Ben Recht • 6/17/2026

I Want A New Drug

This article explores the cultural trend of 'maxxing' (optimization in various life areas) and critiques it using Kyla Scanlon's essay 'The Ozempicization of the Economy.' It contrasts elimination diets, which focus on constraints and quality of life, with GLP-1 agonists (like Ozempic) that produce measurable numerical outcomes. The author argues that the technical language of optimization, borrowed from engineering and economics, distorts personal improvement into something grotesque, conflating discovery with functional utility. The piece reflects on postmodern science and the appeal of quick fixes.

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#optimization #Self Improvement #Economics