Most advice I’ve heard for improving social skills falls into one of a few categories. First, there are trite suggestions like, “be yourself”, which are at best feel-good platitudes and at worst, gross simplifications. Although this advice may be correct, it isn’t practical. Next, there is the advice to improving your character. Be honest, loyal […]
Social Skills and Dancing for Dummies
I see two opposite camps when it comes to social skills. One is the highly analytical camp that breaks down social behaviors into mechanics and patterns. Although this is often associated with the seduction community, I’m referring to it in the realm of general social skills. The other camp is the “be yourself” crowd that […]
Want to Eat Healthier? Learn to Cook.
Two weeks ago, I bought several new cooking appliances for the first time. Until this point I have only had moderate cooking skills, but I felt it was time to stop short-changing myself and make genuine meals. One of the pleasant surprises I’ve had since I started cooking was that it is far easier to […]
Be Unique, Be an Uber-Geek
Two weeks ago I wrote about the virtue of being a geek. I explained that it wasn’t enough to be good at something, or be passionate about it. What really mattered was finding those peculiar areas that you were good at, interested in and most people didn’t care about. These are the areas where competition […]
I'm a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, podcast host, computer programmer and an avid reader. Since 2006, I've published weekly essays on this website to help people like you learn and think better. My work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, TEDx, Pocket, Business Insider and more. I don't promise I have all the answers, just a place to start.