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Sloww Sunday Newsletter 098 (Mar 13, 2022) — Human Behavior, Mental Models, Hero’s Journey Simplified, & More
Happy Sunday!
Here’s the latest from Sloww along with the most interesting things I discovered last week.
To respect your time and attention, every newsletter can be read in under 5 minutes. If you enjoy it, please take 5 seconds to forward the email version to some friends and family. 🙏
🌀 Sloww Stuff
The Ultimate Guide to Charlie Munger:
Charlie Munger is an amazing advocate for a synthesizing mind—with words of wisdom focusing on lifelong learning and multidisciplinary thinking.
🆕 “Poor Charlie’s Almanack” (Book Summary)
🧠 “The Psychology of Human Misjudgment” (25 Biases)
💰 “Investing Principles Checklist” (10 Guides)
🔥 Top Quotes for a Wise & Wealthy Life (25+ Quotes)
All of Munger’s mental models have been added here:
🔒 Mental Mastery Cheatsheet: 500+ Cognitive Concepts Curated
And, guess who else thinks like Munger?
🔒 Naval Ravikant Synthesis: How to Build Wealth by Being Yourself (+ Infographics)
🧠 Modern Knowledge
Human Behavioral Biology Lecture Collection
Stanford (YouTube)
Twice this week, I re-stumbled upon videos from Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky’s 25-video series on human behavioral biology. The lecture collection covers: behavioral evolution, molecular genetics, neuroscience, aggression, emergence, complexity, and more. I eventually want to watch and summarize the entire series. His book Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst is on my full reading list, and I heard he’s working on a new book about free will (which should be fascinating from his perspective).
Pair with: 7 Intellectual YouTube Lecture Series to Pursue Lifelong Learning Online for Free
☯️ Timeless Wisdom
The Hero’s Journey (Simplified)
3 mins | Vimeo
Last week’s newsletter featured Joseph Campbell’s own words about the “left-hand path” of adventure—also known as the “hero’s journey.” This week’s video is a simplified summary that breaks the hero’s journey down into 6 milestones (thanks to Tom Morgan for the find):
Departure:
1. The Known World (normal and we are surrounded by the familiar)
2. The Call (crisis or curiosity disrupts the status quo)
Adventure:
3. The Resources (mentors, friends, talents, or gifts)
4. The Test (obstacles, difficulties, doubts, or enemies)
Return:
5. The Elixir (survival of the test that solves our quest)
6. The Meaning (understanding the elixir and returning to the known world with it)
Pair with:
· The Spiritual Hero’s Journey of a Lifetime: “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse (Book Summary)
· 🔒 Is Life a Sine Wave of Repeated Hero’s Journeys?
🤯 Mind Expanding
Can You Trust Your Eyes?
YouTube
These two optical illusions will make you question everything you ever see:
2. Change the direction just by thinking about it
💡 New Learning
Phronesis
Wikipedia
· Ancient Greek translated as prudence, practical virtue, or practical wisdom (wisdom or intelligence relevant to practical action).
· Implies both good judgment and excellence of character and habits.
💭 Deep Thought
Charlie Munger follows an “iron prescription” before he allows himself to have an opinion or share it. Can you imagine a world (or even just a social media feed) where more people followed this?
💬 Wise Words
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
— Chinese Proverb
Sharing: If you enjoyed this issue, please help grow Sloww by forwarding the email version of this issue to some friends and family. It’s free for them to subscribe here.
Support: Sloww is a one-human labor of love (it’s just me over here 👋). Your support keeps the site ad-free and invests in me while you invest in yourself—a true win-win! There are a few financial and free ways to support.
Feedback: Have something you want to say, or just want to say hi? It’s always greatly appreciated. Just send me an email or reach out socially.
Have an open-minded week!
Kyle Kowalski
Synthesizer & Solopreneur, Sloww
