We mistake prediction for understanding. In long-term relationships—romantic partnerships, friendships, family bonds—we develop the capacity to anticipate behavior with remarkable accuracy. We know what our partner will order at a restaurant, how our friend will react to bad news, which topics will trigger our sibling's defensiveness. This predictive skill creates a powerful illusion: that we … Continue reading The Illusion of Knowing: How Familiarity Masks the Opacity of Others
Category: essays
The Trap is the Point
At 22, Derek Sivers had $12,000 in the bank, paid $333 a month for a room in a Queens apartment with three roommates, never ate out, and kept his total expenses at $500 a month. He played music for $300 a show. Two gigs covered everything. He was free. Later he built a company and … Continue reading The Trap is the Point
