Vox - Pokémon Go is everything that is wrong with late capitalism
Ok, this article is little to nothing about the game of Pokémon. But it uses it as an example of the centralisation of economic activity. Like Amazon and Uber, it centralises most of the money that flows through it. they might make things cheaper along the way, but it comes at a price. The article doesn’t really offer solutions, but it got me thinking!
MIT Technology Review - Data Mining Reveals the Six Basic Emotional Arcs of Storytelling
Wait! Wasn’t every story some sort of Hero’s Journey? Turns out, not all are shaped like one. This researchers put 1,700 novels though a sentimental analysis to map the emotional journey of the story. Turns out there are 6. Check the one of your favourite novel here.
Jory MacKay - The psychology of persuasion
Learn the persuasion techniques from the 3 professions that use them best (yet maybe not in the most savoury way): Sales people, con artists and politicians. Now go use these techniques for good!
Sean Blanda - The Other Side is not Dumb
What if we assumed that the other side also has their reasons for acting the way they do. Valid reasons. “We cannot consider ourselves ‘empathetic’ only to turn around and belittle those that don’t agree with us.” Our reactions to the Brexit anyone? If you can’t make their point for them, you don’t truly grasp the issue. (thanks Arnout for the find)
Matthew Stewart - The Management Myth
A rant of a trained philosopher and former consultant on MBA’s and Management ‘Science’. In a somewhat bitter way philosophers can, he lays bare the flaws in the science. I think the lesson is to check what the models or conclusions are based on. And to use it for what it’s worth
Ryan Holiday - Ego is the Enemy
This sincere admittance of his own ego is the most moving book presentation I’ve ever seen.
Viljami Salminen - Typography for User Interfaces
So, I’m a bit of nerd when it comes to some things. I take great interest in things that have little use to me in everyday life. Like typography (even though it can safe your life). I really liked this piece on the right way to use typography; focusing on its practical implications.
Seth Godin - Stop Stealing Dreams
Schools teach obedience. Learning becomes work. And when it’s work, it's natural to try to figure out how to do less of it. “Will this be on the test?“ When it's art, you don't. Great look ahead of how education will change the coming years.
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - Sonder
A dictionary filled with words that don’t exist but maybe should. A favourite: Sonder. Meaning the realisation that everyone is living their story from their perspective. With their own world views and truths. In which we are just extra’s. So grant. And so confusing! No wonder we have need to simplify and find order.
Aeon - The empty brain
An entire field of Cognitive Science based on one false premise: The brain doesn’t work like a computer. It doesn’t process information. Yet the whole field works with this metaphor. But the metaphor is simply the most current one we have for it (especially funny are the previous ones). Curious what the next one will become.
Vox - Rapping, deconstructed: The best rhymers of all time
I like Vox. And I like hiphop. So, no surprise I really liked their reconstruction of rap and how the greatest rhyme. Very well done visualization of different rhymes to show the evolution of the craft. Very fun watch that’ll give you new admiration for these artists.
Mark Manson - The Virtue of Doubt
As a doubter, I’m of course naturally drawn to the title of this article. I like the term “super belief”: A belief that is always true and re-enforces itself. Besides that these beliefs somewhat annoy me, Mark posits that they’re actually dangerous. So keep on doubting! Whether this all is true or not, I don’t know yet.
HBR - What you’re hiding from when you constantly check your phone
A split second of time without something to do. Bam. Need. Phone. Now! Just a mechanism to hide from the moment. Hiding from the uncomfortable unease, sadness or pain that may be there. But maybe we can reframe this addiction. View it a practice to become better at focussing. Notice the unease. And sit with it for a second. You’ll train your focus muscle that is great for creativity. And you’ll feel better for it.
Turning the tables on procrastination with these 20 tactics
We’ve all been there. We know we should be working on this project. We know we should start writing this paper. But! We want to check our email or Facebook. Or we suddenly want to clean the house. And don’t get me started on YouTube. In this blog I'll give 20 tactics to turn the table and get to work.
A Story about the Power of Questions
”You can eat an apple”, I said and gave him the green fruit.
It was as if he had seen an apple for the first time.
First he just held it there and smelled it, but then he took a little bite.
”Mum - mum”, he said and took a bigger bite.
”Did it taste good?” I asked.
He bowed deeply.