Review - Information Anxiety 2
by Richard Saul Wurman
"Learning is remembering what we're interested in."
That's the lead theme in this thought-provoking potpourri of ideas for dealing with the deluge of information we are subjected to in modern life, and choosing how to live rewarding lives.
Wurman is probably best known for his TED confernces on technology, entertainment and design.
"A weekday edition of The New York Times contains more information than the average person was likely to come across in a lifetime in 17th-century England."
How do we deal with this and live meaningful lives? Wurman collects thoughts on business, education, learning, communication, and personal growth, and presents it in an easily digestible manner.
An important step in gaining control is "to be able to admit when you don't understand something."
Wurman pokes holes into objectivity and facts: "A fact can be comprehended only within the context of an idea. And ideas are irrevocably subjective, which makes facts just as subjective.... The key to understanding is to accept that any account of an event is bound to be subjective, no matter how committed the recounter is to being accurate and objective."
Questioning everything is key to understanding. "Life is all about questions. If you stop asking, you stop living."
It comes down to designing your life. "Confidence in your own understanding, acceptance of your ignorance, and determination to pursue your interests are the weapons against anxiety."
Posted by Paul at December 21, 2004 02:56 PM