– and unless you’re already a raging egomaniac, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. In this brief podcast I share some recent findings from cognitive psychology and explain why your current and potential intelligence is greater than you think.
I have had outstanding sex in my life. I have loved with all my heart. I feel a deep spiritual connection with everyone I meet, and I’ve developed compassion for all living creatures. Yet, there is something I recommend more than all this.
This may come as a shock for those of you unfamiliar with what I am about to say, but I am absolutely convinced that Japanese high school dramas are the best thing in the history of the universe. Words can’t express how much inspiration and raw enjoyment I get from watching Great Teacher Onizuka and Gokusen.
It is an odd scenario to consider, but if I had to make a choice between never having sex again and never watching one of these shows again, I would have to give up sex. There’s no question. I won’t spoil anything for those of you who haven’t seen these shows, but some parts are like a 10-minute orgasm, only better.
Some of you might be thinking that having something talked up this much might spoil it, and with anything else that may be true. But in the case of GTO and Gokusen your expectations will still be exceeded. Don’t even worry about it.
As a small warning, some parts of Gokusen might also be the corniest things you’ve ever seen, but if you can look past them you are sure to enjoy it overall. As it stands, both of these shows are available free on YouTube. I recommend them in either order: Great Teacher Onizuka & Gokusen. If you like things that are better than sex, you may want to check them out.
Addendum: To help you pick which you want to watch first, two sentences on each:
GTO: The main character is high school teacher Eikichi Onizuka, former leader of the most notorious motorcycle gang in Japan. GTO’s a pervert, a virgin, and (IMO) a saint.
Gokusen: Main character is high school teacher Kumiko Yamaguchi, granddaughter & heir to the Oedo Yakuza family (Japanese mafia). I intend to marry her.
Would you rather win the lottery or become quadriplegic? Which one would make you more happy? The answer is, well, neither.
Check out this upbeat talk by Harvard Psychology Prof, Dan Gilbert, as he reveales science’s latest findings on lasting happiness.
I was fortunate enough to take a Psychology of Thinking class recently. The class covered everything from intelligence and creativity, to AI and animal cognition.
One particularly interesting finding I’d like to share: There is little evidence to suggest “child prodigies” are innately gifted at anything. On everything from music, to chess, to the “savants” performing multi-digit multiplication in their head, research shows that expert performance does not rely on a natural giftedness.
Rather, skill acquisition in almost any subject you choose (be it writing, cooking, massage, poker, music, etc.) is largely in your control. I don’t want to bore everyone with the details, but having learned how skill acquisition takes place I feel empowered to do anything. It’s great knowledge to have.
For those interested in learning more, check out this research by Ericsson. If you’re working on a skill, but don’t want to dig through the research, tell me the skill and I’ll give you some tips.
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