#009 Friday's Findings
Discover more from The Meandering Mind
#009 Friday's Findings
How to read books, the curse of knowledge and more.
Hello beautiful human!
What a great week it has been. I finally got my hair cut, so I actually look respectable again… oh, and I can see again, too.
To my own surprise, I am starting to get interested in investing. I watched some informative videos on the topic as well as a book, and the stars sort of aligned. There is something interesting about it, I feel, but one also has to tread lightly in these situations. My parents raised me to be extra careful when it comes to managing my money, and I appreciate that.
We will see… for now, I should look into gaining some experience.
Enjoy the weekend!
Suggested readings
“You read so much, how do you remember all of it?” Easy. I don’t. Nor do I expect myself to. And neither should you. Human memory is based on association. Most of your memories are dormant. You can’t actively access them whenever you want to. Instead, they must be unearthed by relevant events in the present. Books are the same way. Most of the information you pick up in books, you won’t even realize you remember it until it becomes relevant to your life somehow. Someone mentions German unification and suddenly that book you read about Bismarck four years ago comes rushing back and you find yourself discussing things you thought you had completely forgotten two minutes ago. The problem is that most of us learn to read books for school… (3 Tips to Read More Books)
The Curse of Knowledge is a cognitive bias that arises from having a greater understanding of a particular topic. It’s a phenomenon whereby those who possess more knowledge about a given subject find it difficult to relate to those with less familiarity. This can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunication, and even conflict. The concept goes back to a 1989 economics paper by Colin Camerer, George Loewenstein and Martin Weber… (Curse of Knowledge: How to Be an Approachable Genius)
All around us, friendships old and new are coming to grief over politics. What is the cause of this? Part of the problem relates to how we practice politics today: we have become more warlike and tribal. Another part of the problem stems from our contemporary understanding of friendship. Genuine friendship places weighty demands on us, and most of us prefer relationships that are quicker and easier, and thus less enduring. Politics and friendship are deeply connected. As strange as it sounds… (Politics, Friendship, and the Search for Meaning)
The last song that Renzo really loved before he died suddenly, at twenty-two months old, was Dua Lipa’s “Levitating.” I loved it, too. I was late to participate in the global worship of the pop star, but “Levitating” eventually became a hit in our house. Maybe he liked the bubbly little beat. Or just maybe he liked the idea of levitation as a metaphor for love. At the time, a few months before he would have turned two, Renzo was really starting to grasp language. Listening to him speak, to say the names of colors (“yayow”), made me melt. In day care, he was learning Spanish. Instead of asking to hold hands, he said mano. So it probably wasn’t the song’s message, technically, that moved him. But, spiritually, I think he got it. Pain and music have always shaped my own life… (The Sound of Grief)
When it comes time to put the ideas into practice, I'd strongly recommend you have some fun with them. Don't be overly serious. That's missing the point. These Stoic practices are for you to experiment with and find what works for you and your unique life situations... (The Ultimate Stoic Daily Routine)
A quote I’m contemplating: “Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.” — Charles Bukowski
Tools and Proposals
Revolut — I suggest you try this bank/money management service! I just started using Revolut, and I have heard well about their exchange rates. I suggest you try it as well. Oh, and you can invest too.
SearchSystem — I recommend you check out this tool for design inspiration. It is curated by Julien Van Havere.
OpenAI CEO on risks and how AI will reshape society — I encourage you to watch this intriguing video on Sam Altman among others.
Sounds
Until next time,
Magnus