Engineer, firefighter, pragmatic optimist. Exploring technology, society, and the good life.https://stefancoburn.com/https://stefancoburn.com/essays/discontent-in-heaven/https://stefancoburn.com/essays/discontent-in-heaven/On hedonic adaptation, and the practice of amazement.Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/essays/social-media-turns-you-into-a-product/https://stefancoburn.com/essays/social-media-turns-you-into-a-product/On becoming the seller, the marketer, and the merchandise all at once — and why I decided to log off.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/the-machine-stops/https://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/the-machine-stops/Humanity builds a machine to serve its every need, then kneels before it. A cautionary tale for the present day.Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/essays/fear/https://stefancoburn.com/essays/fear/On facing fear head-on — from rock walls to skydiving — and what it taught me about courage.Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/essays/comparison-and-perspective/https://stefancoburn.com/essays/comparison-and-perspective/Warnings and tactics for making sure comparison doesn't ruin your life.Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/essays/on-minimizing-regret/https://stefancoburn.com/essays/on-minimizing-regret/Heuristics for making decisions and minimizing future regret.Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/essays/reflections-on-usas-250th/https://stefancoburn.com/essays/reflections-on-usas-250th/Reflections on America's 250th birthday.Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/essays/science-and-faith/https://stefancoburn.com/essays/science-and-faith/Why science and faith are not at war — and why learning both is a religious duty.Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/factfulness/https://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/factfulness/Hans Rosling on why we're wrong about the world and why things are better than we think.Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/gates-of-fire/https://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/gates-of-fire/A fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae and what it teaches about honor, duty, and courage.Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/a-conflict-of-visions/https://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/a-conflict-of-visions/Thomas Sowell's framework for understanding the roots of political disagreement.Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/same-as-ever/https://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/same-as-ever/Key lessons from Morgan Housel on finance, risk, and timeless human behavior.Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/the-shallows/https://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/the-shallows/How the Internet is changing the way we think, read, and remember.Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/elder-statesman/https://stefancoburn.com/book-notes/elder-statesman/A Biography of J. Reuben ClarkWed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT