Off The Beaten Track

[H/T AMAANA] -- THEATLANTIC.COM -- I had never been religious. Far from it, I was a confirmed atheist.... I used to teach at a big land-grant university in the Midwest. In that capacity, I did what most professors do.... [But now] I think religion should be taught in college. I'm not talking about "religious studies," that is, the study of the phenomenon of religion. I'm talking about having imams, priests, pastors, rabbis, and other clerics teach the practice of their faiths. In college classrooms. To college students. For credit.... And I'm going to tell you why. ...

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THEGUARDIAN.COM -- One of the sneakier pitfalls of an efficiency-based attitude to time is we start to feel pressured to use our leisure time "productively", too ... Travelling to unfamiliar places not for the sheer experience of travel, but in order to add to our mental storehouse of experiences ... In his 1962 book The Decline of Pleasure, Walter Kerr noticed this shift in our experience of time: "We are all of us compelled to read for profit, party for contracts, lunch for contacts ... and stay home for the weekend to rebuild the house." ...

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NYTIMES.COM -- New research also shows that academia has itself stopped short in both the understanding and practice of true diversity: the diversity of ideas ... A team of scholars from six universities studying ideological diversity in the behavioral sciences detail a shocking level of political groupthink in academia: for every politically conservative social psychologist in academia there are about 14 liberal social psychologists.... Improving ideological diversity is not a fundamentally political undertaking. Rather, it is a question of humility.... Having people around who think differently thus improves not only science, but also character. ...

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QUILLETTE.COM -- A common fear of 19th century thinkers, [was] the encroaching conformity of modern life: democratization, industrialization, the homogenization of opinion through the distribution of newspapers.... To resist requires many virtues, but above all the courage to dissent and the wisdom to innovate.... But as things stand, individuality is blunted just as the 19th century thinkers predicted it would be, and already was. Mill said of the best and brightest of his day that they "dare not follow out any bold, vigorous, independent train of thought ..." And here we are today, most grievously in our universities, where these trains of bold thought are lost ...

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OZANVAROL.COM -- Mimicking others isn't just an innocuous exercise. In so doing, we let ourselves off the hook. We tell ourselves that if we only had the right "tactic, routine, or habit" of a "world class performer," we'd be all set. Hence the recent Internet obsession with people's routines, as if the right routine were the only missing piece of an otherwise complete puzzle. We pretend that copying from success stories is an acceptable strategy, so we don't put in the hard work required to pave our own path. ...

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INTROVERTDEAR.COM -- Despite our distaste for the spotlight, introverts make up a good percentage of the artists, actors, musicians, entertainers, and writers of the world. Famous creative introverts include J.K. Rowling, Lady Gaga, Steven Spielberg, Dr. Seuss, Frederic Chopin, Harrison Ford, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elton John, Emma Watson, and SO MANY MORE.... Introverts can make just as powerful leaders as extroverts -- and sometimes even better ones. It's been reported that 40 percent of executives describe themselves as introverts, including Microsoft's Bill Gates. Other introvert leaders include Barack Obama, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Abraham Lincoln. ...

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AREOMAGAZINE.COM -- The kinds of political polarization we are seeing today have been detrimental to us all. Too often we assume our opponents have nothing to teach us, and we have thereby remained deaf to their wisdom. I don't believe we all need to agree. Political polarization can be useful, provided it encourages us to critically reflect upon our own assumptions, and produce persuasive and powerful counterarguments. It is therefore time we began listening to one another, if only to strengthen our own arguments. ...

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ISI.ORG -- INTERCOLLEGIATE REVIEW -- In 2009 [philosopher Thomas Nagel, a professor of long standing at New York University and the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including an honorary doctorate from Oxford University, fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities] selected "Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design" as a book of the year for the Times Literary Supplement.... After being denounced by one scientist for praising Meyer's book, Nagel dryly recommended that the scientist should "hold his nose and have a look at the book" before dismissing it. ...

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[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- MEDIUM.COM -- SRINIVAS RAO -- The Illusion of Productivity. "Whenever you recognize a task or project as completed, your brain releases a load of dopamine [that] makes you feel good but also motivates you to ... extend that pleasant feeling," says Francisco Saez. "The same process occurs when you use social media, even though you're not getting anything done." ... Satisfaction that Doesn't Last. Attention, instant applause, and the satisfaction they provide is always temporary. The only way to sustain it is to seek more. Post another selfie, compose another clever tweet ... Satisfaction is an insatiable beast that you have to keep feeding. ...

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[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- UNMISTAKABLECREATIVE.COM -- You can make something or criticize the people who do. Creators shape reality. Critics resign themselves to it. It's easier to be a critic because you don't have to put anything on the line. You don't have to risk rejection, criticism, and doubt. It's better to be the person who writes the book than the one who reads it. The path of least resistance is to be a critic. But the path of most reward is to be a creator. ...

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HIGHLYSENSITIVEREFUGE.COM -- Known as highly sensitive people (HSPs), these individuals are the 15% to 20% of the population who feel and experience things deeply. This comes with tremendous advantages, but it also means HSPs can get overstimulated and worn out very easily.... 1. "Sensitive" is about our nervous system (not just our feelings). Highly sensitive people are born with the gift of a high-performing nervous system.... 6. Don't tell an HSP to "toughen up." ...

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PSYCHOLOGYJUNKIE.COM -- Some misconceptions are relatively harmless. Other misconceptions have become so pronounced that we formulate ideas about people simply based on their I/E preference that are completely false and potentially damaging. In the past the US tended to have an "extrovert bias". Introverts were seen as lacking in social skills or shy. It hasn't been until recently that introversion has been celebrated. However, I believe the pendulum is now swinging too far to the other extreme. ...

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OZANVAROL.COM -- AngelList CEO Naval Ravikant had it right: "Desire is a contract you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want."... When we switch to a process-focused mindset, we condition ourselves to derive intrinsic value out of the activity. The process becomes its own reward. We get into a state of flow as the hypnotic power of process draws us in.... The amateur focuses on outcomes and expects immediate results. The professional plays the long game and prioritizes the process ...

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MEDIUM.COM -- The human will is undeniably powerful.... Merging a strong will with purpose creates a purposeful vision, clothed with honourable intentions. Many pioneers have achieved enormous success in spite of prevailing external circumstances. For example, Albert Einstein once stated: "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." Vision is the foresight to envisage an outcome without external proof. It is the ability to venture into the unknown -- an inner knowing beyond the call of reason.... Those with a strong will and undeniable purpose rise to reframe failure. ...

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QUILLETTE.COM -- "Actually Studies Show..." Chances are you've found yourself in a heated conversation among a group of friends, family, or colleagues when someone throws down the gauntlet: "Actually, studies show..." Some nod in silent agreement, others check their text messages, and finally someone changes the subject. It's hard to know what to say when people cite scientific studies to prove their point. ...

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FIRSTTHINGS.COM -- There's an ­unspoken rule in the pharmaceutical industry that half of all academic biomedical research will ultimately prove false, and in 2011 a group of researchers at Bayer decided to test it. Looking at sixty-seven recent drug discovery projects based on preclinical cancer biology research, they found that in more than 75 percent of cases the published data did not match up with their in-house attempts to replicate. These were not studies published in fly-by-night oncology journals, but blockbuster research featured in Science, Nature, Cell, and the like. ...

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MAYOOSHIN.COM -- After 20 years of collecting and studying 82,361 forecasts from experts, Tetlock came to a comical conclusion: the average expert ... "is not much better at predicting the future than a dart-throwing chimpanzee." ... Experts who had the most knowledge in this study were on average, the least reliable. Even after reviewing the results, they struggled to admit they were wrong. They were overconfident and held to their beliefs, regardless of any contradictory valid evidence.... Fortunately, there were a few experts who made good predictions. These experts had a different approach to decision-making, thinking and solving problems. ...

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OZANVAROL.COM -- Brilliant scientists -- on a regular basis -- fool themselves. We tend to think that we're above cognitive biases and subjective distortion.... As Tali Sharot explains in The Influential Mind summarizing the relevant research, "[t]he greater your cognitive capacity, the greater your ability to rationalize and interpret information at will, and to creatively twist data to fit your opinions." ... No one comes equipped with a critical-thinking chip that diminishes the human tendency to let personal beliefs distort the facts. ...

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TIME.COM -- Shyness and introversion are not the same thing. Shy people fear negative judgment, while introverts simply prefer less stimulation; shyness is inherently painful, and introversion is not. But in a society that prizes the bold and the outspoken, both are perceived as disadvantages.... According to the psychologist Elaine Aron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person, 70% of children with a careful temperament grow up to be introverts, meaning they prefer minimally stimulating environments. ...

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INTROVERTDEAR.COM -- You're confused by your kid. She's hesitant and reserved. Instead of diving in to play, she'd rather stand back and watch the other kids. She spends a lot of time alone in her bedroom. Her teachers say they wish she'd participate more in class. Her social life is limited to two people. Even weirder, she seems totally okay with that. Congratulations: You've got an introvert. ...

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[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- TED.COM -- [ISMAILI DIGEST ED: 54 million views and essential viewing for all."] ARTICLE: Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.... "Kids will take a chance. If they don't know, they'll have a go. They're not frightened of being wrong.... If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original.... And by the time they get to be adults, most kids have lost that capacity. They have become frightened of being wrong.... We stigmatize mistakes." ...

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[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- THECONTEMPORARYHOMESCHOOLER.COM -- More and more of Boston's smartest families are opting out of the education system to homeschool their children. Is this the new model for creating elite kids? ... Education expert Dr. Susan Berry states, "The high achievement level of homeschoolers is readily recognized by recruiters from some of the best colleges in the nation. Schools such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Stanford, and Duke University all actively recruit homeschoolers." ... In India, a homeschooled girl's entry into MIT has sparked great interest in homeschooling among education circles in the South Asian giant. ...

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[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- STANFORDMAG.ORG -- STANFORD UNIVERSITY -- [ISMAILI DIGEST ED: Though written in 2000, Stanford's focus on homeschoolers as expanded to most top tier universities.] ARTICLE: Among the nation's elite universities, Stanford has been one of the most eager to embrace homeschoolers.... So why is the University interested? Admission officers sum it up in two words: intellectual vitality.... Homeschoolers is one way to get more of those special minds, the admission office has discovered. "The distinguishing factor is intellectual vitality," says Reider [Senior Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission]. "These kids have it, and everything they do is responding to it." ...

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THEPOLYMATHPROJECT.COM -- In his book "The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload" NYT bestselling author and neuroscientist Daniel Levitin argues that multitasking is even worse for us (cognitively... I don't know about socially) than smoking pot ... "Asking the brain to shift attention from one activity to another causes the prefrontal cortex and striatum to burn up oxygenated glucose, the same fuel they need to stay on task." ...

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THEPOLYMATHPROJECT.COM -- Contrary to what I learned in school, no educated person in 1492 [when Columbus sailed to North America] believed that the earth was flat.... Or, as historian J. B. Russel puts it, "... with extraordinary few exceptions no educated person in the history of Western Civilization from the third century B.C. onward believed that the earth was flat.... Historians of science have been proving this point for at least 70 years ..." The fact that the story survives until today suggests that there is something more at stake here than "mere history." ...

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[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- QUILLETTE.COM -- [ISMAILI DIGEST ED: In 2002, Hazar Imam said "I have been amazed and thrilled frankly, at the capacities of even the completely illiterate populations, to express themselves about the correct priority that should be addressed. And if you follow their agenda, nine times out of ten, you'll get it right!"] ARTICLE: In his book Intellectuals and Society, Thomas Sowell calls "mundane knowledge" the local, everyday facts that ordinary people know about their own circumstances ... A huge quantity of detailed and specific knowledge which no small group of experts could ever hope to learn. ...

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QUILLETTE.COM -- People value expertise in closed systems, but distrust expertise in open systems.... Engineers, surgeons, pilots, are 'trusted' experts operating in closed systems.... Open systems are those that are 'exposed to the elements,' ... The economy, climate and politics are open systems. No matter how much you know, there is not only always more to know, but also an utterly unpredictable slide towards chaos as these things interact.... The erosion of trust in expertise has arisen exclusively from experts in open systems. ...

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TED.COM -- Writer and artist James Bridle uncovers a dark, strange corner of the internet, where unknown people or groups "on YouTube hack the brains of young children in return for advertising revenue." ... "And there's so much weirdness in the system now that autoplay takes you to some pretty strange places. This is how, within a dozen steps, you can go from a cute video of a counting train to masturbating Mickey Mouse. Yeah. I'm sorry about that." ... "If you take one thing away from this, it's that if you have small children, keep them the hell away from YouTube." ...

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THEFEDERALIST.COM -- Expressways, neon lights, and concrete slabs might have a thing or two in common with our rising digital wasteland, littered with ads and pointless content.... As with the monotony of the highway strip, the Facebook feed leaves one's consciousness ebbing away, replaced by a kind of hypnosis leavened only by a vague discomfort. You are left wondering: Why does this exist? ...

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QUIETREV.COM -- In her book "Quiet Kids: Help Your Introverted Child Succeed in an Extroverted World," Christine Fonseca explains that introverts prefer to use a different neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Like dopamine, acetylcholine is also linked to pleasure; the difference is, acetylcholine makes us feel good when we turn inward. It powers our abilities to think deeply, reflect, and focus intensely on just one thing for a long period of time. It also helps explain why introverts like calm environments ...

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ALJAZEERA.COM -- Women in Saadat Shahr have even sold their jewellery to help science teacher Asghar Kabiri realise his dream of building an observatory.... Most of Iran's astronomers are the faces of the future: they have an average age of 19 and are 60% female, Tafreshi said ... "In the United States most astronomers are middle-aged and very few are women," Simmons said. ...

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SCIENTIFICAMERICAN.COM -- From the thermometer's invention onward, physicians have feared -- incorrectly -- that new technology would make their jobs obsolete. I want to tell you about a brouhaha in my field over a "new" medical discipline three hundred years ago. Half my fellow doctors thought it weighed them down and wanted nothing to do with it. The other half celebrated it ...

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TEDSUMMARIES.COM -- TEDX ORANGE COAST -- Dr. Daniel Amen speaks about the intersection of medical imaging and psychiatry. He and his colleagues have been using brain SPECT imaging: A tool used to help psychiatrists understand more about imaging. For the past 22 years they've built the largest database of brain scans related to behavior. Shockingly, psychiatrists are the only medical specialists that ...

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NYTIMES.COM -- Technologists know how phones really work, and many have decided they don't want their own children anywhere near them. Tim Cook, the C.E.O. of Apple, said earlier this year that he would not let his nephew join social networks. Bill Gates banned cellphones until his children were teenagers, and Melinda Gates wrote that she wished they had waited even longer. Steve Jobs would not let his young children near iPads. ...

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