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Showing posts from July, 2020

The four levels of reading

1. Excerpt Good words resonate. When that happens, we are deeply moved. However, when was asked "What does this chapter say?", many people's mind get lost. "Well, it's about religion/education/war..." OMG 2. Summary In addition to flashing words and sentences, this level has been able to quickly identify the central point of the article. At this level, the book is understood. However, when was asked "What did you learn from this book?", many people's mind get lost again. "What did I learn? Well, I'm not sure." 3. Study In this level, you can clearly compare the content of the book with your own knowledge system and incorporate it into your own perception. In this way, the book will not be easily forgotten. However, a few years later, if you ask him/her: "Two years ago, you mentioned that book was very good and you learned a lot from it. What do you think the content of that book has had on you in the past two years?" &qu

Book: 20200705 to 20200724, "Asking the Right Questions" by Neil Browne

"Asking the Right Questions-A Guide to Critical Thinking" 20200705 - 1. Asking the right questions: advantages, approaches and right techniques This chapter is the introduction of this book. Critical thinking is not easy. We need the right attitude, approaches and techniques. One of the reason that people don't agree with each other, is because they have different priority about their "values". So, quite often there is no correct answer. We have to wait for long time to see the result. I think this book basically tells us how to go through illusion and see the real world, by asking correct questions. That helps us to improve our perception. 20200706 - 2. Critical thinking: hindrances and intrusions Slow down. We need to minimize fast thinking, and maximize slow thinking. With the help of routine, in many cases we can remove "thinking" completely. Of course, we need slow thinking to set up best routine. The best way to avoid those hindrances and intru

Book: 20200620 to 20200704, "Stillness Is the Key" by Ryan Holiday

20200620 - Preface and Introduction "Stillness" is another name of "now" or "meditation". I think this book is the sister book of "The Power of Now" "To hold the mind still is an enormous discipline, one which must be faced with the greatest commitment of your life."(p7) --- Sounds right. PART I: MIND 20200621 - The domain of the mind Don't really agree with this chapter. I think Ryan exaggerated the power of stillness. What if Kennedy didn't read the book "The Guns of August"? I think reading is the critical factor that let Kennedy making right decision during the 2 week Cuba missile crisis time in 1962. Stillness let Kennedy to be the best of himself. What if I can keep in stillness while reading and even daily life? Will I learn much faster, and doing much better job? Together with time (compound rate), this will change our fate drastically. 20200621 - Become present What's the difference between meditation and