Guest
George Mack
George Mack is a writer and internet thinker known for essays and threads about psychology, decision-making, and mental models.
Circuit updated August 9, 2026
Every appearance, the moment worth your time
- George Mack says Spanish chicken farmer Juan Pujol was one of D-Day's three most important people
“the three most important people were Eisenhower, who looked after the US, um I think Montgomery, who looked after the Great Britain, and Juan Pujol, the Spanish chicken farmer.” 35:30
- George Mack says Belgium’s driving theory test raised the death rate for new drivers by 32%
“So Belgium had no driving test policies at all.” 1:09:13
Notable quotes
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“the three most important people were Eisenhower, who looked after the US, um I think Montgomery, who looked after the Great Britain, and Juan Pujol, the Spanish chicken farmer.”
George Mack · Read the story -
“One theory is that they have this kind of false sense of confidence going into the roads that at least the ones that knew they couldn't drive didn't have.”
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“his final last act was to fake his own death in 1949, and he lived in a bookstore in Venezuela.”
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“So, he then becomes the most valuable spy for Britain during World War II.”
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“he's the only agent to get both an Iron Cross from Hitler and an MBE”
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“So the death rate went up by 32% with the theory test drivers.”
George Mack · Read the story
All coverage
Culture
George Mack says Spanish chicken farmer Juan Pujol was one of D-Day's three most important people
The Juan Pujol García story is real, absurd, and slightly overpolished in the telling, which is exactly why it works.
Culture
George Mack says Belgium’s driving theory test raised the death rate for new drivers by 32%
On Modern Wisdom, Mack turns Belgian road safety into a brutal little parable about false confidence, bad incentives, and the danger of thinking you know what you’re doing.