Polymath Playground Reopened
Back with Book Picks and thoughts on Polymath & Playground
Greetings, Polymath readers!
It’s been a while since my last post. I was called into the Army for reservice and military education for a week. I thought this would be a break from my mundane work but ended up becoming the final straw that threw me off track.
I attempted to get back on my feet, all in vain, until I began implementing Dr. Andrew Huberman’s daily routine recommendation: getting sunlight within one hour of waking up, along with NSDR (Non-sleep deep rest). I can’t recommend it enough—it really works.
The good news is, I’m back now and on the verge of completing my boat driving course, which is part of my 2023 Resolution. I haven’t forgotten the two series I plan to write about: WeeklyDAO & Payment Series. They continue to linger in my mind, but since this is my return post, I want to keep a light-touch approach by sharing my reflection on Polymath Playground.
First, Polymath. I have an interesting recommendation for Polymaths fluent in Chinese or Japanese. I recently started reading the book 通识：学问的门类/あらゆる学の歴史とつながりがわかる 学問のしくみ事典 (General Knowledge: Branches of Knowledge), penned by Japanese scientist 茂木健一郎 (Mogi Kenichirō). Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be an English edition. This book explores the history of human knowledge in pictorial timelines from the ancient civilizations to quantum physics and the Higgs boson, detailing significant luminaries, discoveries, and developments, offering concise introductions to each knowledge category.
Reading such comprehensive works is part of my journey as a polymath. For me, being a polymath serves two main purposes: intellectual satisfaction and fostering a problem-solving mindset. Learning from the works of other brilliant minds brings me tremendous satisfaction. However, I understand that some people may find such tasks burdensome and derive little joy from them.
Developing a polymath mindset can be beneficial even if you don’t derive intrinsic pleasure from learning across various disciplines. It equips you with a versatile toolbox to solve complex problems and make seemingly impossible decisions. “The Model Thinker” by Scott E. Page and Charlie Munger’s mental models illuminate these benefits.
Now let’s go back to “Playground.”
The risk of being a generalist or polymath is that we may become apprehensive about committing to one task and easily distracted. At worst, we risk becoming dilettantes juggling many interests without focusing on any, turning into tourists in many cities without delving into local culture, or perpetual beginners who never experience the flow of mastery.
These issues often stem from fear and anxiety, fueled by information overload and social competition. My antidote to this is embracing uncertainty and enjoying the learning process. This was inspired by Richard Feynman and Friedrich Nietzsche:
“You see, one thing is, I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it’s much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong... I might think about it a little bit and if I can’t figure it out, then I go on to something else, but I don’t have to know an answer, I don’t feel frightened by not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without having any purpose, which is the way it really is so far as I can tell.” —Richard Feynman
“Man’s maturity: to have regained the seriousness that he had as a child at play.”― Friedrich Nietzsche
It’s an artful balance - staying flexible and present, as serious as a child immersed in play, embracing the uncertainty without fear, embodying fearlessness and humility. That’s how children approach their games. Each game means the world to them, so they play seriously. Yet, they readily move on to something new and adventurous because yesterday’s failures or successes are fleeting. Adopting this attitude means keeping playing infinite games throughout life.
Polymath Playground is more than a place we enjoy ourselves in the process of learning and applying what we’ve learned. It’s a way of living—a principle that promotes an enduring sense of curiosity, fearless commitment to the present, and humility in face of uncertainty.
Stay safe and sharp,
Jason Lai
Disclaimer: Not legal advice. You can see the full disclaimer & disclosure here.
Credit: Based on my idea and draft, this post was reviewed and edited by GPT-4.