Few creatures have captivated human curiosity like the eel. Slippery, secretive, and seemingly otherworldly, the eel has puzzled scientists, inspired mythologies, and formed deep cultural and personal connections across generations. In The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World, Patrik Svensson explores this enigmatic fish (yes, it is a fish) through a unique blend of science, history, and memoir.
Despite centuries of study, much of the eel’s life cycle remains a mystery.
Erik Larson’s The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War offers a deeply researched and gripping narrative of the five months leading up to the outbreak of the Civil War. By focusing on the political calculations, ideological rigidity, and outright fear-mongering that drove the country toward conflict, Larson dismantles the long-standing myth that the war was fought over states’ rights rather than slavery.
Curiosity is a fundamental force in human nature, driving innovation, learning, and discovery. From childhood exploration to scientific breakthroughs, curiosity propels us to seek out new information and make sense of the world. But what is happening in our brains when we feel curious? Neuroscientists have been unraveling the mechanisms of curiosity, revealing its connections to motivation, memory, and even emotional well-being. Let's briefly explore how curiosity works at a neural level, why it is essential for our cognitive growth, and how we can cultivate it in daily life.
Have you ever paused to consider the objects that surround you? The ones we use without a second thought, like paperclips, zippers, or lightbulbs? These mundane items, while seemingly ordinary, are packed with fascinating histories and surprising facts. If you're curious, keep reading!
The Paperclip The humble paperclip is a marvel of design. This tiny metal loop has held papers together since the late 19th century, yet its simplicity belies its significance.
Life often feels like a series of interconnected mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Each situation—whether it’s a problem to solve, a decision to make, or an opportunity to explore—carries hidden layers of insight. The key to uncovering these layers? Asking the right questions. At the heart of personal growth, innovation, and meaningful connection lies curiosity, a force capable of transforming the way we navigate the world.
Why Questions Matter Questions are more than just tools for gathering information; they shape the way we think and engage with our surroundings.
I have the best of intentions with my workspace. I imagine a neat setup with only the things I need—nothing more. But let’s be honest: that’s not always how it plays out. Before I know it, I’ve got a small graveyard of coffee cups, tangled cables, and random stuff I pulled out of my backpack. If this sounds like your daily reality, keep reading.
The allure of a clean deskA clutter-free workspace can boost focus, productivity, and even your mood.
2024 was another solid year for my reading list. I read a total of 23 books and while not all of them have stuck with me, a few have. Here’s my breakdown of the four books that hit me the hardest this year—and why I think they should be on your radar too.
Extra Focus by Jesse J. Anderson Whoa. This one completely hit home. Extra Focus dives deep into the realities of adult ADHD, and Jesse J.
I'm not so good at most self-care things. I don't eat as healthy as I should, I need to exercise more, and meditation and therapy are foreign concepts. I have a hard time focusing on myself when I spend so much energy focusing on everything else in my life. Maybe that's my ADHD, I don't know.
I tend to try things that seem to work for a bit, then I fall out of the routine.
Hey there, leaders! Grab a seat and let's have a chat about something that's been on my mind lately: time management in leadership. It's one of those things that we often talk about but don't always really dive into. Well, today, inspired by a nugget of wisdom I picked up on the HBR IdeaCast podcast, I want to explore a quote that really struck a chord with me: "Leaders are trustees of other people's time,"
Whoa, this one really resonated with me. Extra Focus by Jesse J. Anderson centers on the topic of adult ADHD. I don't think there has been a single book I've read that had me nodding my head in agreement on nearly every page. Jesse gives us a better understanding of what ADHD is (trying to do everything! distracted by low value stuff! blurts out answers! etc.) and what it isn't (absolutely not a deficit of attention).
Isn't he cute?! This little guy was generated by Fooocus, which feels like a perfectly blended mashup of Stable Diffusion and Midjourney.
For those that haven't heard of any of these, they are all AI image generation tools that allow you to create images from text. Both Stable Diffusion and Midjourney can produce fascinating results in just a few seconds, but the ways they go about achieving those results is very different for users.
I run into the following scenario occasionally: there's a problem or inefficiency and I have a decent idea of where the ideal - or at least better - future state is. I can see where this thing should be. The hard part is figuring out the steps needed to get us from here to there.
My crude diagram of what we want versus what we have. The top half shows a perfectly straight diagram from here to there, which is what we want.
Michael Lewis has done it again! In his latest rollercoaster of a book, Going Infinite, he takes us on a thrilling journey through the crazy world of crypto and, boy, is it a wild ride! Let me tell you, if you thought his previous books were mind-blowing, you haven't seen anything yet.
First off, can we just talk about the timing? With the ongoing criminal trial of Sam Bankman-Fried making headlines, this book couldn't have come at a more perfect moment.
I was talking to my wife the other day and I think I've come up with a term that I'll start using to describe myself in a number of scenarios. I'm a curious dummy. Often, I don't know much about a particular topic. That was the case the other day. Here's the story:
We were on the way to the bookstore[1] to pick up my reserved copy of Going Infinite by Michael Lewis.
Adam Grant's "Think Again" is by far one of my favorite reads in recent memory. In this thought-provoking book, Grant doesn't just challenge our beliefs; he reshapes the very way we approach decision-making, a transformation with profound implications for large organizations and their leaders.
Grant's premise revolves around the concept of intellectual humility, the ability to recognize the limitations of one's knowledge and the willingness to reconsider preconceived notions. This concept is nothing short of revolutionary when applied to the complex world of corporate leadership.
Every now and then I find myself in an emotional spiral. While complete and constant self-awareness will never come naturally to me, I have at times used a technique that helps me escape and reset. I'm sure there's some long-known psychology term for this, but I call it my check out / check in method.
It looks something like this:
When I'm running too hot, I check out. I take a break from whatever is causing me stress.
Like most people on the planet, I've been using ChatGPT lately. It has been really neat to learn how this technology works and how to interact with it for best results. I've also been taking a mathematics class at the local college and I thought I would try out a few of the homework problems with ChatGPT. It didn't go well. Here's a pretty simple problem that deals with probabilities:
I have a blog. Since you're here, it's pretty clear that you know this. I've had a blog for awhile now. I've also had absolutely no direction when it comes to what content or value my blog provides. What should I write? Should I write?
I feel like I know a little about a lot of things, but there are very few non-niche things that I know a lot about. The areas where I do have some knowledge are not particularly interesting to discuss.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is an exceptional book that explores the complex relationships between two childhood friends and their shared passion for video game design. The book is a stunning achievement that delves deep into the world of game design and provides a fresh and unique perspective on the creative process. The story is expertly crafted and beautifully written, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.
Truth, a necessary building block in any society, is eroding and splintering in the United States of America. Truth is a fundamental expectation within a society. If that society cannot determine and agree on what is true, economic and cultural progress will be difficult if not elusive. Philosophers have debated over the topic of truth for thousands of years and those debates tend to wade into the deeper meaning and origins of truth.