In this episode of BookBytes, we explore Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less by Leidy Klotz. This thought-provoking book reveals how people tend to overlook subtraction as a solution, favoring addition instead—even when removing something would yield better results. Klotz explains the psychological, cultural, and economic forces driving this bias and offers practical strategies for embracing subtraction in life, work, and problem-solving.
 
Key Takeaways – Insights from the Book: 
 1. We Naturally Overlook Subtraction: People instinctively add rather than remove when solving problems—whether in design, planning, or personal life. Recognizing this bias is the first step to countering it.
 2. Our Biology and Culture Favor Addition: Evolution has wired us to acquire resources for survival, while societies celebrate growth and accumulation, making subtraction feel counterintuitive.
 3. Less Can Be More Effective: Removing unnecessary elements often leads to better solutions. Examples include urban planning projects that remove infrastructure to enhance city life and minimalistic design choices that improve usability.
 4. Cognitive Load and Simplification: Reducing complexity in systems, tasks, or information processing can improve efficiency, creativity, and decision-making.
 5. Reframing Subtraction: People resist subtraction because it often feels like a loss. Framing it as an improvement—such as “streamlining” or “curating”—makes it more acceptable.
 6. Subtraction in Everyday Life: From decluttering spaces to simplifying schedules, applying subtraction can create more clarity, focus, and freedom.
 7. Systems Thinking Enables Smarter Subtraction: Understanding the bigger picture helps identify what is essential and what can be removed without sacrificing function.
 8. Subtraction is a Skill: Practicing mindful elimination—whether in habits, commitments, or decision-making—leads to better outcomes with less effort.
 
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Keywords: 
Subtract, Leidy Klotz, minimalism, problem-solving, cognitive bias, decision-making, simplicity, efficiency, personal growth, decluttering.

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