Scott Adams, RIP
He said he was going to die soon and he kept his word: Scott Adams has died of prostate cancer at 68.
All of us are unique, but Adams was one of the more unique and independent-minded people around:
Adams became famous through “Dilbert,” the comic strip that poked fun at corporate culture with keen insight into the absurdity, cruelty and incompetence of management inside large organizations. In his last decade and a half, however, Adams achieved wide influence through his business advice and political analysis.
His 2013 best seller, “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big,” is one of the most influential and entertaining business books of recent years.
In it, Adams introduced the concept of using systems, rather than goals, to achieve success in life. He also advised readers to accumulate skills — a “talent stack” — rather than traditional credentials.
In 2015, Adams began commenting on politics after observing the first Republican presidential primary debate. When then-candidate Donald Trump responded to a moderator’s question that accused him of mistreating women by interjecting, “Only Rosie O’Donnell,” Adams took notice.
A trained hypnotist, Adams predicted that Trump, then a huge underdog, would win the nomination — and the presidency.
I think his most impressive offering in the latter part of his career was his analysis of “The Charlottesville Hoax” – how it was perpetrated and the thinking process of those who bought into it.
He will be missed.
Here his ex-wife reads a final message from Adams:
Haven’t listened to all of it, yet. But I rejoice to know that Adams trusted in Christ at his ending. “Trust” is the essence of faith; a complete intellectual understanding is not necessary and is, at its core, not possible. May he grow in love and service in the place where he now is. May his family be comforted.
Is there a particular video you are referring to regarding his analysis of “The Charlottesville Hoax?” Or is it a series of videos somewhere? I am unfamiliar and would be interested to see it.
Michael Ball:
He discussed it many times and also wrote a lot about it. I can’t find much of this in a quick search at the moment, but here’s one video.
I’ve seen a bit of small-hearted discussion, on the Right, about the genuineness or efficacy of Adams’ late conversion. I’m not a theologian, but if I remember right we only know of one person, besides Jesus, in the New Testament who was definitely going to heaven:
In 1605 William Camden recorded an epitaph for a man who had died in a fall from a horse:
Niketas:
As far as I could tell from watching the video, Adams made Pascal’s wager.
Why anyone would care to question the quality of someone’s religious beliefs is beyond me.
Those who criticize Adams might also recall Jesus’s parable of the vineyard, where the master kept hiring workers from early in the morning until late afternoon, and at the end of the day paid them all the same wage.
On a secular note, there is no doubt that Adams sacrificed much when he endorsed Trump and discovered that the left is filled with hate and condemnation. He spoke what he saw as truth, at great cost.
A definite loss.
I always felt it useful for someone to portray common situations with a perspective such as Dilbert’s. Dilbert and the whimsical Calvin and Hobbes spoke perfectly to me.
I am glad that Scott Adams found spiritual comfort.
I only get the Sunday edition of the Chicago Tribune now, and even then just for arts and entertainment goings on in the city. So I’m reminded of Scott Adam’s once a week when I see the cover of the comics section and see Pickles where Dilbert used to be.
Scott Adams was loved by many, faced death bravely, and spoke the truth without hesitation. A life very well lived. No man could ask for more. He will be missed. May he RIP.
Didn’t know much about him but from his bio it sounds like he was a step ahead on the Second Commandment, “Love thy neighbor as thyself”. RIP Scott Adams.
Thank you for the video, Neo. I thought his ex-wife was brave too.
Rest in peace Scott.
He really left a void.
I cried yesterday during the end of his show. I knew it was the last/he was really dying.
Sad.
Kate: See this-esp Ann Colter’s post
https://www.christopherfountain.com/blog/2026/1/13/no-argument-here
I read Adam’s Pascal’s Wager as brave cheerfulness on his death bed. Which I find admirable.
I don’t believe Adams was born-again. However, just about everyone loves or appreciates Jesus and going into the darkness is a scary thing. Taking Jesus’s hand at that point is at least a way of focusing on love and hope in those final moments.
Rest in peace, friend Scott. You lived and died with humor and courage. May we learn from you.
Wow! There’s a deep appreciation of Scott Adams on Gutfeld tonight.
Gutfeld says that Adams was the most important intellectual and mentor in his life. They became close, so close that Gutfeld spoke to Adams just a couple days ago. The rest of the panel spoke highly of Adams too.
–“Gutfeld! FULL END SHOW 1/13/26” (cued up to Scott Adams segment)
https://youtu.be/Z6svVYDX33Q?t=1018
That link will stop working some time tomorrow, but I imagine it will become a clip which will be available for much longer.
Scott Adams was the first person I followed on Twitter. The ‘Mole’!
He was a brilliant and eminently rational person. Sometimes that can get in the way of revelation.
I’m glad he took Pascal’s wager.
Thank you and Godspeed, Scott.