford.com/2026/01/how-...
Reposted by Tim Harford
Powered by Orgasm - the rise and fall of a sex cult. (Cautionary Tales, with the amazing @ellenhuet.bsky.social )
timharford.com/2026/01/powe...
timharford.com/2026/01/powe...
January 30, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Powered by Orgasm - the rise and fall of a sex cult. (Cautionary Tales, with the amazing @ellenhuet.bsky.social )
timharford.com/2026/01/powe...
timharford.com/2026/01/powe...
Reposted by Tim Harford
How to pronounce #Cthulhu.
Basically: if it's easy to say with a human mouth, you're doing it all wrong.
fabledlands.blogspot.com/2026/01/myth...
Basically: if it's easy to say with a human mouth, you're doing it all wrong.
fabledlands.blogspot.com/2026/01/myth...
Mythos without the þorn
Talking about H P Lovecraft last time reminded me of a pet gripe. I have quite a few of those, if we're being honest, but this one is about...
fabledlands.blogspot.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:07 PM
How to pronounce #Cthulhu.
Basically: if it's easy to say with a human mouth, you're doing it all wrong.
fabledlands.blogspot.com/2026/01/myth...
Basically: if it's easy to say with a human mouth, you're doing it all wrong.
fabledlands.blogspot.com/2026/01/myth...
Powered by Orgasm - the rise and fall of a sex cult. (Cautionary Tales, with the amazing @ellenhuet.bsky.social )
timharford.com/2026/01/powe...
timharford.com/2026/01/powe...
January 30, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Powered by Orgasm - the rise and fall of a sex cult. (Cautionary Tales, with the amazing @ellenhuet.bsky.social )
timharford.com/2026/01/powe...
timharford.com/2026/01/powe...
How British queues got out of hand
timharford.com/2026/01/how-...
timharford.com/2026/01/how-...
How British Queues Got Out of Hand
As a way of dealing with high demand, the age-old practice of forming a long, orderly queue has something to be said for it: simplicity, transparency and equal treatment for all. But no matter how …
timharford.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:08 PM
How British queues got out of hand
timharford.com/2026/01/how-...
timharford.com/2026/01/how-...
Reposted by Tim Harford
Completely entranced by C Thi Nguyen's "The Score" - brilliant exploration of the difference between play and gamification, ranging across rock-climbing, cooking, photography, annoying bureaucratic targets, indie games... Love it.
amzn.to/4roWa3G
amzn.to/4roWa3G
The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game
The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game [Nguyen, C. Thi] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game
amzn.to
January 29, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Completely entranced by C Thi Nguyen's "The Score" - brilliant exploration of the difference between play and gamification, ranging across rock-climbing, cooking, photography, annoying bureaucratic targets, indie games... Love it.
amzn.to/4roWa3G
amzn.to/4roWa3G
Completely entranced by C Thi Nguyen's "The Score" - brilliant exploration of the difference between play and gamification, ranging across rock-climbing, cooking, photography, annoying bureaucratic targets, indie games... Love it.
amzn.to/4roWa3G
amzn.to/4roWa3G
The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game
The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game [Nguyen, C. Thi] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game
amzn.to
January 29, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Completely entranced by C Thi Nguyen's "The Score" - brilliant exploration of the difference between play and gamification, ranging across rock-climbing, cooking, photography, annoying bureaucratic targets, indie games... Love it.
amzn.to/4roWa3G
amzn.to/4roWa3G
Reposted by Tim Harford
The end of the world as we know it (but I feel fine)
as.ft.com/r/841b2d78-1...
as.ft.com/r/841b2d78-1...
The end of the world as we know it (but I feel fine)
[FREE TO READ] There’s a curious gap between our personal optimism and our gloominess about others
as.ft.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:17 AM
The end of the world as we know it (but I feel fine)
as.ft.com/r/841b2d78-1...
as.ft.com/r/841b2d78-1...
Thanks for the lovely supportive comments about London marathon after this morning's episode of "More or Less".
No idea if I can go under 4 hours - whatever the data may say, it feels a stretch.
But I am confident of one thing: this is a great cause - please chip in if you can.
No idea if I can go under 4 hours - whatever the data may say, it feels a stretch.
But I am confident of one thing: this is a great cause - please chip in if you can.
I didn't write about the fundraising in this piece, but I am raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust in memory of my cousin Winnie, who died so very young. Donations are very welcome and I'm so grateful to everyone who's contributed already. www.justgiving.com/page/tim-har...
Running the London Marathon in memory of Winnie
Help Tim Harford raise money to support Teenage Cancer Trust
www.justgiving.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Thanks for the lovely supportive comments about London marathon after this morning's episode of "More or Less".
No idea if I can go under 4 hours - whatever the data may say, it feels a stretch.
But I am confident of one thing: this is a great cause - please chip in if you can.
No idea if I can go under 4 hours - whatever the data may say, it feels a stretch.
But I am confident of one thing: this is a great cause - please chip in if you can.
The end of the world as we know it (but I feel fine)
as.ft.com/r/841b2d78-1...
as.ft.com/r/841b2d78-1...
The end of the world as we know it (but I feel fine)
[FREE TO READ] There’s a curious gap between our personal optimism and our gloominess about others
as.ft.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:17 AM
The end of the world as we know it (but I feel fine)
as.ft.com/r/841b2d78-1...
as.ft.com/r/841b2d78-1...
Reposted by Tim Harford
oo, RJ Andrews (Nightingale and dataviz expert) is giving a talk about Nightingale and dataviz on zoom this Thursday: www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/free-zoom-go...
Free Zoom: God’s Revenge Upon Murder Talk
Key facts
When:
6:00pm GMT
Talk will last around 30 minutes
Followed by a Q+A
Ticketing Information:
Free Zoom (Donations appreciated)
Spot Must Be Reserved Online
About the Speaker:...
www.florence-nightingale.co.uk
January 25, 2026 at 4:24 PM
oo, RJ Andrews (Nightingale and dataviz expert) is giving a talk about Nightingale and dataviz on zoom this Thursday: www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/free-zoom-go...
Reposted by Tim Harford
Fascinating new book from Nick Chater and George Loewenstein - "It's On You"; all about the way we so often frame problems (everything from climate change to pension saving) as being about individual action not systems: amzn.to/49SJ2g0
It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We’re to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems
It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We’re to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems [Chater, Nick, Loewenstein, George] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We’re to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems
amzn.to
January 27, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Fascinating new book from Nick Chater and George Loewenstein - "It's On You"; all about the way we so often frame problems (everything from climate change to pension saving) as being about individual action not systems: amzn.to/49SJ2g0
Lovely email from @EE:
"we’ve moved you to our latest pounds and pence terms. In future, your price change won’t be affected by inflation, so you’ll know exactly how much it will increase each year."
Great to know I won't be confused!
(They're raising my monthly bill by more than 30%.)
"we’ve moved you to our latest pounds and pence terms. In future, your price change won’t be affected by inflation, so you’ll know exactly how much it will increase each year."
Great to know I won't be confused!
(They're raising my monthly bill by more than 30%.)
January 27, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Lovely email from @EE:
"we’ve moved you to our latest pounds and pence terms. In future, your price change won’t be affected by inflation, so you’ll know exactly how much it will increase each year."
Great to know I won't be confused!
(They're raising my monthly bill by more than 30%.)
"we’ve moved you to our latest pounds and pence terms. In future, your price change won’t be affected by inflation, so you’ll know exactly how much it will increase each year."
Great to know I won't be confused!
(They're raising my monthly bill by more than 30%.)
Fascinating new book from Nick Chater and George Loewenstein - "It's On You"; all about the way we so often frame problems (everything from climate change to pension saving) as being about individual action not systems: amzn.to/49SJ2g0
It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We’re to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems
It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We’re to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems [Chater, Nick, Loewenstein, George] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We’re to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems
amzn.to
January 27, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Fascinating new book from Nick Chater and George Loewenstein - "It's On You"; all about the way we so often frame problems (everything from climate change to pension saving) as being about individual action not systems: amzn.to/49SJ2g0
Reposted by Tim Harford
This country's ability to rinse the young and then berate them as lazy avocado addicts is ridiculous.
They're so up against it, it's madness.
- as.ft.com/r/094f3968-1...
They're so up against it, it's madness.
- as.ft.com/r/094f3968-1...
Will student loans be the next mis-selling scandal?
[FREE TO READ] Graduates are in uproar about Budget changes to loan repayment terms, and they have a point
as.ft.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:59 PM
This country's ability to rinse the young and then berate them as lazy avocado addicts is ridiculous.
They're so up against it, it's madness.
- as.ft.com/r/094f3968-1...
They're so up against it, it's madness.
- as.ft.com/r/094f3968-1...
Reposted by Tim Harford
Just finished "The Midnight Folk" by John Masefield (prelude to Box of Delights). It's a quite a trip, an unfettered stream-of-consciousness fairy tale. (It predates The Hobbit, and Tolkien setting such a strong template). Loved it though.
amzn.to/3NKbNUE
amzn.to/3NKbNUE
The Midnight Folk
The Midnight Folk [Masefield, John] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Midnight Folk
amzn.to
January 24, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Just finished "The Midnight Folk" by John Masefield (prelude to Box of Delights). It's a quite a trip, an unfettered stream-of-consciousness fairy tale. (It predates The Hobbit, and Tolkien setting such a strong template). Loved it though.
amzn.to/3NKbNUE
amzn.to/3NKbNUE