The Peter Principle: How to Overcome the Perils of Promotions
A reflection on the Peter Principle, a semi-satirical explanation for incompetence in the workplace. There’s only one way to overcome it.
Steelmanning: How to Find the Truth by Helping Your Opponent
Tackle the steelmanning challenge, a three-step method to win arguments by helping your opponent. Its only downside: Nobody will ever take it.
13 Quotes on Uncertainty: How to Cope With the Unknown
A collection of thought-provoking quotes on uncertainty and the numerous ways to deal with what we don’t know.
Black Swan Theory: How to Predict the Unpredictable
An exploration of Black Swan Theory from the perspectives of an intel analyst, a master negotiator and former risk analyst Nassim Taleb.
Hard and Soft Power: Why You’re More Powerful Than You Think
A reflection on Joseph S. Nye’s concepts of hard and soft power in world politics. How can we use them to gauge our own influence?
Linguistic Oddities: 9 Peculiar Phenomena of the English Language
A listicle of nine linguistic oddities. Brain teasers that bend the rules of language for our entertainment – or confusion?
Graham’s Hierarchy of Disagreement: How to Argue Like an Expert
Join me in revisiting Paul Graham’s Hierarchy of Disagreement. Can it help us survive Twitter? And is name-calling ever okay?
Dukkha Bias: Why Nothing Is Ever Good Enough to Be Published
My reflection on Dukkha Bias, an idea coined by podcaster Chris Williamson. What makes our minds so good at unearthing flaws in our lives?
Deception Detection: How to Anticipate Deceit
A case study featuring the analytical method of Deception Detection applied to Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’. Can we outsmart Matt Damon?
How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty
An exploration of how to say ‘No’ without feeling guilty. Would I be wrong to assume this is a superpower you’d love to have?
The Science of Bullshit: 5 Notes on How to Deal With Nonsense
An exploration of the science of bullshit, a peculiar research field asking all the right questions. Can you bullshit a bullshitter?
The Boiling Frog: 5 Toxic Leadership Behaviours & Their Antidote
A reflection on five potentially toxic leadership behaviours that may be signs of a toxic workplace. How much slack should you cut your boss?
Strawmanning: How to Use the Fallacy to Your Advantage
A reflection on five ways we can reap the hidden benefits of strawmanning, a fallacy from the world of arguing and debating.
Problem Theft: How to Handle Other People’s Problems
A reflection on the counterproductive habit to steal other people’s problems. How can we be helpful without becoming kleptomaniacs?
Intuitive Traps: 5 Common But Hidden Barriers to Critical Thinking
A reflection on the top 5 intuitive traps, common but hidden barriers to critical thinking. What are they and how can we overcome them?
