The Great Mental Models, Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology

by Shane Parrish

When you see someone doing something that doesn’t make sense to you, ask yourself what the world would have to look like to you for those actions to make sense.

We must not forget that when radium was discovered no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science. And this is a proof that scientific work must not be considered from the point of view of the direct usefulness of it. It must be done for itself, for the beauty of science, and then there is always the chance that a scientific discovery may become like the radium a benefit for humanity. » Marie Curie28

However, any claims that they also increase collaboration and reduce information silos tend not to be substantiated by research, which means that they actually are likely to increase costs in the long term. For example, face-to-face interactions decrease by as much as 70%, with more emails, messages, and other forms of digital communication making up the difference.

Experience doesn’t become learning without reflection, and reflection is an energy expenditure.

While most people assume that experience is the key to learning, the key is actually reflection. Journaling works because it prompts reflection.