(no subject)
Last night I finished reading The Know-It-All by A.J. Jacobs, a book about his year long quest to read the entire encyclopedia. I'd recommend. It's funny, insightful, and stangely interesting. In the end he writes about what he learned and I thought I'd share because it's stayed with me and that's rare. So here goes:
I know that everything is connected like a world wide version of the six-degrees-of-separation game. I know that history is simultaneously a bloody mess and a collection of feats so inspiring and amazing that they make you proud to share the same DNA structure with the rest of humanity. I know you better focus on the good stuff or you’re screwed.
I know that the race does not go to the swift, nor the bread to the wise, so you should soak up what enjoyment you can. I know not to take cinnamon for granted. I know that morality lies in even the smallest decisions, like whether to pick up and throw away a napkin.
I know first hand the oceanic volume of information in the world. I know that I know very little of that ocean. I know that knowledge and intelligence are not the same thing-but they do live in the same neighborhood. I know once again, firsthand, the joy of learning.
I know that everything is connected like a world wide version of the six-degrees-of-separation game. I know that history is simultaneously a bloody mess and a collection of feats so inspiring and amazing that they make you proud to share the same DNA structure with the rest of humanity. I know you better focus on the good stuff or you’re screwed.
I know that the race does not go to the swift, nor the bread to the wise, so you should soak up what enjoyment you can. I know not to take cinnamon for granted. I know that morality lies in even the smallest decisions, like whether to pick up and throw away a napkin.
I know first hand the oceanic volume of information in the world. I know that I know very little of that ocean. I know that knowledge and intelligence are not the same thing-but they do live in the same neighborhood. I know once again, firsthand, the joy of learning.