Intelligence Squared

Michael Rosen on Hope, Happiness and Finding Joy in the Small Things (Part Two)

December 26, 2025

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  • Michael Rosen illustrates the philosophy of holding the ideal (perfect hummus) alongside the acceptance of the 'good enough' (the hummus available) as a necessary balance for happiness. 
  • Rosen's near-fatal battle with Covid, including his time in a geriatric ward, inspired him to write the children's book *Rigatoni the Pasta Cat*, which he later realized was about his longing for hummus. 
  • Rosen identifies as an 'optimistic nihilist,' believing life is fundamentally purposeless, which creates an imperative to make the most of the time we have, viewing personal tragedies like the death of his son as part of the natural absurdity and flux of existence. 

Segments

Hummus and Good Enough Philosophy
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(00:01:16)
  • Key Takeaway: True contentment requires holding the ideal standard alongside accepting what is currently ‘good enough’ in the moment.
  • Summary: Rosen detailed his ideal hummus—gritty, with specific tahini/olive oil/garlic balance—while acknowledging that the hummus he actually eats elsewhere is perfectly fine for that context. He posits that constantly yearning only for the best prevents happiness, as one would rarely achieve perfection. This duality is presented as a necessary philosophy for navigating life.
Hospital Ordeal and Cat Story Inspiration
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(00:05:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The cruelty of receiving warm, banana-flavored nutritional supplement (‘Ensure’) instead of desired cold berry smoothie during Covid lockdown fueled the creation of a new story.
  • Summary: During his Covid hospitalization, Rosen was denied hummus and instead received warm ‘Ensure,’ which he described as tasting like sick, leading to anger. Lying in the geriatric ward, he conceived the story of ‘Rigatoni the Pasta Cat,’ which later emerged as a book. He later realized this creative output was subconsciously linked to his longing for hummus.
Reading: T for Tiggs and Cat Anecdotes
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(00:09:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Cats can impart profound life lessons, such as philosophy (Mickey) and self-will (Tiggs/Smudge), through their unique behaviors and relationships.
  • Summary: Rosen recounted the complex history of several family cats, including Mickey, who allegedly inspired a son’s philosophy degree, and Tiggs, who was renamed Billy by a neighbor. The narrative highlights the confusion of pet identity, as Smudge was also called Molly and Hitler by different family members. The segment concludes with the heartbreaking story of the two loving gangster cats, Tony Soprano and Benny Blanco, and Benny’s unique grieving meow after Tony died.
Optimistic Nihilism and Absurdity
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(00:19:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Coping with profound grief, like the death of a child, involves reframing memories to avoid infecting past joys with present sorrow, a process aided by recognizing life’s inherent absurdity.
  • Summary: Rosen explained that discussing difficult times in his book Good Days: An A-Z of Hope and Happiness offers potential coping sparks for others. He realized he shouldn’t taint happy memories of his deceased son, Eddie, with the fact of his death, as he doesn’t do this with his living children’s memories. His daughter Elsie defined him as an ‘optimistic nihilist,’ recognizing his lack of belief in the supernatural alongside an imperative to make the most of this singular, purposeless life.
Inspiration from Benjamin Zephaniah and Dylan
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(00:32:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Benjamin Zephaniah taught Rosen to approach public discourse by imagining he is speaking directly to his mother, cutting through political artifice.
  • Summary: Rosen cited Benjamin Zephaniah and Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman) as key inspirations. Zephaniah’s technique for remaining calm on shows like Question Time was to mentally address his mother, making his speech sound like proverbs. This inspired Rosen to create a poem about rhythm while on the underground, which he now dedicates to Zephaniah.