Ryan Holiday’s Cancelled Talk

Recently Ryan Holiday had his talk at the US Naval Academy cancelled which means that we’re really looking at the Streisand effect where his talk is going to get far more coverage than it would of presented to a small group of Navy recruits.

This talk is about wisdom, here are a few highlights I was drawn to.

• You can figure it out on your own or talk to someone with the same shared experiences
  • unfortunately, far too many think they can do it better if they figure it out on their own that they know better than anyone who went before
• Learning is not always fun
  • in fact, it should challenge us to be better versions of ourselves and to grow, which isn’t fun it’s hard work
• Reading is a superpower
  • you get a compact edited version of knowledge at a such a low cost it’s laughable
• you change so rereading a book is like reading a new book
• read dangerously
  • because you can’t combat something you don’t understand
  • I think society lately has swung a bit to far towards political correctness and shutting down ideas
  • The Death of Expertise speaks to this
• and here is why the talk was cancelled, criticism of books being removed from the Naval Academy Library at the direction of the US Government
  • they are trying to push out any idea that may be dangerous to “Christian” white people
• if the history you’re reading doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable, you’re not reading history
  • those that have come before us have done terrible things, along with good things. We should be willing to engage with both ends of the spectrum so that we can do better
• just because something has been around as common “wisdom” for a long time doesn’t mean it’s not bullshit, maybe it’s just old bullshit

Digital Gardens Thinking in Process

This was also a great podcast today talking about not just polished writing but thinking in progress being available in digital gardens. What does discovery look like? Where are you seeking out ideas that challenge you? Do you have an opportunity to interact with those that disagree with you and, as we read last month, when do we Think Again.

Shutting up as a super power

I have never come out of a situation where I was negative to or about someone else and felt better. Any time I have been disdainful of another person has ended with me wishing I had kept my mouth shut. Turns out that hurting people, even when I think I’m right, even if they “hurt me first”, just makes me feel worse, and made their life worse in the process. It has never changed their mind about the thing meaning “whatever I disagree with in their conduct”, it only changed their opinion of me, and rightly so. – The Life-Changing Power of Shutting Up

I applaud Nate for recognising that maybe he should work to understand why someone thinks the way they do instead of just “dunking” on them.