Avoiding Folly is a newsletter about the mistakes that we make when we try to transform knowledge into action. And how we can avoid them.

Latest

Sep
28

The Best Book No One Has Read

It's bad when academics don't even read your book. Alistair Crombie's magnum opus, "Styles of Scientific Thinking in the European
3 min read
Sep
21

How Science is Undone

Clifford Burdick (1894-1992) spent his life trying to disprove modern evolutionary and geological theory. He was a creationist. And one
4 min read
Sep
14

Intelligence is not a personality trait

Ten years ago, few people thought that Elon Musk was an idiot. Yes, perceptive observers could probably tell that there
2 min read
Sep
07

Church and State Debate

Lots of factors contribute to productive arguments. But they can't happen at all if the arguers don't actually respond to
4 min read
Aug
24

Feedback at the Supermarket

A while ago, I was at the self-checkout machine paying for my groceries when the machine ate my penny. Strange.
2 min read
Aug
17

Feedback in Complex Environments

The experience of striking a tennis ball offers rich feedback. As you're waiting for the ball, you can feel your
3 min read
Aug
10

What Cast Iron Pans and Batteries Have in Common

Do you know how to charge your electronics? When I was a teenager, the standard advice was to never leave
3 min read
Aug
03

Education That Makes You Stupid

Often, we assume that more education leads to smarter individuals – at least, "smarter" as modern societies would define it. Generally
3 min read
Jul
27

Creationism and The Deficit Model

It’s easy to think that those who oppose various scientific findings – like creationists or flat-earthers – don't understand something about
3 min read
Jul
20

What's the point in arguing?

It's good to be right when arguing. To feel vindicated. To win. To know that you were right all along.
2 min read