enough of the cautionary tales
"Now why are you reading the encyclopedia again?"
"I'm trying to become the smartest man in the world,"
"And how are you defining intelligence? Just as the amount of information you have?"
"Yup."
"Well, that's not very intelligent,"
"Well, I haven't gotten to the letter I."
It's an easy response, but there's something to it. I'm not so deluded that I think I'll gain one IQ point for every thousand pages. I don't honestly think that the folks from the MacArthur genius grant will be kicking down my door. But I also believe that there is some link between knowledge and intelligence. Maybe knowledge is fuel and intelligence is the car? Maybe facts are the flying buttresses and intelligence is the cathedral? I don't know the exact relation. But I'm sure the Britannica, somewhere in those 44 million words, will help me figure it out.
------- the Know-It-All
One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World-------
A.J. Jacobs has produced the most consuming, heartfelt, hysterical book I've read all year. After this, I think I'm sticking with more non-fiction. Like that amazing book about the elusive giant squid. Good stuff, seriously.
This week is going to leave me black and blue. Best bruises possible, but Boston is kicking the shit out of me, proper. If I can get at least an hour of continuous sleep tonight I'll praise Jesus. And I think I'm going to try for Manhattan this weekend? I need NYC pumping some new, warm blood into my system, or at least enough to get my heart beating right so I'll survive the winter.
I might have to retire my self-appointed title, "the Most Cynical Person in the World." And if I never reach optimism, at least this is a better place. I think I'm finally learning something about living.
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"I'm trying to become the smartest man in the world,"
"And how are you defining intelligence? Just as the amount of information you have?"
"Yup."
"Well, that's not very intelligent,"
"Well, I haven't gotten to the letter I."
It's an easy response, but there's something to it. I'm not so deluded that I think I'll gain one IQ point for every thousand pages. I don't honestly think that the folks from the MacArthur genius grant will be kicking down my door. But I also believe that there is some link between knowledge and intelligence. Maybe knowledge is fuel and intelligence is the car? Maybe facts are the flying buttresses and intelligence is the cathedral? I don't know the exact relation. But I'm sure the Britannica, somewhere in those 44 million words, will help me figure it out.
------- the Know-It-All
One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World-------
A.J. Jacobs has produced the most consuming, heartfelt, hysterical book I've read all year. After this, I think I'm sticking with more non-fiction. Like that amazing book about the elusive giant squid. Good stuff, seriously.
This week is going to leave me black and blue. Best bruises possible, but Boston is kicking the shit out of me, proper. If I can get at least an hour of continuous sleep tonight I'll praise Jesus. And I think I'm going to try for Manhattan this weekend? I need NYC pumping some new, warm blood into my system, or at least enough to get my heart beating right so I'll survive the winter.
I might have to retire my self-appointed title, "the Most Cynical Person in the World." And if I never reach optimism, at least this is a better place. I think I'm finally learning something about living.
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