To some degree it’s like learning history.

When you first read history, it’s just a whirl of names and dates. Nothing appears to stick. Nevertheless the more you learn, the more hooks you’ve got for brand new facts to stick onto– and that means you accumulate knowledge at what’s colloquially called an exponential rate. Once you remember that Normans conquered England in 1066, it will probably catch your attention when you hear that other Normans conquered southern Italy at concerning the time that is same. Which could make you wonder about Normandy, and be aware when a third book mentions that Normans were not, similar to of what is now called France, tribes that flowed in given that Roman empire collapsed, but Vikings (norman = north man) who arrived four centuries later in 911. Which makes it more straightforward to keep in mind that Dublin was also established by Vikings in the 840s. Etc, etc squared.

Collecting surprises is a process that is similar.

The greater anomalies you have seen, the greater amount of easily you’ll notice ones that are new. This means, oddly enough, that as you get older, life should be more and much more surprising. I used to think adults had it all figured out when I was a kid. It was had by me backwards. Kids are the ones that have it all figured out. They’re just mistaken.

When it comes to surprises, the rich get richer. But (much like wealth) there could be habits of mind which will help the procedure along. It’s good to possess a practice of asking questions, especially questions starting with Why. Yet not in the way that is random three year olds ask why. You will find an number that is infinite of. How can you get the fruitful ones?

I find it especially helpful to ask why about things that seem wrong. Read more