A Quick Q&A With A Mastermind… “How To Think Like Maria Konnikova”

 

If you haven’t heard the name Maria Konnikova, you haven’t been paying attention. Maria Konnikova is an accomplished psychologist, journalist and author of the highly acclaimed book Mastermind: How To Think Like Sherlock Holmes. This brilliant book combines neuroscience and psychology to explore Holmes’s unique methods of mindfulness, astute observation, and logical deduction.  This is a must read for anyone visiting this blog.

Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Paris Review, the New Republic, and the Wall Street Journal. On top of that Maria also writes the splendid weekly “Literally Psyched” column for Scientific American. She may very well be one of the most interesting people around today. 

It is for that very reason that I couldn’t resist seizing the opportunity to ask Mrs. Konnikova a few questions.  Her book alone is in itself one of the most brilliant bits of thinking I’ve seen in quite a while. While different Mentalists specialize in various things, my focus has always been on the psychological aspects, namely human behavior.  Reading people and deductive reasoning are specialties of mine so a book marrying the psychology and the mind of Sherlock Holmes thrills me to no end. Let’s jump right in:

“How To Think Like Maria Konnikova”

Your autobiographical blog posts are may I say, moving and eloquent –  I walk away from them thirsty for a full scale book – any chance?

Perhaps at some point—though not likely soon. I can see incorporating autobiographical elements into other books, but a full-on memoir? I don’t think I’ve lived enough for that.

Haha, fair enough. So would you think it logical next to write a book about what you term “Watsonian  Thinking”?

I don’t really think so. I’ve said basically everything I’ve wanted to say about it within the confines of Mastermind. It serves as part of the dual-thought framework that needs Holmes as its trusty counterpart.

Understandable and very well said, can you give one or two illustrations of “mindful thinking” enhancing your own life?

The greatest benefit I’ve seen of mindfulness in my own life is within my writing. I never before realized how often I multitasked while working on something, how frequently I stopped observing and indulged instead in a self-distracting frenzy. Now, I’m much more aware of that. My writing has become more focused as a result – and I’ve become more productive.

A lesson we can all learn from indeed. Is it logical to write a book at some stage about Conan Doyle, who,  clearly, could think like both Holmes and Watson?

Yes, I think it’s very logical for someone to undertake that project. I don’t think, however, that the someone will be I. I don’t think I will be returning to this particular theme for quite some time. Live long enough with a topic, and you stop seeing it with the requisite perspective.

Very true, and your plate is very full at the present! Next question, we share similar childhood obstacles – and similar success in  overcoming them (as much as one can) to an uncanny extent – do you  find those early experiences still have impact in adulthood?

Oh, of course. I think my childhood experience played a big part in making me the person I am today. My love of language, my choice of career, my appreciation of all of the options that I have open to me—and the sacrifices my family made to make that possible—it all comes from my childhood.

That I can certainly identify with! Without giving anything away (you’re working on a fiction book)  would you ever write a detective novel?

I don’t know. It’s not really how my mind works—though I wish it were. Perhaps some day, I’ll find a detective novel within me. But for now, my fiction is decidedly un-detective-novel-esque.

lol, well I certainly look forward to reading whatever you put forth. A recent interviewer commented that your books seem to be your best  friends – who are your favorite authors, fiction and non-fiction?

There are really too many to name, but in no particular order, my absolute favorites are Fitzgerald, Auden, Nabokov, Hemingway, Brodsky, and Bulgakov. Dostoevky comes in close after that. And I couldn’t live without my other favorite Russian poets: Akhmatova, Tsvetaeva, Mandelstam. I realize I shouldn’t say this as someone who writes non-fiction, but I don’t tend to read much of it. My favorite non fiction writers also happen to be my favorite fiction writers: Auden and Brodsky. Their non-fiction essays have changed my life.

Quite the brilliant palate there! So back to Holmes, have you seen film/TV versions of Holmes – which do you think is best?  Which are favorites?

Most of them are great in their own way, but I must admit an affinity to the two most recent incarnations, Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. They both capture the spirit of Holmes remarkably well. And they are young. We tend to forget just how young Holmes was at the beginning of the canon.

Indeed. How do you respond to this statement? –at your core you are more  writer than psychologist.

Agree, a hundred percent. That is always how I have seen myself.

Interesting, and lastly are you known/published in your native country of Russia? Is that  important to you?

I am not very well known at all, that I am aware of, but some of my pieces have been translated into Russian for the Russian press. And Mastermind will be published in Russian, as well. That’s exciting to me. I’d love for people there to know who I am.

 I’m sure anyone who doesn’t will soon enough. I suspect you’ll be a huge success wherever your work is available. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these few questions, I know you’re a very busy woman these days. Good luck to you in all your endeavors Maria!

You’re very welcome and thanks so much for having me!

Find out more about Maria Konnikova and her wonderful new book:
www.mariakonnikova.com/
Amazon.com: Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes …
Maria Konnikova (mkonnikova) on Twitter
Literally Psyched – Scientific American Blog Network
Maria Konnikova on How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes – YouTube

 

A quick special thanks to Ray Wilcockson for his always brilliant thoughts and input…

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Joe’s book (raising funds for Save Undershaw) ‘The Real Sherlock Holmes’ is available at all good bookstores including Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and in all formats including Amazon Kindle and now on the iPad too. Fans outside the US and UK can get free delivery from Book Depository