Morgan Housel:
The Psychology of a Richer Life

Can money really buy happiness, or are we overestimating its power?

In this episode of FOMO Sapiens, Patrick McGinnis sits down with Morgan Housel, award-winning financial writer and bestselling author of The Psychology of Money and The Art of Spending Money. Morgan offers a refreshing and deeply personal perspective on wealth, spending, and the hidden drivers of happiness.

Morgan explains why money’s power has limits and how many of the things that make life meaningful, love, health, admiration, peace of mind, aren’t things you can buy. He dives into the psychology of spending, arguing that it’s not just about earning or investing, but about mastering the “art” of using money in ways that actually improve your life.

You’ll learn how to separate utility from status, avoid the trap of expectations debt, and reframe happiness as “what you have minus what you want.” Along the way, Morgan reflects on parenting, inherited vs. earned wealth, and the dangers of financial FOMO: what he calls “recklessness disguised as ambition.”

This conversation is both practical and profound, offering a new lens on how to spend and live more wisely.

Meet Morgan Housel:

Morgan Housel is the author of the new book, The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life (October 2025), and the New York Times Bestselling author of The Psychology of Money and Same As Ever. His books have sold over nine million copies and have been translated into more than 60 languages.

He is a two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and a recipient of the New York Times Sidney Award. MarketWatch named him one of the 50 most influential people in markets. Morgan is a partner at The Collaborative Fund and serves on the board of directors at Markel.