Something A Little Different

Intro: Something A Little Different

I have decided that I will do something a bit different this week. Since the beginning of this year, I have read a book or a part of a book for a fortnight and then posted a review about it on this platform for all of you to read. Over this time I have learned many things and read 13 books. Lucky number 13. But this fortnight I decided to do something a little bit different. Instead of reading a book, I decided to watch some TED talks. Ted Talks are videos made by the most influential experts in a field talking about something they are passionate about. They may speak of a large range of things ranging from their business to a top they have been researching and made a breakthrough in. But I think the main reason I wanted to watch them this fortnight is because of how hyped up they are.

Many people recommend watching a few certain books, stating it taught them more than any book or course could ever teach them. That is quite a bold claim, how can a 15-20 minutes video teach me more than a 300 page book or a 1-month course? The validity of this statement can be argued but the benefits of Ted Talks are hard to refute. A short video, made by a reputable person, who has had time to make a detailed summary of all that they have learnt. They are more relevant to current problems, though they can not compete with the timeless information of a good book like ‘The Art Of War’ by Sun Tzu. But most importantly, they are engaging in a way books struggle to be. The average person can pick up so much from them in such a short time. But even though I have time to read books, is it better to use that time to watch Ted Talks?

What I Watched:

I have 10 days to read (or in this case watch) anything before I write a newsletter about it. This is because I try and finish writing my newsletter on the weekend before the Wednesday I need to publish. This allows me to accommodate for sudden things that might appear during the week. Because I have 10 days, I aimed to watch 10 different TED talks. 1 every day. And these are the 10 I watched, rated most popular on the Ted Website:

1. Do Schools Kill Creativity - Sir Ken Robinson

2. Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are - Amy Cuddy

3. Inside The Mind Of The Master Procrastinator - Tim Urban

4. The Power Of Vulnerability - Brené Brown

5. How Great Leaders Inspire Action - Simon Sinek

6. How To Speak So That People Want To Listen - Julian Treasure

7. My Philosophy For A Happy Life - Sam Berns

8. What Makes A Good Life? Lessons From The Longest Study Of Happiness - Robert Waldinger

9. The Next Outbreak? We’re Not Ready - Bill Gates

10. Why People Believe They Can’t Draw - Graham Shaw

What I Absorbed:

I am going to be quite a harsh critic and admit that some of them were irrelevant to me and I failed to truly learn and take away anything from them. However, there are 3 that I took something away from. They are:

1. Do Schools Kill Creativity - Sir Ken Robinson

2. Inside The Mind Of The Master Procrastinator - Tim Urban

3. What Makes A Good Life? Lessons From The Longest Study Of Happiness - Robert Waldinger

I found these three quite interesting and these are what they taught me:

• In his influential talk, Sir Ken Robinson argues that the current education system stifles creativity in children. He suggests that schools prioritise standardisation and conformity over creativity and critical thinking. He emphasizes the importance of nurturing creativity alongside academic subjects, highlighting that every child is born with immense creative potential. He ends by calling for a re-evaluation of the education system to foster innovation and creativity, arguing that this will better prepare students for an unpredictable future.

• The reason this talk stuck with me is because it was the most viewed one ever. Do you not think that tells you something? Why do so many people want to watch this Ted Talk (assuming the average person chooses what to watch based on the title)? I hypothesise that people want to watch it because they live in bubbles. When people have a deep-rooted idea, they will welcome content that helps strengthen their belief in that thing. But why do people have such a strong belief in the weaknesses of the school system?

• Tim Urban was memorable because of the way he explained the workings of the mind of a procrastinator. He was quite relaxed and funny when explaining the internal struggle between the "Rational Decision-Maker" and the "Instant Gratification Monkey," which leads to delays in completing tasks. Urban shares his own experiences with procrastination, illustrating how it affects productivity and mental health. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing deadlines and the consequences of procrastination, encouraging everyone to confront their procrastination habits to lead more fulfilling lives.

• The reason I wanted to watch this one was because I tend to procrastinate. Even sitting down to write this took an unnecessary amount of mental energy. This is part of my routine, a routine I have upheld and never broken for almost a year, yet it feels so hard to sit down and write. I guess I was hoping to find the cure for procrastination in this video. An easy solution to all my problems. I guess books also goad you into doing the same thing; instead of telling myself to ‘lock in’, I find myself reading multiple books teaching me different methods on how I can fix it. Methods I will probably never implement in my life. I think Marcus Aurelies’ quote perfectly sums up how I feel ‘Throw away your books; stop letting yourself be distracted.’ While reading is valuable, he believed it should not replace direct engagement with life and the world around us.

• Robert Waldinger presents findings from a decades-long study on adult happiness conducted by Harvard University. He reveals that strong relationships are the key to a happy and fulfilling life, more than wealth or fame. The study shows that good relationships protect our mental and physical health, while loneliness can be detrimental. Waldinger urges us to prioritize building and maintaining connections with family, friends, and community, as these bonds significantly impact our overall well-being.

• When I clicked on this TED Talk, I assumed it was going to be the same message as any other happiness talk. I expected him to talk about how money is unimportant and how feeling fulfilled is essential. Instead, he emphasised the importance and effect of true emotional connection and relationships with other people. I can’t say I don’t agree with him. The loneliness problem has taken over our world and is being ignored. People in countries like Japan are renting friends. How is stuff like this going on in our world? People have no one to spend their birthday with so they turn to hiring friends to get rid of their loneliness. How are sociable creatures like humans, who live in megacities crowded by millions of people, struggling to make friends? It's crazy!

Conclusion:

I still believe that books are better than Ted Talks but this fortnight has given me the opportunity to understand how Ted Talks have taken the world by storm. I feel like I might start watching them now and might learn an extra thing or two. But more importantly, I will focus my efforts on finding ways to turn my knowledge into actions I can take.

I am going to go back to reading books summarising them and teaching the lessons I learn. I hope you enjoyed this week’s unusual newsletter. Please share your feedback and recommend any books you want me to review. See you in the next one.