Rob Henderson's Newsletter

Articles

What “Adolescence” Gets Wrong About Incels, Crime, and Class

1 week ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

Just weeks after its release, “Adolescence” became the one of the most-watched TV series in Netflix’s history. The series tells the story of Jamie, a 13-year-old boy from a stable, two-parent household who becomes immersed in incel (involuntary celibate) ideology online and eventually stabs a female classmate to death. It has been praised widely for its emotional depth, gripping storytelling, and realistic portrayal of teen violence.
Temporarily Embarrassed Aristocrats

2 weeks ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

Human nature, psychology, social class, luxury beliefs, and more. Over 72,000 subscribersBy subscribing, I agree to Substack’s Terms of Use and acknowledge its Information Collection Notice and Privacy Policy“Evolutionary psychology from a man whose rose from literally being abandoned in a crackhouse to becoming a Ivy League soldier. ”“My friend Rob has one of the most interesting newsletters related to "human nature," broadly construed, that you can find out there.
What I Told RFK's Team at the Department of Health and Human Services

2 weeks ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

Yesterday I spoke with a group of advisors from the Department of Health and Human Services. They asked for my perspective on how to reduce poverty in America drawn from my writing, research, and personal experience. After the call, I sent them the one-pager below. It is a brief summary of the main ideas I emphasized in our conversation. These ideas aren’t exhaustive. But they’re a start. And I was encouraged that a group of federal policymakers wanted to hear them.
What Kind of Guy Are You?

3 weeks ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

In this conversation, Richard Hanania and I break down a viral TikTok where an attractive woman hits on random guys on a college campus—and what their reactions reveal about male confidence, skepticism, and social conditioning. I recommend watching the video so you can follow along as we analyze the interactions frame by frame. Some highlights:We compare how men and women experience “approach” dynamics—and why even attractive women get treated with suspicion when they make the first move.
Older Generations Continue to Surrender Moral Authority to the Most Naive, Narcissistic, Impulsive, and Dishonest Age Group

3 weeks ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

In his appearance on Bill Maher’s podcast Club Random, physician and media personality Drew Pinsky described ongoing generational conflicts between older and younger adults: “When we were young, we didn’t want to be ‘The Man.’ It wasn’t cool to be The Man. Our generation [baby boomers] grew up not wanting to be the adult.
Is a Man's Body More Like a Peacock's Tail or More Like Deer Antlers?

1 month ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

Breaking down the viral “dad bod vs. shredded” Olly Murs poll and what it reveals about the psychology of attraction.
Experts and Elites Play Fundamentally Different Games

1 month ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

Experts and elites play fundamentally different games. Misunderstanding this distinction warps how we judge institutions—and who we choose to trust. A few days ago, The Free Press published my Letter to the Editor discussing the difference between experts and elites—an insightful distinction I first encountered on Robin Hanson’s Substack. Here I elaborate on this framework. I’ll be speaking with a certain amount of looseness and generalization.
Unstated Rules Preserve Hierarchy

1 month ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

The higher up you go, the blurrier things get in terms of rules, customs, etc. At a wage job, you and everyone else knows you’re making $17.25 an hour or whatever. In white-collar roles, pay is a moving target—and you're expected to negotiate, which quietly screens for social fluency. And others generally don’t know how much you’re making. Do powerful people still crave proximity to fame? Rough-and-tumble play is how kids learn about strength, speed, and boundaries.
What Women See When They Look at a Man’s Body

1 month ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

This viral tweet triggered lots of arguments about which body type women prefer. Side-by-side are images of singer-songwriter Olly Murs, who underwent a 12 week body transformation. In a poll, women overall preferred the “before” version, where Murs has more of a muscular dad bod. In contrast, men overall said they preferred the “after” version, where Murs has retained his muscularity and leaned out to single-digit body fat.
What I’ve Learned After Three Years on Substack

1 month ago | robkhenderson.com | Rob Henderson

From an interview with Jerry Seinfeld:David Remnick: I was once talking to the writer Adrian LeBlanc, who’s been working on a book about comedy, and I asked, “Who are the two smartest comedians about comedy?” I expected her to name two obscurities. And she said you and Chris Rock, because you study it. You’ve been thinking about this; it’s not just a bunch of jokes. Jerry Seinfeld: Yes.