tinker + think=thinkerer
just finished taking notes on ian leslie's book "curious: the desire to know and why your future depends on it".
taking at first a broad look at how curiosity has been both encouraged and discouraged over historical trends, leslie discusses the difference between puzzles and mysteries as well as how children learn best and how adults can best utilize their minds to full potential.
brilliance is more than a lightning bolt of inspiration. he outlines how both a deep and broad base of knowledge builds upon itself and is more likely to "...be a fertile source of the serendipitous collisions that lead to brilliant ideas...curiosity about life in all its aspects is still the secret of great creative people."
rather than looking at facts as separate bits of knowledge, they can be seen as a link in a larger chain of knowledge. understanding how the brain works, he highlights how highly curious people who have carefully cultivated their long-term memories live in an augmented reality; everything they see is overlaid with additional layers of meaning and possibility unavailable to ordinary observers.
for example, fashion designer paul smith says, "i've got eyes that see. i'll see something light next to something dark, or something smooth next to something rough, or tweed next to silk and that means something to me. i can look at architecture and the proportions of doors and see pockets in the opening of a jacket. or i can listen to music that is very calm but has a very bright bit and that can be a navy suit with a flowery shirt to me."
author henry james put it this way, "i live intensely and am fed by life and my value is my kind of expression of that. art makes life, makes interest, makes importance." he knew that some people were just better than others at making interest in and of the world and often told students, "try to be one of the people upon whom nothing is lost."
happy thinkering!
taking at first a broad look at how curiosity has been both encouraged and discouraged over historical trends, leslie discusses the difference between puzzles and mysteries as well as how children learn best and how adults can best utilize their minds to full potential.
brilliance is more than a lightning bolt of inspiration. he outlines how both a deep and broad base of knowledge builds upon itself and is more likely to "...be a fertile source of the serendipitous collisions that lead to brilliant ideas...curiosity about life in all its aspects is still the secret of great creative people."
rather than looking at facts as separate bits of knowledge, they can be seen as a link in a larger chain of knowledge. understanding how the brain works, he highlights how highly curious people who have carefully cultivated their long-term memories live in an augmented reality; everything they see is overlaid with additional layers of meaning and possibility unavailable to ordinary observers.
for example, fashion designer paul smith says, "i've got eyes that see. i'll see something light next to something dark, or something smooth next to something rough, or tweed next to silk and that means something to me. i can look at architecture and the proportions of doors and see pockets in the opening of a jacket. or i can listen to music that is very calm but has a very bright bit and that can be a navy suit with a flowery shirt to me."
author henry james put it this way, "i live intensely and am fed by life and my value is my kind of expression of that. art makes life, makes interest, makes importance." he knew that some people were just better than others at making interest in and of the world and often told students, "try to be one of the people upon whom nothing is lost."
happy thinkering!
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