# Wait But Why by Tim Urban — complete archive in chronological order

Source: https://waitbutwhy.com/
Essays: 100 · Span: 2013-06-22 to 2023-05-23 · Total reading time: ~15 hours

Track your progress through this archive with a free account: https://www.evergreenessays.com/start/wait-but-why

## Essays

1. [7 Ways to Be Insufferable on Facebook](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/7-ways-to-be-insufferable-on-facebook.html) (2013-07-08) — 16 min
  Tim Urban delves into the realm of Facebook etiquette, dissecting the types of posts that are annoying and ultimately unappealing. With humor and insightful analysis, he breaks down the motivations behind these posts and explores why some statuses are captivating while others make us cringe. Prepare to laugh, nod in agreement, and reconsider your own Facebook behavior as you embark on this exploration of the seven ways to be insufferable on the world's most popular social media platform. Click here to read more.
2. [Medieval People In Bad Situations](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/medieval-people-in-bad-situations.html) (2013-07-15) — 4 min
  Prepare to be transported back in time to the grim and gruesome era of the Middle Ages. In this eye-opening article, we delve into the art of the time to explore the truly terrible situations that medieval people found themselves in. From sarcastic individuals who are just completely over it, to women being molested by creepy-looking individuals and even being raped by bunnies, this glimpse into the past will make you appreciate the luxuries of the modern world.
3. [God's Wounded Ego](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/gods-wounded-ego.html) (2013-06-22)
4. [12 Types Of People You’ll Find In Every Hostel](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/12-types-of-people-youll-find-in-every.html) (2013-07-25)
5. [14 Shitty Sayings](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/14-shitty-sayings.html) (2013-07-29) — 4 min
  Tim Urban hilariously dismantles fourteen commonly used sayings that range from misleading to downright irritating. Unveiling the flaws in expressions like "fool me once, shame on you," Urban probes into their logical absurdity and challenges their underlying assumptions. With a witty writing style, the author takes a lighthearted jab at these clichés, debunking their supposed wisdom. Prepare to have your perspectives on these idiomatic phrases hilariously turned upside down!
6. [The Death Toll Comparison Breakdown](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/the-death-toll-comparison-breakdown.html) (2013-08-05) — 3 min
  Tim Urban delves into our morbid fascination with death and our lack of knowledge regarding historical death tolls. From major news events to entertainment, humans have an undeniable fixation on death. Urban presents a captivating visual representation, using circles of varying sizes to depict the number of deaths throughout history. With meticulous research and attention to detail, he sheds light on key moments and tragedies, challenging our understanding of the scale and impact of these events. Prepare to be both enlightened and sobered by this thought-provoking exploration of the death toll comparison.
7. [The Bunny Manifesto](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/the-bunny-manifesto.html) (2013-08-09) — 6 min
  Prepare to have your perception of bunnies forever changed as Tim Urban takes you on a weird and wild journey through the confusing world of bunnies, rabbits, and hares. From debunking myths about their appearance to their likability, Urban reveals the bizarre and sometimes disturbing truth about these furry creatures. Brace yourself for an exploration that's bound to leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about bunnies and their identity crisis in this hilarious and eye-opening article. Get ready for a bunny rollercoaster you won't soon forget!
8. [What if all 7.1 Billion People Moved to Tunisia?](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/what-if-all-71-billion-people-moved-to.html) (2013-08-13)
9. [Creepy Kids in Creepy Vintage Ads
](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/creepy-kids-in-creepy-vintage-ads.html) (2013-08-13) — 6 min
  Prepare to cringe as Tim Urban takes you on a journey through the bizarre and disturbing world of vintage ads featuring children. From creepy facial expressions to unimaginable parenting techniques, Urban uncovers the shocking realities behind these ads from the 1900s to the 1950s. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions as you witness the unparalleled strangeness of these vintage advertisements that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the past. Don't miss out on this eye-opening and jaw-dropping exposé of creepy kids in creepy vintage ads.
10. [Putting Time In Perspective](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/putting-time-in-perspective.html) (2013-08-22) — 1 min
  In this mind-bending article, Tim Urban takes us on a journey through time, exploring the vastness of human and natural history. From the formation of Earth to the present moment, Urban puts time into perspective like never before. Through his thought-provoking timelines, he highlights just how brief our existence is in the grand scheme of things. Prepare to have your mind blown as you realize how insignificant our daily concerns are when compared to the immensity of time. Join Urban on this captivating exploration and gain a new appreciation for the fleeting nature of our lives.
11. [7 Asinine Things About Society
](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/7-asinine-things-about-society.html) (2013-08-26) — 3 min
  Tim Urban hilariously points out seven absurd aspects of society that will have you nodding in agreement and laughing out loud. From useless word verification graphics to the pointless door close button in elevators, Urban delves into the quirks and inefficiencies that we often overlook. Prepare for some delightful rants about two-faucet sinks, the outrageous cost of train travel compared to flying, and the English language's failure to implement gender-neutral pronouns. Don't miss Urban's take on automated phone systems that demand closure at the end of a call. Get ready to question everything and crack up along the way.
12. [Introducing the Dinner Table](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/11/introducing-dinner-table.html) (2014-11-03) — 6 min
  Tim Urban takes a fascinating look at the unique dynamics of online communities in this thought-provoking essay. He explores how blogs function as internet flypaper, attracting specific types of readers based on the content they offer. Urban then delves into the intriguing case of the Wait But Why (WBW) community, a diverse group of smart, curious individuals who enjoy both deep thinking and lightheartedness. With rich discussions and countless emails confirming the characteristics of his readers, Urban brings up the idea of fostering a strong community where people can connect and engage. Discover the power of internet flypaper and the wonders of the WBW community.
13. [It’s 2015, and You’re in the Future](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/2015-youre-future.html) (2015-01-01) — 3 min
  Tim Urban takes us on a mind-bending journey through time, reminding us of how quickly the past becomes the present. He uncovers astonishing facts about how close JFK's presidency, the moon landing, and even cultural touchstones like The Wonder Years are to different points in time, leaving us pondering the ever-accelerating pace of change. It's a thought-provoking piece that will make you question your own relationship with time. Don't miss out on this captivating exploration of our evolving world.
14. [The Most Depressing Buzzfeed Article of All Time](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/most-depressing-buzzfeed-article-of-all-time.html) (2015-01-26) — 6 min
  Tim Urban hilariously dissects a Buzzfeed article titled "20 Slightly Incorrect Names For Food" and takes readers along on his entertaining journey of confusion and amusement. From milk snakes to pen cakes, Urban ponders the motives behind these name changes, questions his own comprehension skills, and even wonders if casual racism is involved. With his trademark wit and humor, Urban invites readers to join in on the hilarity and absurdity of this offbeat Buzzfeed listicle. Get ready to smile, laugh, and maybe scratch your head a few times.
15. [Trying Something Different With the Schedule](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/trying-something-different-schedule.html) (2015-03-03) — 4 min
  Tim Urban, the mastermind behind Wait But Why, reveals his struggle with maintaining a consistent posting schedule due to his perfectionism and the complexity of his topics. In this candid and relatable piece, Urban discusses the pressure he feels to deliver weekly posts while ensuring they are thorough and engaging. With a refreshing honesty, he introduces the idea of abandoning a set schedule and embracing a more flexible approach to his writing. Join Urban as he explores the benefits and challenges of this new experiment, promising unpredictability and increased possibilities for his readers.
16. [Putting Floyd Mayweather’s $210 Million Payout in Perspective](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/05/floyd-mayweathers-210-million-payout.html) (2015-05-13) — 2 min
  Tim Urban delves into the mind-boggling numbers of Floyd Mayweather's $210 million payout for just 36 minutes of boxing. Urban compares Mayweather's earnings to the cumulative career earnings of athletes like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Roger Federer, and shows how the figure dwarfs the payroll of entire sports teams. Breaking it down further, Urban presents a "holy shit that's a ridiculous payout" graphic that puts Mayweather's earnings into perspective. Prepare to be astounded by the sheer magnitude of one boxer's paycheck in this eye-opening article.
17. [The Deal With the Hyperloop](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/06/hyperloop.html) (2015-06-15) — 9 min
  Tim Urban delves into the mind of Elon Musk and his vision for revolutionizing transportation with the groundbreaking concept of the Hyperloop. Urban explores the motivation behind the Hyperloop's creation and how it aims to surpass existing modes of transportation in terms of speed, cost, convenience, safety, and sustainability. Discover the fascinating details of this fifth mode of transport that could potentially transform the way we travel, connecting cities like never before. Get ready to embark on a journey that challenges traditional thinking and offers an exciting glimpse into the future of transportation.
18. [Three Fascinating Videos With Live Footage of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/06/three-fascinating-videos-live-footage-thomas-edison.html) (2015-06-20) — 7 min
  Join Tim Urban on a journey to the past with three captivating videos of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Delve into a time when these legendary figures were captured on film, revealing their personalities and thoughts. But it's not just their presence that's intriguing, Urban's witty commentary adds a modern twist to their conversations. Discover Edison's lovable demeanor and witness the dynamic interaction between Edison, Ford, and Firestone. Get a glimpse into the social context of the era through Ford's observations on work ethic and gender roles. Prepare for an entertaining and thought-provoking trip back in time.
19. [The SpaceX Post Progress Meter](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/07/the-spacex-post-progress-meter.html) (2015-07-16) — 3 min
  Tim Urban gives readers a behind-the-scenes look into the writing process of his highly anticipated SpaceX post. With humor and honesty, he details the challenges and delays encountered while tackling such a complex topic. From changing structures to battling his perfectionism, Urban's updates offer a glimpse into the mind of an incredibly thorough writer. Don't miss out on this captivating account and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to produce his meticulously crafted essays.
20. [Birthdays Are Weird](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/11/birthdays-are-weird.html) (2015-11-13) — 1 min
  Tim Urban hilariously delves into the weirdness of birthdays and the strange mix of emotions they bring. From the joy of receiving well-wishes to the introspection that comes with getting older, Urban captures the rollercoaster ride we all experience on our special day. This comic is a must-read for anyone who has ever contemplated the bizarre nature of birthdays. Get ready for some laughs and a whole lot of relatable moments in Urban's witty and insightful exploration of this universal phenomenon.
21. [SpaceX Launch Live Webcast and Explanation (12.21.15)](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/12/spacex-launch-live-webcast-and-explanation-1-21-15.html) (2015-12-21) — 9 min
22. [You’re in the Future: 2016 Edition](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/01/youre-in-the-future-2016-edition.html) (2016-01-01) — 3 min
23. [The Jelly Bean Problem](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/03/the-jellybean-problem.html) (2016-03-07) — 11 min
24. [Why I Should Never Drink a Full Cup of Starbucks Coffee](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/03/starbucks.html) (2016-03-11) — 1 min
25. [The Puzzle Of The Pirate Booty](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/06/pirate-booty-puzzle.html) (2016-06-06) — 10 min
26. [Everything I Ate Last Week](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/06/everything-ate-last-week.html) (2016-06-18) — 10 min
27. [The Confusing Triangle Situation](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/06/the-triangle-puzzle.html) (2016-06-28) — 2 min
28. [Wait But Hi](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/07/wait-but-hi.html) (2016-07-07) — 4 min
29. [Mini post: Oceans and Clay](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/09/oceans-and-clay.html) (2016-10-21) — 1 min
30. [Results: WBW Election Survey](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/11/results-wbw-election-survey.html) (2016-11-06) — 3 min
31. [It’s Going to Be Okay – Follow Up](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/11/its-going-to-be-okay-follow-up.html) (2016-11-12) — 9 min
32. [An Actual Thing That Actually Happened](https://waitbutwhy.com/2018/04/coffee-shop-debacle.html) (2018-04-27) — 1 min
33. [Did James make the right Final Jeopardy bet?](https://waitbutwhy.com/2019/06/did-james-make-the-right-final-jeopardy-bet.html) (2019-06-06) — 11 min
34. [It’s Going to Be Okay](https://waitbutwhy.com/2016/11/its-going-to-be-okay.html) (2016-11-09) — 8 min
35. [Why Going to the Doctor Sucks](https://waitbutwhy.com/2021/04/lanby.html) (2021-04-27) — 15 min
36. [7 Ways to Be Insufferable on Facebook](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/7-ways-to-be-insufferable-on-facebook.html) (2013-07-08) — 15 min
37. [Medieval People In Bad Situations](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/medieval-people-in-bad-situations.html) (2013-07-15) — 4 min
38. [God’s Wounded Ego](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/gods-wounded-ego.html) (2013-07-22) — 1 min
39. [12 Types Of People You’ll Find In Every Hostel](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/12-types-of-people-youll-find-in-every.html) (2013-07-25) — 6 min
40. [14 Shitty Sayings](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/07/14-shitty-sayings.html) (2013-07-29) — 4 min
41. [The Death Toll Comparison Breakdown](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/the-death-toll-comparison-breakdown.html) (2013-08-05) — 3 min
42. [What If All 7.1 Billion People Moved To Tunisia?](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/what-if-all-71-billion-people-moved-to.html) (2013-08-13) — 2 min
43. [The Bunny Manifesto](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/the-bunny-manifesto.html) (2013-08-09) — 7 min
44. [Creepy Kids in Creepy Vintage Ads](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/creepy-kids-in-creepy-vintage-ads.html) (2013-08-16) — 6 min
45. [Putting Time In Perspective – UPDATED](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/putting-time-in-perspective.html) (2013-08-22) — 2 min
46. [7 Asinine Things About Society](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/7-asinine-things-about-society.html) (2013-08-26) — 3 min
47. [All the Weird Toys From Your Childhood](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/all-weird-toys-from-your-childhood.html) (2013-09-03) — 8 min
48. [Why Generation Y Yuppies Are Unhappy](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/why-generation-y-yuppies-are-unhappy.html) (2013-09-09) — 8 min
49. [20 Things I Learned While I Was in North Korea](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/20-things-i-learned-while-i-was-in.html) (2013-09-27) — 17 min
50. [What Does a Quadrillion Sour Patch Kids Look Like?](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/what-does-quadrillion-sour-patch-kids.html) (2013-10-03) — 6 min
51. [10 Types of 30-Year-Old Single Guys](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/10-types-of-30-year-old-single-guys.html) (2013-10-09) — 7 min
52. [The Battle to Lose the Independent Vote](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/the-battle-to-lose-independent-vote.html) (2013-10-15) — 1 min
53. [The Primate Awards](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/the-primate-awards.html) (2013-10-23) — 6 min
54. [How to Beat Procrastination](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/11/how-to-beat-procrastination.html) (2013-11-06) — 17 min
55. [Life is a Picture, But You Live in a Pixel](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/11/life-is-picture-but-you-live-in-pixel.html) (2013-11-20) — 7 min
56. [11 Awkward Things About Email](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/12/11-awkward-things-about-email.html) (2013-12-04) — 9 min
57. [The Apple Game: How Good a Person Are You?](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/08/the-apple-game-how-good-person-are-you.html) (2013-08-30) — 7 min
58. [Wait But Why Holiday Post](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/12/wait-but-why-holiday-update.html) (2013-12-25) — 11 min
59. [How to Name a Baby](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/12/how-to-name-baby.html) (2013-12-11) — 11 min
60. [The Great Perils of Social Interaction](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/01/the-great-perils-of-social-interaction.html) (2014-01-21) — 9 min
61. [Meet Your Ancestors (All of Them)](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/12/your-ancestor-is-jellyfish.html) (2013-12-18) — 9 min
62. [Why Procrastinators Procrastinate](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/10/why-procrastinators-procrastinate.html) (2013-10-30) — 7 min
63. [How to Pick Your Life Partner – Part 1](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/02/pick-life-partner.html) (2014-02-12) — 12 min
64. [How to Pick Your Life Partner – Part 2](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/02/pick-life-partner-part-2.html) (2014-02-13) — 9 min
65. [The American Presidents—Washington to Lincoln](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/02/american-presidents-washington-lincoln.html) (2014-02-19) — 14 min
66. [4 Mind-Blowing Things About Stars](https://waitbutwhy.com/2013/11/4-mind-blowing-things-about-stars.html) (2013-11-12) — 7 min
67. [Why is My Laptop On?](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/03/why-is-my-laptop-on.html) (2014-03-12) — 13 min
68. [Why Sports Fans are Sports Fans](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/03/sports-fans-sports-fans.html) (2014-03-18) — 6 min
69. [What Could You Buy With $241 Trillion?](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/03/combined-wealth-world.html) (2014-03-25) — 7 min
70. [Everything You Don’t Know About Tipping](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/04/everything-dont-know-tipping.html) (2014-04-01) — 13 min
71. [Traveling To The Third World Is Great And Also It Sucks](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/04/traveling-third-world-great-also-sucks.html) (2014-04-29) — 7 min
72. [Your Life in Weeks](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/life-weeks.html) (2014-05-07) — 6 min
73. [10 Absurdly Famous People You Probably Don’t Know Enough About](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/absurdly-famous-people-probably-dont-know-enough.html) (2014-05-14) — 13 min
74. [Stick Figure Puzzle](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/04/stick-figure-puzzle.html) (2014-04-22) — 6 min
75. [Russia: What You Didn’t Know You Don’t Know](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/07/russia-what-you-didnt-know.html) (2014-07-11) — 18 min
76. [Japan, and How I Failed to Figure it Out](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/07/japan-and-how-i-failed-to-figure-it-out.html) (2014-09-12) — 28 min
77. [If Andromeda Were Brighter, This is What You’d See](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/06/andromeda-brighter-youd-see.html) (2014-06-09) — 2 min
78. [Where Wait But Why Gets Its Traffic](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/11/where-wait-but-why-gets-traffic.html) (2014-11-09) — 5 min
79. [From Muhammad to ISIS: Iraq’s Full Story](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/09/muhammad-isis-iraqs-full-story.html) (2014-09-12) — 42 min
80. [The Genie Question](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/09/genie-question.html) (2014-09-12) — 2 min
81. [Odd Things in Odd Places – All 7 Travel Posts](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/09/odd-things-odd-places-7-travel-posts.html) (2014-09-26) — 2 min
82. [But What About Greenland?](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/09/but-what-about-greenland.html) (2014-09-12) — 24 min
83. [Your Family: Past, Present, and Future](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/01/your-family-past-present-and-future.html) (2014-01-28) — 16 min
84. [Religion for the Nonreligious](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/10/religion-for-the-nonreligious.html) (2014-10-19) — 38 min
85. [Why Bugs Ruin Everything](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/02/why-bugs-ruin-everything.html) (2014-02-04) — 15 min
86. [The Dark Secrets of the Bird World](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/10/dark-secrets-bird-world.html) (2014-10-31) — 14 min
87. [From 1,000,000 to Graham’s Number](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/11/1000000-grahams-number.html) (2014-11-20) — 28 min
88. [10 Types of Odd Friendships You’re Probably Part Of](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/12/10-types-odd-friendships-youre-probably-part.html) (2014-12-08) — 20 min
89. [From 1 to 1,000,000](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/11/from-1-to-1000000.html) (2014-11-14) — 12 min
90. [The Teen Years: 9 Cringe-Inducing Realizations](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/12/the-teen-years-9-cringe-inducing-realizations.html) (2014-12-23) — 8 min
91. [What Makes You You?](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/12/what-makes-you-you.html) (2014-12-12) — 23 min
92. [Our Most Popular Posts of 2014](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/12/popular-posts-2014.html) (2014-12-31) — 3 min
93. [The AI Revolution: The Road to Superintelligence](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/artificial-intelligence-revolution-1.html) (2015-01-22) — 35 min
94. [Why You Secretly Hate Cool Bars](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/secretly-hate-bars.html) (2014-05-27) — 9 min
95. [Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/06/taming-mammoth-let-peoples-opinions-run-life.html) (2014-06-13) — 1 min
96. [Odd Things in Odd Places: Intro](https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/07/odd-things-odd-places-intro.html) (2023-05-23) — 3 min
97. [The AI Revolution: Our Immortality or Extinction](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/artificial-intelligence-revolution-2.html) (2015-01-27) — 75 min
98. [The American Presidents—Johnson to McKinley](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/02/american-presidents-johnson-mckinley.html) (2015-02-20) — 9 min
99. [7.3 Billion People, One Building](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/03/7-3-billion-people-one-building.html) (2015-03-03) — 15 min
100. [Elon Musk: The World’s Raddest Man](https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/05/elon-musk-the-worlds-raddest-man.html) (2015-05-07) — 33 min