Interesting I went through a similar assessment of my sexual and social results, and ultimately reached similar positive results with a different arrangement.

So I broke up with Alice over a long conversation that included an hour-long primer on evolutionary psychology in which I explained how natural selection had built me to be attracted to certain features that she lacked. I thought she would appreciate this because she had previously expressed admiration for detailed honesty. Later, I realized how hard it is to think of a more damaging way to break up with someone.

Ouch. That sounds so similar to something I might have done at a one point. I guess I must have been lucky or passed through that awkwardness where you leave standard social scripts but haven't built good replacements rather quickly. Hurting someone is really something I have a hard time getting over.

I hit diminishing returns in what books could teach me.

Satisficing is hard to do when searching for solutions. Finding "optimal" solutions is so tempting.

Note: This is a rather old post though. Overall its still reasonably close to my positions.