Why Its Hard to See that Less Is More
When figuring out how to tackle a problem, our instincts are almost always to add: we make to-do, not to-don\u2019t lists after all. But just because humans have a harder time seeing subtraction \u2014 which can come in the form of tearing down buildings, dismantling barriers, and pruning old ideas \u2014 as a viable solution doesn\u2019t make it any less useful of an approach.
\n\nLeidy Klotz is a professor of architecture, engineering, and business at the University of Virginia and the author of \u201cSubtract: The Untapped Science of Less.\u201d The idea of studying subtraction crystalized for Klotz when he and his son were trying to level a Lego bridge. By the time Klotz grabbed an extra Lego to even things out, his son had already solved the problem by removing one. Klotz now studies why we overlook subtracting as a way to improve things, including the various biological and cultural forces that push us towards more even when less would serve us better.