John Tierney
John Tierney is an American journalist and author known for writing on science, psychology, politics, and urban life. A longtime New York Times columnist and later a contributing editor to City Journal, he coauthored Willpower and The Power of Bad; Willpower became a New York Times bestseller and was translated into 20 languages.
Biography & Author's Journey
John Tierney built his career at the intersection of reporting, argument, and behavioral science. At Yale, he initially leaned toward mathematics, but a formative encounter with the nonfiction teacher William Zinsser helped redirect him toward writing. That early turn proved decisive. Before he became nationally known, he worked as a newspaper reporter at the Bergen Record and the Washington Star, served on the staff of Science 81-85, contributed to Discover and Health, and freelanced widely for magazines that ranged from Esquire and Newsweek to Rolling Stone. From the start, his work showed the blend that would define him later: analytic curiosity, plainspoken style, and a taste for contrarian questions. ((https://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/2352-first-use-plain-english))
Quotes
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Power of Bad
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Explore how negativity bias shapes our lives and learn strategies to harness its power for positive change.
Willpower
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Uncover the science of self-control and learn practical strategies to strengthen your willpower for greater success and happiness.
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Community Voices
"John Tierney is a smart reporter and innovative thinker"
— Arthur Sulzberger Jr
"John Tierney is a phenomenally perceptive journalist"
— Stephen J. Dubner
"John Tierney is a veteran journalist who worked for the Washington Star"
— Washingtonian
"Tierney has a distinctive voice and is a very good columnist"
— Gail Collins
"John Tierney is a renowned journalist"
— Martin Seligman
"Tierney is a fine reporter with a definite libertarian streak and a good sense of humor"
— William Safire
"Tierney is a veteran journalist and bestselling author known for challenging media-driven narratives"
— TFAS
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
