As a parent, I want to encourage curiosity and creativity in my children. To signal my interest in their education, I frequently ask the question: “What did you learn in school, today?” It recently dawned on me that this is a most unsatisfactory question. I now ask one or both of these questions: “What questions…

“What’s enlightenment,” asked the seeker. “I can only provide a metaphor,” replied the wayfinder. “Have you ever been in the darkness when a bolt of lightening suddenly illuminated all of your surroundings in vivid clarity?” “Yes, I have,” replied the seeker excitedly. “Is that enlightenment feels like?” “No,” said the wayfinder to the seeker’s immense…

What is the abbreviation for “pounds”? Did you say “lbs”? Congratulations, you are correct. Now, where does the abbreviation come from? It’s rather curious. None of the letters (l-b-s) appear in the word “pound.” What should be more curious is why you have never inquired into the matter (provided that is you don’t know the…

There is no doubt the world is awash in information. The positive side is that you can find almost anything you are looking for. The downside is that it can all feel overwhelming at times. The one thing you can ill afford to do is accept that information with complete certainty because what you see…

The concept of unlearning might seem pointless to some people. So, too, might the idea of doing something that makes you uncomfortable. The surprising thing is this: If you do something out of your comfort zone, it widens your circle of comfort. It this same way, unlearning enhances your awareness of how much you don’t…

It is conventional wisdom that if you want to achieve your goals you need to “raise the bar” or “shoot for the stars.” This works in some cases but I believe a more effective method is to “lower the bar” and start easy. For example, if you want to start a new exercise regimen try…

The Elements of Style is a small book that lays out the rules for clear writing. Near the end of the book is this brilliant observation: the best writers sometimes disregard the rules.

Lesson #6: Study at an Anti-Library  “There is a huge difference between what people actually know and how much they think they know.” – Nassim Taleb Question #6: Which of these animals is more likely to kill you: A shark or a deer? The right answer is the deer. In fact, the contest isn’t even…

“How do you know when you’ve become a master,” asked the student. “When you’ve made it your job to always remain an apprentice,” replied the master.