We are looking for test readers for the book, due for release in October.

This is an account of falling birth rates across the world, why it is happening, and what can be done about it.

A solution that no one else is suggesting, based on fundamental neuroscience, and also a guide to better and happier living.

If you'd like to volunteer to be a test reader, email Andrea at ap@andreapearsonbooks.com, and she'll send you a link to download a free copy of the ebook.

House prices starting to fall?

Over the past six months, house prices have gone down in Victoria, New South Wales and the A.C.T., while continuing to rise elsewhere.

Reading the financial press, you’d think it was a disaster.

Main problem: not nearly enough. Get rid of our strangling bureaucracies and zoning regulations, and prices would likely settle to half what they are now.

Affordable prices for young people wanting to buy, and affordable rents.

A bit less wealth for multi-millionaires. What’s not to like?

The Budget

The government wants to get rid of negative gearing.

No problem, IF you also relax zoning and other laws that push up the price of housing.

Fail to do that and rents will become unaffordable.

What we really need to do is reduce spending, especially on the areas that do nothing to help those in need.

Do that and there is no need to keep on raising taxes.

What we CANNOT do is continue to borrow and go deeper and deeper into debt.

No political party seems to have a proper policy relating to debt.

One Nation would be no better, though they could scarcely be worse than Labor.

The Crushing weight of bureaucracy

On this subject. Among OECD countries, we have more civil servants per capita than Italy, Canada, the U.K., America, Spain, and Germany.

This includes 25% more than the U.K., and close to 50% more than Germany.

The only OECD countries that do worse than us are New Zealand and France.[i]

And many of these are actively working to impoverish ordinary Australians.

· Zoning bureaucrats who double the cost of housing and rents.

· Green bureaucrats who double the cost of electricity (compared with America)

· Regulation bureaucrats who strangle business and force up the cost of everything

These people cannot be sacked and have no incentives to be efficient. Even for the jobs they need to do, any competent company could cut their workforce in half.

Why go to Uni?

To earn more money? But look at the stats on average income:

No post-school qualifications

$55-75k

Many university graduates

$75k-$110k

Qualified electricians

$90k-$110k

Qualified plumbers

$90k-$110k

Other construction tradies

$$75k-$110k

Self-employed successful tradies

$120k-$250k

High-earning professionals: doctors, engineers, dentists, etc

$120k-$300k

In other words, unless you intend to be a doctor or engineer, you’re likely better off in a trade.

Extra bonus: instead of a massive HECS debt, four years of earnings – more than enough to buy a Jim’s Plumbing or Electrical franchise and join the self-employed successful tradies!

Actually, according to ChatGPT, owning your own business is often a better determinant of income than your qualifications.

After all, I did a PhD, but the actual skill that made me successful was how to mow lawns for a living.

Alexander the not so Great, by Edmond Richardson

This is a vivid, fascinating book about a quite repulsive man. Best history book I’ve seen in a long time!

The Warren Buffet CEO, Robert Miles

This is an updated version of one of the best books written about Berkshire Hathaway, focusing on the managers of the wholly owned companies.

People with the same values and attitudes as Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger, dedicated to the long-term success of their businesses and without the ego-boosting needs of so many CEO’s.

The reverence and affection they have for Buffet, and his similar attitudes to them, is heartwarming.

This is how businesses ought to be run.

[i] OECD, Government at a Glance 2023 and 2025.

World Bank, Worldwide Bureaucracy Indicators.

Dahlström, Carl, Victor Lapuente, and Jan Teorell. The Merit of Meritocratization: Politics, Bureaucracy, and the Institutional Deterrents of Corruption. Political Research Quarterly 65, no. 3 (2012): 656–668.

National civil service reports from the Australian Public Service Commission, UK Civil Service Statistics, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, and China’s State Administration of Civil Service.

Forty years ago, Paul Keating gave the ‘banana republic’ message that launched Australia on the road to prosperity.

Reduced spending, reduced debt, reduced taxes, reduced red tape, and lower tariffs.

The result: decades of lower inflation and rising real wages.

Jim Chalmers likes to cite Keating, but what a contrast!

More spending, higher taxes, more red tape, more debt.

And times are relatively good. What happens when a real crisis hits?

We can’t even spend enough on defence to secure our security, even if you count nuclear submarines that may or may not arrive decades into the future.

Making Friends

Enough complaining.

The Laws of Connection by David Robson.

A wonderful and very practical book about how to build friendship and connection. I’ve been trying to put some of these ideas into practice.

My best book of the year so far, and I’ll be listening to it again quite soon, to help drive the lessons home.

Re-reading

A really good practice is to go back to books I’ve loved in the past.

I’ve just listened again to The Expectation Effect, which is chock full of ideas about how to live a better and healthier life.

The Brain that Changes itself, by David McRamey has fascinating stories about how our brains can be reprogrammed, and his subsequent book, How Minds Change is also good.

Birth Rate Crisis

We are online for a release date in October.

I’ve added Andrea, my editor, as a co-author. Her story, as a mother who has struggled to have more children, adds a welcome and humanising viewpoint.

I really think this book will do well. With Andrea’s help, it is accessible and a great guide to a happy and meaningful life.

And we really do have a solution to the birth rate crisis. Just one that nobody else is considering.

Jimbo

Our franchise scheduling and billing system has now been approved for general release, though more than a thousand franchisees are currently using it.

We’re putting some pressure on the others to take it up, especially those who have issues with customer service.

Two major benefits.

Systems to reduce complaints, such as reminding franchisees to call clients and keep them informed.

Based on past experience, better customer service will cause leads to soar.

Ways to increase franchisee income. Jimbo will make it easy to sell outlying clients, reducing both fees and travel time.

Direct booking of appointments should increase conversion rates.

Inbuilt accounting software will save many franchisees close to a thousand dollars a year.

AI

Finding it an amazing tool to speed up work on my books, and also working with Joel Kleber on a system to teach Mandarin, which we hope to attach to the Jim’s Client App to encourage uptake.

AI also has huge potential for benefit in terms of developing new medical treatments etc.

But I am more than a little concerned about its potential for harm, including the security of data systems, the development of biological warfare, and the potential extinction of humanity.

Great dangers, great potential benefits.

The benefits of self-driving cars

I’ve just looked up the stats and Waymo accident rates are 80-90% less than for human driven cars.

Can’t happen in Australia because of regulations and legal liability.

Let’s put this another way. 1300 people a year are dying on Australian roads. Replace just 20% of drivers with automatic systems, and maybe 200 lives a year will be saved.

That’s 200 people killed and tens of thousands more injured by our bloated, inefficient government.

As always, follow me on social media at @thejimpenman and check out the conversations with Jim podcast where I have a lot about my research.

My Lenten fast went well. Work seems to be easier and more focused, and I find an even stronger sense of meaning in everyday life.

A lot more satisfying than the brief boost from something like chocolate.

Also, my new weight (21.3 BMI) feels good. So for the time being, I’m basically continuing it.

On happiness

The great secret of life is to minimise activities that produce surges of dopamine. Not just high-calorie food but most of social media, sex (especially porn), gambling, comparing yourself to other people, alcohol and other drugs.

These surges make the brain less sensitive to dopamine, requiring ever more stimulation. Every day of life becomes boring and robbed of meaning.

But if your brain is made sensitive to dopamine, a small trickle is deeply satisfying.

This can come from family and other close relationships, exercise, meaningful work, faith-based activities, or even household chores.

I get real satisfaction from simple tasks such as laundry, cleaning the kitchen, and of course, gardening – several hours a week.

Thus, the benefit of fasting. Some benefits for physical health, far more for mental health.

Birth Rate Crisis

This will all be explained, hopefully much better, in Birth Rate Crisis, which we now estimate to be coming out in October.

It’s far more than the solution to collapsing fertility, though it is that.

My editor, Andrea, is doing such a brilliant job that she’ll be listed as a co-author.

I have the ideas, but she is so much better at putting them into a form that other people can understand, and perhaps appreciate.

Using AI

Just started using ChatGPT regularly for the first time, for my book writing and research. Making great progress. Should have done this a long time ago!

Jimbo

The most exciting event in Jim’s right now is the upcoming release of the new Jimbo, our scheduling program for franchisees.

Some key features:

Improved customer service systems, such as my voice yelling if franchisees fail to return phone calls promptly!

If we can really improve customer service, leads will soar and so will franchisee income.

Allowing the call centre to directly book quotes and perhaps even jobs into a franchisee’s diary, with no need to call clients back.

Should greatly lift quality of leads and conversion rate.

Ability to buy and sell regular clients, with a rating system for vendors.

Will help franchisees sell outlying customers and take more work close to home, thus reducing both fees and travel time.

Built-in accounting program. No need to pay for Xero or Myob.

We will also make this available to independent contractors buying our surplus leads through Bizza.

Will tell us instantly if they fail to contact clients.

The Insanity of red tape

A tech expert, Paul Conyngham, created an individualised vaccine to successfully treat his dog for cancer. Cost only a few thousand dollars and the use of ChatGPT.

Goes without saying that this novel approach has immense potential for the treatment of human cancers.

The kicker in this story is that it actually costs more to get the ‘ethics’ approval than to create the treatment.

A one-hundred-page application that took three months to write!

Another example from our research lab. The ‘ethics’ committee has forbidden us to kill rats quickly and humanely, but insists that they be slowly choked to death with carbon dioxide.

As humans who have experienced this attest, CO2 poisoning is painful and terrifying.

Our ridiculous government is charging ever-higher taxes to cripple progress in science as well as business.

It’s the key reason why we’re moving as much of our research project as possible to China.

Politicians need real-life experience

More than a million people looked at my video on the need for politicians to have real-life work experience, so they understand how their rules affect people.

They haven’t a clue.

Petrol Crisis

Lastly, the petrol crisis. I really don’t think we’ll run out, but prices will probably stay high. On the positive side, a good excuse for our franchisees to raise prices.

Which should not be too hard, since most of them are busy.

If our customer service is good, we’ll always have plenty of customers.

Petrol Crisis – go electric!

So much of our oil comes from an area that is among the most volatile in the world.

This is a key reason I go electric wherever possible: car, machinery, everything.

When calculating costs, think also in terms of security of supply.

You don’t want to be stranded if the petrol runs out.

Be Prepared

Which also brings up the matter of food. EVERY family should have a year’s supply of food stored away, ideally backed up with a food-producing garden.

With proper storage systems, foods such as rice and wheat can last up to 25 years, and it doesn’t cost anything because you gradually use it.

Look up “food storage mylar bags and oxygen absorbers”. And honey lasts forever.

98% chance you’ll never need it but, if something happens, could mean life or death.

Digital Jim

A couple of articles about my digital avatar.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15605539/Jims-Mowing-founder-AI-chatbot-Anthony-Albanese-government-waste.html

Can’t even remember saying some of these things about politics and politicians, but pretty spot on.

https://www.mediaweek.com.au/jims-group-ai-bot-goes-rogue/

This is me as a therapist. I tried it myself and got some pretty good answers!

Try it for yourself on www.jimpenman.com.au

Birth-rate Crisis

Major launch planned for October. Nobody has found a way to reverse our collapsing fertility.

A lot of people won’t like my solution, but it’s the only one that could possibly work. Character change, with the help of medication.

People won’t be able to ignore this book.

Fasting

Fasting is a great way to strengthen your brain’s reaction to dopamine.

I’m observing Lent this year, which means no deserts, sweet drinks, or deep-fried food such as chips. With that and 16/8 fasting, I get a bit hungry at times.

However, I also feel disciplined and clear minded, and more spiritual.

What I’m actually doing is reducing dopamine surges, so my brain is better satisfied with the small trickle that comes from positive things like work, nature, and relationships. Also, lost three kilos, which is surprising for only a fortnight.

Really ought to do this year-round, foregoing small pleasures for a better overall mood and focus.

Too many career politicians

Too many people in politics have never done anything else. The Labor Party was founded by people who had real jobs and understood how the world worked, and the experience of ordinary people.

So many policies mire us in red tape, legislated by people who haven’t a clue of the effects.

Typical example a requirement that people have the right to work from home, on the supposed basis that this is better for the business. How on earth would they know?

How can some political hack understand the needs of a business better than the people who run it?

Same economic stupidity as Mao’s Great Leap Forward, which was supposed to make China wealthy, and ended up killing tens of millions from the resulting famine.

Dumb economic policies may not cause starvation in Australia, but they take money from the pockets of battlers who could really use it.

The Good Life, by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz

Good advice on how to live a healthy, happy life, based on a study that’s been running since 1978. Key lessons: focus on relationships over everything else.

Audiobooks are a great way to steer your life in a better direction.

It’s not just a matter of knowing what to do, it’s having it drummed into you until it becomes part of your way of thinking.

Love Machines, by James Muldoon

Great book on AI companions including the way they are used as friends, romantic partners, therapists, and as a way of keeping the dead alive.

Gave me some good ideas on expanding the scope for digital Jim.

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To learn more, check out www.jimpenman.com.au

Jim breaks down how policy failure has priced young Australians out of the market, widened inequality, and crippled small business growth. He also challenges the political status quo, calling out inefficiency, overreach, and the hidden costs of “net zero” policies.

In this episode:

• The real reason housing is unaffordable in Australia

• How deregulation could cut costs and boost opportunity

• Why bureaucracy hurts both business and the environment

• Jim’s surprising views on immigration and freedom

• The moral case for fixing housing and helping the next generation

A straight-talking, no-spin episode on freedom, fairness, and fixing what’s broken.

Make sure you follow the show or leave a review.

You can join my newsletter at www.jimpenman.com.au

But one country stands out as a rare exception—Israel. With fertility rates well above replacement levels, Israel is doing something radically different.

What can the rest of the world learn?In this episode, Jim Penman explores the unique cultural, religious, and communal structures that set Israel apart.

From the high birth rates of ultra-Orthodox communities to strong national values and support for religious education, Jim explains how Israel’s character-driven society creates a natural foundation for higher fertility.This is a deep dive into why culture matters more than cash incentives, and how fostering tight-knit communities can help reverse demographic decline.What you'll learn in this episode• How Israel’s fertility rate compares to global averages• Why community and religious values drive birth rates• The role of education, separation, and cultural autonomy• Why allowing religious minorities to remain distinct is vital• How countries like the US and Australia can apply these lessonsTIMESTAMPS0:00 Introduction to Israel’s success story0:28 Fertility rate comparison across countries1:20 Ultra-Orthodox and Arab birth rates1:45 Community structure and youth involvement2:42 Patriotic values and collective mindset3:28 Normalizing large families through culture4:15 The power of cultural and religious separation5:06 Can other societies replicate Israel’s success6:00 How education systems support cultural integrity7:00 Misconceptions about equality and integration8:06 Cooperative vs. competitive cultures9:10 Fertility projections among religious minorities10:00 Why community strength predicts demographic strength11:00 Could the Amish reshape America’s future11:56 Final thoughts and where to follow Jim📘 Learn More About Jim’s BooksThe Birth Rate Crisis – https://mailchi.mp/2472fbf43a4b/join-the-biohistory-foundationRead about Jim’s biohistory research – https://biohistory.orgGrab my book recommendation list – https://mailchi.mp/696ad4256ebe/by9dju86hg

In this eye-opening episode, Jim Penman explains why every attempt by the Chinese Communist Party to boost fertility is failing, and why no amount of policy, propaganda, or financial incentive can undo decades of cultural change.From the one-child policy to modern bribes for bigger families, China’s trajectory shows the true limits of government power. Jim reveals how attitudes about family, religion, and status have shifted, and why technology and neuroscience are the only paths forward.What’s inside this episode• How China’s fertility strategy has backfired repeatedly• The cultural stigma against large families• Why wealth and urbanization are key drivers of decline• Why religious suppression worsens the demographic crisis• What China could do differently—and why it probably won’tTIMESTAMPS0:00 Introduction and China’s failed birth rate policies1:08 One-child policy to three-child policy transition2:16 Why each reform made the crisis worse3:00 Cultural stigma and shifting family values4:00 Government propaganda versus real change4:40 Why religion matters in demographic trends5:51 Economic, social, and demographic collapse risks6:31 Can China survive this long-term7:05 The role of neuroscience and what could actually work📘 Learn More About Jim’s Books

The Birth Rate Crisis – https://mailchi.mp/2472fbf43a4b/join-the-biohistory-foundationNo Other Success – Coming SoonRead about Jim’s biohistory research – https://biohistory.orgGrab my book recommendation list – https://mailchi.mp/696ad4256ebe/by9dju86hg

But despite these efforts, the fertility rate keeps dropping. Why?In this episode of Conversations with Jim Penman, Jim breaks down why Japan’s policy interventions are missing the mark.

The core issue isn’t financial—it’s a shift in societal values and priorities. Jim explains how character, not cash, drives fertility decisions and why only neuroscience research can meaningfully change the trajectory.You’ll learn why financial incentives fail, how modern culture reshapes family priorities, and what a realistic, science-based solution could look like.

This episode offers an urgent message for policymakers and thinkers looking for real answers.What’s inside this episode• Japan’s pro-natal reforms and where they fall short• How attitudes toward marriage and family are changing• The psychological impact of work obsession and social alienation• The case for neuroscience as the key to character change• How Japan could lead the world in solving fertility declineTIMESTAMPS0:00 Introduction and overview of Japan’s incentives1:18 Current fertility rate and population trends1:45 Why giving more money doesn’t work2:28 How attitudes and character shape fertility3:07 The role of neuroscience in societal transformation4:15 Japan’s commodified relationships and emotional detachment5:10 The failure of government-driven dating initiatives6:20 The aging crisis and shrinking youth population7:00 Japan’s long-term trajectory if nothing changes8:00 What neuroscience research looks like in action9:20 Why collaboration with Japan could fast-track solutions11:00 How the birth rate crisis book aims to inspire real change📘 Learn More About Jim’s BooksThe Birth Rate Crisis – https://mailchi.mp/2472fbf43a4b/join-the-biohistory-foundationRead about Jim’s biohistory research – https://biohistory.orgGrab my book recommendation list – https://mailchi.mp/696ad4256ebe/by9dju86hg

But the fertility rate remains the lowest in the world.

In this episode of Conversations with Jim Penman, Jim breaks down why these efforts are failing and what truly needs to change.The real issue isn't money. It's mindset. Jim explains how cultural attitudes toward marriage, parenting, and childhood are driving birth rates down. He shares insights from his new book and outlines why neuroscience, not financial incentives, may hold the key to reversing the crisis.What to expect in this episode• A breakdown of South Korea's incentives and statistics• How pressure-packed education and career systems damage family life• Why attitudes toward marriage and children are changing• Why neuroscience could be the only real long-term solution• What governments like South Korea can do differentlyTIMESTAMPS0:00 South Korea’s pro-natal policies explained1:06 Birth rate statistics and current fertility levels1:27 Why financial support alone doesn't work1:45 Social attitudes toward marriage and family2:42 Cultural pressure and emotional burnout3:18 The overlooked role of neuroscience5:00 How overparenting hurts families6:03 The toll of academic pressure on children6:23 Final thoughts on realistic solutionsWant to fix the birth rate crisis? Join the movementhttps://mailchi.mp/2472fbf43a4b/join-the-biohistory-foundation📘 Learn More About Jim’s BooksThe Birth Rate Crisis – https://mailchi.mp/2472fbf43a4b/join-the-biohistory-foundationNo Other Success – Coming SoonRead about Jim’s biohistory research – https://biohistory.orgGrab my book recommendation list – https://mailchi.mp/696ad4256ebe/by9dju86hg🧬 About This ChannelWe explore ideas around• Birth rate decline and population change• Epigenetics and behavioural biology• Family values and long-term success• Franchising business advice and leadershipFollow Jim on SocialFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejimpenmanInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/thejimpenmanLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejimpenmanX – https://x.com/ThejimpenmanTikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@thejimpenman

From lifetime tax exemptions for mothers to low-interest housing loans, Hungary is investing heavily—but is it working?Jim explains why the real driver of fertility is not money, but mindset. He outlines the deeper cultural and psychological reasons behind declining birth rates, and proposes that only basic neuroscience research has the power to reverse these trends.

Drawing comparisons with communities like the Amish and Orthodox Jews, Jim emphasizes the importance of emotional norms and traditional values in fostering larger families.Key themes in this discussion:

• Why economic incentives don’t influence birth rates• How values, not income, determine family size• Cultural case studies of high-fertility groups• What Viktor Orbán should fund instead: neuroscience• Long-term solutions to the global birth rate crisis📘 Learn More About Jim’s Books→ The Birth Rate Crisis – https://mailchi.mp/2472fbf43a4b/join-the-biohistory-foundation→ Read about Jim’s biohistory research: https://biohistory.orgGrab my book recommendation list here - https://mailchi.mp/696ad4256ebe/by9dju86hg🧬 About This ChannelThis channel explores ideas around:• Birth rate decline and population change• Epigenetics and behavioural biology• Family, values, and long-term success• Franchising, business advice, and leadershipFollow Jim on SocialFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/thejimpenmanInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thejimpenmanLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejimpenman/X - https://x.com/ThejimpenmanTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thejimpenman

Jim challenges outdated ideas about genetics and societal development, offering a new perspective that focuses on character changes driven by early life conditions like food restriction.This discussion covers:• Why genetic explanations for poverty are flawed• How epigenetic changes influence behaviour and long-term thinking• The limitations of current economic and political solutions• The potential for low-cost treatments to improve national prosperity• Insights from Gregory Clark on historical shifts in behaviourSubscribe for more episodes and updates on Jim's upcoming book about the birth rate crisis.Join the mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/2472fbf43a4b/join-the-biohistory-foundation

To learn more visit www.jimpenman.com.au.