Agnes Martin on The Secret of Happiness
“The best things in life happen to you when you’re alone.” *** Agnes Martin was a famous abstract painter and minimalist. In this short interview with Chuck Smith and Sono Kuwayama …
Thought and Opinion
Learning From Your Mistakes … When You Win
“Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to …
Second-Order Thinking: What Smart People Use to Outperform
Understanding how to think things through – to push your mind past the first step – can help you solve problems, avoid problems, and take better actions. The best way to examine the …
Carl Braun’s Writing Lessons for Clear Thinking and Productive Communication
“Man is a gregarious animal. We work in herds, in teams. The bear can do exactly as he pleases, for he works alone. We do not work alone. We depend throughout our lives on the goodwill of other …
A Journey of Self Discovery
*** “Beautiful people do not just happen.” In her bestseller Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert told her story of self-discovery in which she spent a year journeying through Italy, India, …
Tiny Gains. Massive Results.
When we want to improve ourselves, we often pursue dramatic changes with little success. A better idea is to go for small, incremental improvements that add up over time. *** Self-motivated, …
3 Famous Writers on the Relationship Between Reading and Writing
During the Q&A for How to Read a Book, someone asked whether reading a lot makes us better writers. The short answer is yes. Reading and writing are two sides of the same coin. As Anne …
When Breath Becomes Air: What Makes Life Worth Living in the Face of Death?
“When you come to one of the many moments in life where you must give an account of yourself, provide a ledger of what you have been, and done, and meant to the world, do not, I pray, discount …
Shane Parrish on Mental Models, Decision Making, Charlie Munger, Farnam Street, And More
An interview I gave that I think you’ll enjoy as I talk about reading, mental models, investing, learning and more. *** Shane Parrish is the curator for the popular Farnam Street Blog, an …
Elon Musk on Regulators
The Federal Aviation Administration had a meeting with Elon Musk they won’t forget. Musk met with them to discuss some approvals for the work one of his companies, SpaceX, was doing. The meeting …
Recognizing Our Flaws is The Beginning of Wisdom
A short post today that packs a punch. The liberating power of humility is one we’ve covered before. In fact, it’s a concept that is core to understanding your Circle of Competence. Now …
Gary Taubes on What Really Makes Us Fat
We’ve been told for decades that dietary fat makes us gain weight, yet research suggests refined carbohydrates are to blame. It’s time to turn the food pyramid upside down. Let’s examine the …
Rendez-Vous with Art: The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Art
Philippe de Montebello was the longest-serving Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (1977-2008). Martin Gayford was an acclaimed art critic. Their book, Rendez-Vous with Art, is …
Hunter S. Thompson on Living versus Existing
Hunter S. Thompson’s letter to Hume Logan on finding your purpose and living a meaningful life is one of the most popular posts to ever appear on Farnam Street. One reader found it so valuable …
Charlie Munger on Avoiding Computers
An anecdote found in Seeking Wisdom, that reminds me of a funny story from university and the use of calculators. First, the excerpt. When someone asked Charlie Munger if he used a computer, he …
The Two Types of Knowledge: The Max Planck/Chauffeur Test
Charlie Munger, the billionaire business partner of Warren Buffett, frequently tells the story below to illustrate how to distinguish between the two types of knowledge: real knowledge and pretend …