So people like to name-drop authors and works that those who went to university and/or have a curiosity about the world should know as part of the basic vocabulary of being an educated Westerner. For example, "Kant" or "Dickensian", or "Gertrude Stein".
I would like to learn this stuff, please.
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posted by grahamsletter
on Mar 20, 2013 -
34 answers
How does a writer like Kim Stanley Robinson, or any writer for that matter, obtain and integrate the vast amounts of knowledge necessary to create a fully detailed and realistic world on the page?
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posted by Che boludo!
on Sep 22, 2012 -
17 answers
What one book could pretty much give me a new, useful superpower if I follow it and put the methods inside into practice? In my life, I've come across a small handful of books that have really allowed me to learn to do some things that were previously unthinkable to me, and which I'm able to use all the time in my life. I'm most interested in a book that has actually worked to change your life, rather than one that seems like it would be good if you one day got around to following it. Thanks.
posted by surenoproblem
on Sep 12, 2012 -
77 answers
Is there a name or pathology for this kind of behaviour (in psychiatry)? Basically, it feels like I'm falling in love all the time - with human knowledge - and I keep on pushing the lever because it feels good.
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posted by leigh1
on Jun 14, 2012 -
20 answers
I'm memorizing all of the world capitals. What other flash-cardable things would be useful/impressive to memorize?
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posted by cmoj
on Apr 16, 2012 -
32 answers
I'm going to college! (fo' realz this time, yo). So, what should I study?
(or,
How do I learn to stop worrying I won't get to do everything and love just one subject?)
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posted by Seiten Taisei
on Feb 9, 2012 -
19 answers
If you could study anything, what would it be? I have some free time and a desire to get my neurons firing.
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posted by MesoFilter
on Dec 14, 2011 -
21 answers
Can you think of any examples of a famous character in a film (or book) who knew the future, or knew that a big event was definitely going to happen, and couldn't cope with that knowledge?
posted by Marzipan
on Dec 8, 2011 -
39 answers
Please help me come up with jobs where the main duty is organizing or classifying information.
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posted by stedman15
on Dec 6, 2011 -
13 answers
I have a serious problem with being seen to be intellectually 'wrong'. I need ways to get over it
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 24, 2011 -
26 answers
I very much enjoy my daily
word and
poem sites. What other daily life-enriching, mind-expanding sites (or email lists or similar) exist?
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posted by jsturgill
on Jul 21, 2011 -
11 answers
Looking for outstanding examples of animations and videos that explain a difficult-to-understand concept or topic. Not KhanAcademy-type, but rather interactive Flash works or videos with 3D animation.
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posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese
on Jul 9, 2011 -
12 answers
I know I'd like to buy my first house in the next five years. Help me learn as much as possible before I get to the point where I'm ready to do it!
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posted by lovableiago
on Jun 28, 2011 -
19 answers
Was this a snoop?
Spouse and I have a magazine stack by the toilet. Was reading the other day and pulled out an old copy of Oprah magazine and noticed she filled out one of those self-assessment questionnaires. As a result I've learned something about her that many, many months of couples therapy couldn't get me to understand about her. I'd like to invoke my new knowledge but I feel like I snooped...or did I?
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 20, 2011 -
32 answers
What books can you recommend that do for their subject what
'A Short History of Nearly Everything' does for science i.e. cover a broad topic in an entertaining and engaging way which is easy for the layperson to understand? I am interested in improving my General Knowledge and want to build a little library of similar books covering topics such as art, film, geography, history, literature, music, philosophy etc.
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posted by wannalol
on Apr 27, 2011 -
35 answers
What are some limits of the human brain? I think everyone knows that people can't keep more than 7 items in short term memory, and I was just reading
an article here that mentions limits to the theory of mind (A knows that B thinks that C thinks.. etc). What are some other things that it is just impossible to think about or remember or to visualize? I'd prefer actual studies and hard data to anecdotes and folk wisdom, but I'll take either.
posted by empath
on Mar 27, 2011 -
24 answers
When is it legally, ethically, practically, or otherwise necessary for people NOT to know something? For example, I've heard of linguists trying to do research on monolingual native speakers (they can't know another language), or jurors, who can't know about the defendant. Bonus questions: why can't they know, and how is it enforced? I'm particularly interested if a person has to protect his or her own lack of knowledge.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin
on Mar 24, 2011 -
46 answers
How should I negotiate for a salary at a place I'm applying to, when I already know the starting salary of one of their recent hires? (Anonymous because I don't want to jeopardize my candidacy at this place, or get my acquaintance there in trouble.)
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 17, 2011 -
13 answers
Please give me your favourite trivia questions that really make you think and scratch your head.
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posted by jontyjago
on Mar 14, 2011 -
44 answers
I am about to embark on a massive technical book reading escapade. Please share your information retention methods.
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posted by Sentus
on Mar 1, 2011 -
7 answers
I want to fill my brain with useful and common knowledge. What can I put in there?
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posted by sucre
on Jan 25, 2011 -
36 answers
Need help with organizing and storing documents and files as part of personal knowledge management. Snowflakes inside.
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posted by theobserver
on Jan 19, 2011 -
7 answers
Health-care workers of MeFi: how do you act around doctors when you or a family member is receiving care?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 17, 2010 -
19 answers
How do you know if you are being honest with yourself? What's the difference between making excuses/rationalizing and being honest about the positive/negative of a situation?
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posted by sio42
on Sep 30, 2010 -
28 answers
I have $1000 to invest and I'd like to do it wisely. One problem: I have never invested any amount of money in anything. Ever. Where should I start?
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posted by Kitteh
on Aug 21, 2010 -
21 answers
Is there a theory or law (formal or otherwise) that postulates that given enough time, "truth" or "knowledge" is more likely to be understood?
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posted by verevi
on May 6, 2010 -
8 answers
"This is how it really works." I'm looking for things you know that work differently than people assume they do. For instance, people usually assume that school textbooks are chosen strictly on merit, when actually it is Texas book events that end up controlling textbook sales. Or like the comment that said "
what the FBI does is collect evidence for prosecution. They rarely solve crimes on their own and they rarely prevent them." Before payola was widely talked about in recent years, most people thought songs on the radio got there solely because of popularity. I'm looking for other examples where widely common perceptions about how something operates are not accurate.
posted by cashman
on Mar 23, 2010 -
101 answers
I'm trying to find a way of determining the "trustworthiness", for lack of a better term, of a scientific study. To do so, I would really like to know if there are systematic methods you can use to map out disciplines in which you are not already an expert. Help me sort this out.
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posted by PercussivePaul
on Mar 1, 2010 -
14 answers
Desperately seeking references to books in pill form. Or liquid form. Or as a tasty spread.
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posted by Devoidoid
on Aug 15, 2009 -
12 answers
I used to feel pretty confident with computers / IT in general (80s child). Now I need a boost to get back up to speed, especially digging around in the OS / filesystem. Recommend me a good book / website / hands-on project?
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posted by KMH
on Aug 6, 2009 -
7 answers
I just had an MRI and MRA in response to
these issues, and the radiologist's report should be relayed to me in a day or two. I've already had one normal CT scan. I received a copy of all the images from this scan - should I look at them?
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posted by elektrotechnicus
on May 29, 2009 -
10 answers
Looking for indepth online.
Where do you go for indepth analysis and information? The online versions of most Current Affairs print magazines are known to me. I want more Glenn Greenwald, Daily Beast; Andrew Sullivan or Informed Comment. What are the best blogs out there for political and international analysis; not neccessarily UScentric? For instance where do I find out more about the convoluted craziness of Iran or Eritrea? There are a lot of highly intelligent, inquiisitive people around these parts; where do you go to find out what the informed opinion for your interests are? Please don't limit this to just political or current affairs; the best of anything is always worth reading.
posted by adamvasco
on Apr 23, 2009 -
16 answers
Alternatives to the mainstream scientific method that have generated real, practical output.
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posted by ajp
on Mar 17, 2009 -
27 answers
What are some easy, relatively quick ways to learn to write better, think clearer, and express myself better?
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posted by Bageena
on Jan 28, 2009 -
24 answers
What are some other "intellectual" or though-provoking websites like:
TED.com
BigThink.org
Fora.tv
Also, what are, in your opinion, some of the best books in the following topics:
-economics
-investing
-psychology
-design
-religion
-self-help
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posted by meta.mark
on Jan 16, 2009 -
27 answers
How can I gain in-depth knowledge and experience in technical fields?
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posted by gadha
on Nov 26, 2008 -
9 answers
Is it possible for somebody to be a true
Renaissance Man these days, or has hyperspecialization taken us all as hostages forever?
posted by dcrocha
on Nov 23, 2008 -
21 answers
Looking for good documentaries that are truly informative (i.e. a kind of textbook in movie format). What are the best documentaries you've seen that left you much more informed about basic history and human knowledge?
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posted by the other side
on Oct 28, 2008 -
28 answers
