The Ten-Book Rule for Smarter Thinking and the Pinterest Craze: Exploring the Common Points

The Ten-Book Rule for Smarter Thinking and the Pinterest Craze: Exploring the Common Points

In recent years, both the concept of the Ten-Book Rule for smarter thinking and the rise of Pinterest as a popular social platform have gained significant attention. While these may seem like unrelated topics, there are actually some common points that can be explored. Let's dive deeper into these two subjects and see how they connect.

The Ten-Book Rule, introduced by Scott H Young, suggests that reading ten well-chosen books can help individuals gain a deep understanding of the expert consensus on any reasonable question. However, it is important to note that not just any ten books will do. They must be carefully selected to ensure that they converge to the expert wisdom. This rule emphasizes the importance of choosing books with "new" ideas, "useful" ideas, and "revolutionary" ideas. It also suggests considering up-to-date textbooks, academic monographs, and canonical texts that the field cites as authoritative.

Now, let's turn our attention to Pinterest, a social platform that has experienced exponential growth in recent years. From October 2010 to October 2011, Pinterest grew from 40,000 users to 3.2 million. So, what is behind this craze? Fifteen super-users share their thoughts on why they use Pinterest and what makes it so appealing to them.

Many of the reasons provided by these super-users align with the principles of the Ten-Book Rule. For example, Kary Delaria mentions that she uses Pinterest as a diversion from her work routine, similar to flipping through a magazine. It provides a visual insight into the personal and creative side of individuals in her network. This aligns with the idea of choosing books with "new" and "useful" ideas that provide a different perspective.

Furthermore, Mikinzie Stuart highlights that Pinterest is a great platform for visually-oriented minds to collect and curate ideas. It allows users to share their interests with others, similar to how books with "revolutionary" ideas can shape and influence opinions. Additionally, Kristin Greeley points out that Pinterest offers a personalized experience, allowing users to tailor it to be exactly what they want. This aligns with the idea of selecting books that cater to individual interests and preferences.

Moreover, Jenny Schmitt describes Pinterest as a place to put visual bookmarks of things on the web that interest her. This is similar to the idea of using books as a form of bookmarking to refer back to later. Julia Prior also mentions that Pinterest serves as a bookmarking tool, allowing her to easily save and organize her favorite websites, infographics, articles, pictures, and recipes. This aligns with the idea of using books as a way to archive things for future reference.

While the Ten-Book Rule focuses on gaining a deep understanding of expert consensus, Pinterest provides a platform for visual inspiration, idea curation, and sharing. Both emphasize the importance of selecting and organizing content that aligns with personal interests and preferences.

Based on these common points, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Be intentional in your book selection: Just as you would carefully choose books that align with your interests and goals, be selective in the content you consume on Pinterest. Follow boards and users that resonate with you and curate your feed to reflect your interests.

2. Use Pinterest as a source of inspiration and idea organization: Treat Pinterest as a visual bookmarking tool, saving and organizing content that sparks your creativity or serves as a reference for future projects. Create boards that cater to your different interests and use them as a source of inspiration.

3. Embrace the quiet and low-maintenance nature of Pinterest: Take advantage of the fact that Pinterest is a quiet and low-pressure platform. Unlike other social networks, you don't have to constantly engage or feel the need to respond to every comment or update. Use it as a space to relax, get inspired, and explore without the pressure of constant interaction.

In conclusion, the Ten-Book Rule for smarter thinking and the Pinterest craze may seem like unrelated topics, but they share common points in terms of selecting and organizing content that aligns with personal interests and preferences. By being intentional in our content selection and usage, we can harness the power of both to gain knowledge, inspiration, and creativity. So, whether you're diving into a stack of books or scrolling through your Pinterest feed, remember to choose wisely and enjoy the journey of discovery and exploration.