Today is my birthday. It’s been a tradition here that I use this opportunity to write about my life, instead of sharing a new idea. It’s a bit selfish, but I’m allowed a little today. Feel free to skip this post and ignore my self-indulgence. Overall this has been a very different year than the […]
Fake Wisdom
When I first started writing, I used to get “false agreement”. This is when a comment claims to agree with everything you’re saying, but reveals that they actually believe the opposite in the substance of their message. I used to blame this on reader illiteracy, but it was likely my failing as a writer. But […]
Why Forgetting Can Be Good
People often ask me how they can guarantee they won’t forget anything they’ve learned. But I think forgetting isn’t such a bad thing and that trying to avoid it completely is a loser’s strategy. Trying for a perfect memory is a defensive strategy, it’s protecting the stockpile of knowledge you possess against atrophy. In theory […]
How to Lead an Interesting Life and Still Get Stuff Done
Is it possible to spend your life having adventures, but still make meaningful accomplishments? The answer to this question matters to me because, like many of you, I’d like to have both. The challenge is that most advice-givers put the two in either-or categories. Being good requires focus, perhaps decades of it. The world tends […]
I'm a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, podcast host, computer programmer and an avid reader. Since 2006, I've published weekly essays on this website to help people like you learn and think better. My work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, TEDx, Pocket, Business Insider and more. I don't promise I have all the answers, just a place to start.