Step 16: Rousseau, The Renaissance Man, & Iron Sharpening Iron

Bybenmunoz

The Big Idea: The most successful people are generally renaissance people, who know a lot about a lot.

  • Our brains are simulation machines.
  • Jet pilots do not start learning by doing, they start in a simulator.
  • Learn by reading, not by trial and error.
  • Today, it is not very rewarding to be a renaissance person.
  • People in the past used to look up to renaissance people.
  • Top business people are generally renaissance people.
  • George Lucas used to read everything he could about a wide variety of subjects.
  • George Lucas and Steven Spielberg
  • Be eclectic in your interests.
  • Don’t read every book, only read the best books in each category.
  • Rousseau read over 200 books before writing his first book.
  • Learn how to play an instrument.
  • Learn a foreign language.
  • Know your history.
  • Know some art/literature/architecture.
  • Being able to discuss many subjects lets you connect with more people.
  • Being a renaissance, well-rounded man is not the same as being a jack of all trades.
  • The world is too competitive to be good at only one thing.
  • The middle of a forest is bare compared to the edge of the forest.
  • The most innovation comes at the convergence of different disciplines.

Tai Lopez is an entrepreneur, investor, and blogger who runs an awesome online book club. 67 Steps is a lecture series teaching how to be successful in health, wealth, love, and happiness.  I’m a big fan.