The basic idea behind this book is that in an age of increasing distraction, being able to really concentrate and do deep focused work is a super-power. He spends the first half of the book explaining why he believes this is the case and the second half offering some really pragmatic strategies for achieving this. … Continue reading Deep Work by Cal Newport
Viktor Frankl was a Jewish pioneer in psychotherapy. He was developing his own insights into psychology in Austria prior to World War 2. In the war he was arrested by the Nazis and transported to Auschwitz. In his book “Man’s search for meaning” he relays the experiences of surviving in a concentration camp and his … Continue reading Book review: Man’s search for meaning by Viktor Frankl
This book covers the rise of computers and AI over the period Kasprov’s chess career. But for me the interesting insights are into the rising impact of technology on our lives, and the roles of psychology in decision making. In my comments I have focused more on the takeaways I think are more widely applicable … Continue reading Deep Thinking by Garry Kasparov
Jason Zweig writes The Intelligent Investor column for the Wall Street Journal and is interviewed here by Shane Parish. Lots of useful stuff, starting for me from about min 26 of the podcast onwards, here are my highlights as well as some of my own complimentary thoughts: Financial advice 1. One of the biggest distorting … Continue reading The emotional side of investment decision making with Jason Zweig
This book is a sobering read. Luce’s hypothesis is that the world liberal elite “ruling classes”, particularly on the left, have lost touch with the heartland of their countries and that, together with new developments in technology and the rise of China, this is leading to some tectonic shifts in geopolitics which are evidenced in … Continue reading Edward Luce’s The Retreat of Western Liberalism
From an Interview between Shane Parish of Farnam Street and Barbara Oakley who has recently written a book on the subject backed by years of academic research. How can we learn new things optimally? (This applies to both abstract ideas like math and physical skills like playing music) The distinction we draw between rote learning … Continue reading Learning how to learn
I like to collect great questions, they motivate me towards deeper thinking and insights. The questions you ask can drive change in your life. So I will be adding a more regular set of question posts to this blog to remind myself of the interesting questions I come across that I want to ask myself. … Continue reading Great questions #2
[The Tim Ferriss Show] Catherine Hoke — The Master of Second Chances This is an inspirational podcast. Catherine runs an organisation called Defy that works with prisoners in the US to give them a second chance through an intensive training program and then, after their release, support. I am not going to try to summarise … Continue reading Catherine Hoke and the need for Second Chances in society
Adam Grant is an organisational psychologist who has published a book on this concept of the way individuals operate and how they then function in organisations. Organisational citizenship behaviour is the field of organisational psychology focused on behaviours that are not relevant to the task at hand but critical to the success of the effectiveness … Continue reading Givers, Takers and Matchers
Here is a facinating conversation between Shane Parish of Farnam Street and Rory Sutherland, the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather Group, one of the largest advertising companies in the world. Rory started the behavioral insights team at OM and spends his days applying behavioral economics and evolutionary psychology to solve problems for their clients. The conversation … Continue reading Human behavioural motivations and insights with Rory Sutherland
Here's something that inspired me... 