Books, ideas, and learning
Why Every College Student Should Think Like a Boxer (Even If You Never Step in the Ring)
Here are some strategies I took from my boxing career and applied to earning a physics degree, learning Spanish, and playing chess.
What is Earthing—The Science of How Grounding Works
I explain the science of earthing, a.k.a. “grounding” and why I’m using it to get an edge in boxing. I explain the mechanism of action behind grounding and review the research, so you can see that grounding mats and ground sheets really work.
The Neuroscience of Risk: Why Humans Are Drawn to High-Stakes Decisions
Discover the neuroscience behind why humans are drawn to risk. From dopamine to decision-making, explore how our brains are wired for thrill, uncertainty, and high-stakes rewards.
13 beautifully simple physics ideas to help you understand human behavior
These are 13 ideas from physics that predict human behavior. My physics education helped me gain a deeper understanding of the world and the universe.
Learn anything fast with this boxing training technique I used to learn physics
Discover how I went from failing high school to getting a degree in physics, all by learning how to box.
The echo chamber of social media
Social media echo chambers emerge when algorithms amplify confirmation bias, creating filter bubbles that limit exposure to opposing views. These algorithmic chambers intensify on platforms like Facebook and Twitter/X, where engagement-driven content leads to intellectual isolation, making thinking more extreme. The solution lies in seeking diverse perspectives offline and online.
Learn How Musashi’s Dokkodo Taught To Conquer My Fears and Control My Emotions
Learn emotional control from legendary samurai Musashi’s Dokkodo: Accept reality, embrace discomfort, ignore others’ opinions, and live by a code of honor. Battle-tested wisdom for modern stress management.
A 400-Year-Old Book Changed How I Learn Everything | Miyamoto Musashi’s Learning Strategy
In this essay, I’ll be covering the six key ideas from The Book of Five Rings, how you can use those learn and accomplish anything you want, and if you stick around to the end, I’ll tell you the one thing you need to have gained a massive advantage in any endeavor that I think even the great Musashi missed.
What everyone is missing about The Art of War
See how the concepts from the Art of War can help you adapt to changing circumstances, prepare for unexpected encounters, know yourself better, and strategically control information.
Developing foreign language skills
What follows are methods I’ve discovered and used to improve in all of these areas, which have, in turn, made it even easier to use and learn the language.
The Entropy Of Social Media
Finding order within the digital chaos of social media is akin to desiring clarity amid a storm. But it is possible. Here’s how.
38 Quotes from Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality
38 Mamba Mentality Quotes on learning, dealing with pressure, work ethic, relating to people, and developing an indomitable will
4 Reasons not to major in physics
I love my physics degree and how it modified my thinking. With that said, here’s why you shouldn’t major in physics from someone who’s done it.
Robert Anton Wilson quotes on politics, disinformation, & conspiracy
Despite being written in 1984, Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson has some solid predictions about the next 30 years that are startlingly accurate.
Important quotes and big ideas from George Orwell’s “1984”
Some people say that 2022 is more like the world of George Orwell’s “1984.” I read the book and collected quotes so you can see for yourself.
Why is calculus hard?
I failed calculus three times. On the 4th try, it clicked. I now have a BA in physics and a minor in math. Here’s how I finally learned calculus.
Quotes from Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search For Meaning”
In Man’s Search For Meaning, Viktor Frankl teaches from his experiences surviving the Nazi Concentration. Here are the powerful quotes.
My Chess.com Chess Improvement Plan
This is a plan that I’ll be implementing to improve my rating on Chess.com in the rapid and daily games. Not for OTB but could work.
Miyamoto Musashi’s Dokkodo: 21 Stoic rules for life
In this post, I’ll find modern meaning and interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi’s short classic “Dokkodo”.
How to learn calculus (even if you’re bad at math)
I failed calculus three times. On the 4th try, it clicked. I now have a BA in physics and a minor in math. Here’s how I finally learned calculus.
How to do betting odds work
Betting odds look perplexing to most people who are not involved in the sports betting or gambling scene. However, they are actually quite simple.
7 ways to improve numeracy skills
This is bigger than just being good at math. Numbers are essential to life. Learn how to improve your numeracy skills in this lesson.
Quotes and big ideas from Niccolò Machiavelli’s “The Prince”
I’ve collected the big ideas from Machiavelli’s classic treatise on political philosophy and political theory. These are pragmatic ideas to seize power.
The Tao Te Ching: 19 quotes and big ideas
The Tao Te Ching teaches how to live according to the “Tao” or “The way”. Here are some of the passages from the book that will truly open your mind.
The Tao of Jeet Kune Do: 21 quotes & 6 big ideas
These are the quotes and big ideas I’ve collected from Bruce Lee’s “The Tao of Jeet Kune Do”, with explanation and extrapolation.
What the Art of War teaches about life
The Art of War is a Chinese military classic with many lessons that apply today. In this post, I cover 10 lessons with modern applications.
The 5 most important qualities of a good teacher
Being a great teacher boils down to 5 non-negotiable qualities. From my experience teaching and watching other teachers, I present them to you here.
12 great quotes from Annie Duke’s “Thinking in Bets”
Here are 12 great quotes from “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts” by former professional poker player Annie Duke.
12 reasons why math is important (and how to get better)
If one of these reasons to learn math motivates you to be a better student or makes your job as a teacher easier, then this list has done its job,
“Klandestine Relationships” by Daryl Davis: 12 lessons
Daryl Davis is a Black man who has friends in the Ku Klux Klan. He wrote about his experiences. This post explores the big ideas he discusses.
Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America quotes
Accidental Courtesy follows Daryl Davis, a black jazz musician, who befriends members of the Ku Klux Klan in hopes of converting them and stopping hate.
8 unexpected reasons why math is so hard
Math can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Part of making it easier is to understand why it’s challenging in the first place. This post explains it all.
The Cure For Hate: Best quotes and big ideas
The Cure For Hate tells the story of Tony McAleer as he goes from Neo-Nazi to becoming a voice for peace and unity, and everything he learns along the way.
The Hagakure: 10 best quotes and ideas
The Hagakure: The Book of The Samurai was written in the 1700s by Yamamoto Tsunetomo as a guide for samurai. These are the 10 best quotes and ideas from it.
The Book Of Five Rings: 10 Best Quotes And Ideas
The Book of Five Rings is almost 400 years old, but its lessons are timeless. I’ve collected the ten best quotes and ideas that you can apply today.
The 3 biggest reasons why people complain
The problem with complaining is that it makes you focus on the problem rather than the solution. Learn how to fix this fatal flaw.
6 powerful reasons to bet on yourself
Betting on yourself is the fastest way to success. Now it’s time for you to learn how and why you need to do this as well.
The 4 secret reasons why college is a huge waste of time
In this day and age, college is a bad idea for so many reasons. In this article, I tell you the four major ones AND give you some alternatives.
Life isn’t fair. How to deal with it.
Life is fair because it’s unfair to everyone. Learn how to take the unfair lemons in life and make lemonade. This is a skill that will change your life.
7 reasons why writing is important
There is no more effective method for organizing your thoughts than writing. Good writing is one of the most important skills that you can develop.
The difference between intuition and instinct
Intuition is the result of knowledge and knowledge is the result of experience. Instinct is innate. Learn the advantages of both.
How to win a fight to the death
Fighting to the death teaches you a lot about life. Violence has a lot to teach us all. I learned from both street fights and boxing matches.
Is karma real? 3 life lessons from a troll
You never know who’s paying attention on social media. An internet troll learns that what goes around comes around and that karma is a bitch.
Is physics hard? How to learn basic physics
Physics isn’t hard. You just need a special approach to the math and theory involved. Here’s what you must do if you want to learn basic physics.
Going back to school at 30: 4 things to know
If you’re thinking about going back to school, read this first. I detail my observations and experiences being an adult student in college.
How to get better at math in 7 simple steps
How did I go from being a poor math student in high school to getting a degree in physics? If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I get better at math,” This article teaches you how.
Hard work beats talent
Hard work will always beat talent. In this article, learn why and how to work harder than the competition.
No one gives a shit about you
You ask yourself, “Why nobody gives a damn about me?” I have the answer. No one cares about you. It’s not personal. It’s just human nature.