Knowing how to draw is something most people feel is mostly about artistic talent. You can either draw or you can’t. I disagree. Instead, I think drawing is mostly about having a set of specific techniques, that anyone can learn, which make it a lot easier to draw something realistically. I’m not a professional artist, […]
Let’s Learn Quantum Mechanics: Week Two Update
Last week was the second week of my month-long project to get a foundation in quantum mechanics, with the entire project being livestreamed. Why I’m Tackling This Project The inspiration for this project came about a year ago. I stumbled upon 8.04, MIT’s first class in quantum physics and watched some of the lectures. While […]
Book Recommendation: The Hungry Brain
Most diet books are about food. The Hungry Brain, by neuroscientist and obesity researcher Stephan Guyenet, is fascinating because it is about behavior. The brain, Guyenet argues, is the most important part of the body if we want to understand why we gain weight and how we lose it. Nutrition is one field I struggle […]
Let’s Learn Quantum Mechanics: Week One Update
Last Monday, I announced a new ultralearning project: trying to get a good grasp of the physics behind quantum mechanics. In particular, I decided to try to tackle MIT’s 8.04 – Quantum Physics I, similarly to how I tackled other MIT classes during the MIT Challenge. As an experiment, I decided to try livestreaming the […]
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.