Stupid Shit We've Overcome

Humans are failers. I don’t mean failures—I mean fail-ers. We learn by failing. Writing, relationships, the best way to build a lean-to. Or a fire, if you’re Jack London.

For most of our history we have learned by trial and error—which mushrooms poison you, which mushrooms make you small. How to keep from being killed by bears. Which tree roots and berri…