Why do employers generally require college degrees or high school diplomas to get a job? On one hand, it makes sense: a more knowledgeable man who has demonstrated he can stick with a long-term project is a better employee. On the other hand, it makes … Continue readingThe Puzzle of Credentialism
Financial independence is often thought of as a pathway where you get a good job with the usual methods, work and save diligently well beyond the median percentage, and have the ability to retire early and safely. Although still unknown in many quarters and somewhat … Continue readingThinking Outside the “FIRE” Box
More than a generation into the age of the Internet, we see everywhere a vast information network ideally suited to the sharing of man’s knowledge, yet almost nowhere do we see it being effectively employed to teach people from start to finish how to do … Continue readingToward a New Vision for Online Education
When looking at the discourse around jobs, careers, and work, one of the most striking aspects is how precious a “stable job”, a “stable career”, and “job security” is to so many people. While those are real advantages, what if the pursuit of career stability … Continue readingThe Siren Song of Job Security
Why aren’t our elites more interesting? It might sound like an odd question to ask, but consider that throughout history aristocrats, elites of old, captains of industry, and those who have “already made it” pursued eccentric and visionary personal projects and passions. The universe of … Continue readingThe Long Night of Elite Imagination
In recent years the “financial independence/retire early” (“FIRE”) movement has risen and gained popularity, starting with a few blogs and spreading outward from there throughout the online world. 813,000 Reddit users subscribe to the main financial independence subreddit (r/financialindependence). Before we get to anything else, … Continue readingPensioners, Aristocrats, and Financial Independence
What would be the happiest day we could design? It’s an interesting question with large potential implications for how well we live our lives. More precisely, how should we split our time between various activities to maximize happiness and well-being? A fascinating 2013 study (summarized … Continue readingThe Surprising Path to a Happy Everyday Life