Part Six of Thinking Better
Managing Inbound Info
Let’s start by laying out what I am not seeking to achieve:
I am not seeking to be informed (because daily info is nearly all noise).
I am not trying to “arm” myself to convince other people (they are wrong).
I am not worried about the stupidity of others (because I know my own stupidity is enough to keep me busy).
What I want to achieve is a system for making errors visible and identifying mistaken beliefs that can harm me, and my family.
Above is an interesting read on today’s topic.
Not because I agree with the book. Rather because the book contains stories we all know to be true and presents them in a completely different light.
What I took away was the impossibility of being certain.
I can be certain when I’ve discovered an error.
When I think I am correct… I need to maintain my humility and remember I’m fallible.
Thinking Better Recipe
Way back in Part Three of this Series… I laid out my recipe:
Quiet the noise
Headlines only
(Old) Books are better than news
Pay less attention
Infect a quiet mind with great ideas
That recipe takes a lot of effort.
Why?
Because we are wired to seek drama, entertainment and gossip. It’s a feature of every subculture of which I’ve been a member.
A Modified Funnel For Modern Times
A couple years ago, probably during the pandemic, Taleb went on a rant about the New York Times. I don’t remember the specific issue (I come across a lot of rants) but the episode left me with the impression that I should considering updating my “Headlines Only” policy. Taleb’s was upset because the headline in question was a blatant falsehood.
Remember the top of this article. I don’t want to spend my life battling stupidity on the internet, pointing out the mistakes of others or worrying about disinformation. The way I see it, all of these are different forms of the noise that Book Taleb pointed out in 2001.
Worth highlighting that point...
In noisy environments, we get better signal by paying less attention.
It’s a bit like watching TV with the volume off, which is another anecdote from one of Taleb’s books.
It turns out there was more than a single headline.
I started whittling down my sources of headlines. My news filter is boring. I think Book Taleb would approve.
What’s different in 2025 vs 2001 is I can follow people directly on X. This is amazing.
First and foremost because I can follow favorite practitioners in my fields of interest.
Next because I can eliminate the middleman.1
Finally, because I can weed out the clueless. It’s never been easier to spot someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about.
By the way, if you are not clueless then relentless engagement is a winning strategy - for your reputation and your audience.
You will get your story straight and deepen your knowledge by being questioned
Your reputation benefits as you build your library answering questions.
Your audience benefits by being able to access you and your library.
That was a long opener for the following funnel.
A tiny number of reliable, traditional news outlets for headlines.
An even smaller number of outlets to see the consensus view of the other side.2
Direct follows of practitioners working in areas that interest me.3
Direct follows of people who recommend good books.4
Active unfollowing and unsubscription.
The last point is the most important.
Make a habit of opting out of drama, anger and cluelessness.5
Just like endurance sport…
Simple, not easy.
One of my favorite follows is US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. 20 years ago, books were the only way to hear directly from people I was interested in.
Before the end of the last administration, there were a number of stories put into the public domain that would have been larger news items if released after the inauguration.
While most people’s memories are short, my habit of writing things into my journal helps make my observations more sticky.
When our minds are filled with noise, memory is impaired.
Practitioners, not pundits. Follow people who do.
Jim O’Shaughnessy is a favorite follow for new ideas and great books.
When someone (or some publication) shows you they are absolutely clueless in your domain. Remember it.
When you get fired up (by the stupidity of others), use the energy to create something useful.
Love the practitioners approach! And the reduction of noise (something I went full in since January this year)
Thanks for this. Been thinking about this article all week. Very helpful. Have passed it along to friends