Notes from Four Thousand Weeks
Just some quick notes about different ideas that struck me as I was reading the first couple of chapters. I might develop them more later. Or just leave them here.
They're not verbatim quotes; I have rewritten them in my own words.
Chapter 1
(A farmer’s work is) work is infinite. There are theories of idea generation (be it art, science, engineering, invention, anything) that map to hunting, farming, foraging, gardening, etc. Even pirates.
Comparing the value of some future benefit earned by this moment against the value in just living this moment, the future value often wins. Maybe the future value idea shouldn’t win so often. It really shouldn't.
Fear is just part of the deal and it will not destroy you.
Reality is a painful constraint and time is only one aspect of it.
Facing the way that things truly are (as best as you can tell) is pretty effective, and it should be self correcting. The best guess at the way things truly are is bound to be wrong, either some of the time, or by a little, or even by a lot. With more information, the way things "truly" are will update and be closer to the truth.
Richard Bach: "You teach best what you most need to learn."
Eigenzeit = the time inherent in the thing (process) itself. It takes as long as it takes, no need to rush it.
Chapter 2
The painful truth of our limitations: which people to disappoint. You can decide, or ignore it and default into some choice.
One option is to more efficiently use your time. Or even choose to use more of it, like that tired time at the end of the day. That over withdrawal, it comes due though, you go into deficit that way. Another option is to experiment with the other side of the equation, what if you free up more time by choosing to do fewer things and regale in that down time. Charge up and background process.
Be less invested in the getting to that finish line, any finish line. This is taking that idea of future value all the way to zero. The only value you get out of that project is what comes in the current moment. It doesn't matter if it ever finishes. Not always the right choice, but maybe it's a good baseline, so you at least capture the current moment's value.
Parkinson's law: what qualifies as "needs doing" expands to fill the available time.
Sisyphus was a king. TIL.
The surface area of all your interests and projects and ideas is vast. The potential surface area of that surface is multiplicatively vaster again. Of course you can think of so much more than can actually be done. Just appreciate that for a moment.
"Existential overwhelm" = the modern world's never ending supply of things that might be worth doing.
Reminds me of RINORIN = read it now or read it never. Seen here, yesterday.
The fact that we don't default to believing in an afterlife, plus our modern belief that the future is ever improving (not static, or cyclic, as historically thought), added to the awareness of our finite life, leaves us feeling the pressure to experience it all or as much as is possible. FOMO to the infinite.
Do not become a limitless reservoir for other's expectations. Learning to say no.
The anti-skill is not getting it all done, and being ok with that.
Since you actually cannot do it all, be present for the things you do get to experience. And, choose those things better.
Friction is just one of those things. It can forge bonds of connection with place, give humanity. Some things are worth those costs, so don't just toss them out for more convenient ways of achieving the same ends. Invest that cost in the things that are worth it. Or at least be intentional about choosing to.
The relentless improvements of these conveniences, which remove that friction, also sometimes remove the humanity. This leads to "tech-induced loneliness". The innovation ladders maybe also just shifts around the friction or inconveniences, it's never ending. I don't think abandoning the improvements is always the right choice. I'm not advocating for being a Luddite here.
It isn't the thought that counts, it's the inconvenience you went to for the gift. It was worth it to endure that so you could give the small happiness to your friend or relative. Solving the inconvenience makes the give empty for the both of you.