Chapter 1: The Mind's Deceptive Maze

In our daily lives, it's rare for me to be stumped by tricky questions or riddles that often take the form of "would you rather" scenarios. These questions may seem straightforward but are typically crafted to lead you to a choice with hidden drawbacks. A prime example is this: would you prefer $30 million right now or $1 that doubles every day for 30 days? Many, lacking an understanding of compounding, instinctively choose the $30 million, missing the fact that the doubling amount results in approximately $536 million after 30 days. It's a clear miscalculation.

I have cultivated a set of heuristics that instill skepticism toward seemingly obvious questions designed to mislead. When someone poses a question like "Is the Sky Blue?", the immediate answer appears to be a simple yes. However, I can't help but wonder why such a question is posed at all—there must be something deeper. Indeed, blue light is the only color that doesn't reach Earth directly but scatters across the atmosphere, giving us a predominantly blue sky. Neil deGrasse Tyson articulates this beautifully in his video.

Now, let's delve into heuristics. These are our mental shortcuts or internal rule systems. Picture our brains as a complex highway system where information flows like fast-moving cars. Without guidelines, there’s potential for chaos. Given the overwhelming amount of information we process daily, heuristics become essential.

Our heuristics are shaped by our environment—what we read, hear, and experience. If we are surrounded by negativity or criminality, our perception may shift accordingly, leading to the saying, "You Are The Average Of The Five People You Spend The Most Time With." This is rooted in behavioral science.

What often eludes us is how deeply these heuristics are ingrained in our thought processes, a realization that dawned on me through a seemingly simple question. Even as someone who tends to question obvious inquiries, I found myself puzzled by this one, which has even perplexed some of Harvard's brightest minds. Research suggests that higher IQ individuals may be more vulnerable to this type of question, and those who struggle with it might be at greater risk of scams (as discussed in "The Intelligence Trap").

Before I reveal the question, I encourage you to reflect on it without rushing to find the answer. Once you see it, it will seem glaringly obvious. Hindsight is always clearer. So, take a moment to ponder the following:

"Jack is looking at Anne. Anne is looking at George. Jack is married, George is not. Is a married person looking at an unmarried person?"

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Most individuals conclude that it can't be determined, yet the correct answer is yes. Take a moment to think critically and see if you can escape your own mental shortcuts.

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Now, for the explanation. The answer is indeed yes, because regardless of Anne's marital status, there is always a married person looking at an unmarried one. If Anne is married, she looks at George, who is unmarried. If Anne is unmarried, Jack looks at her, who is unmarried. This logic holds true in all scenarios!

We've been conditioned to focus narrowly on the provided facts, often solving problems in a specific manner. Some might have reasoned, "Anne is likely married to Jack," or "They might be viewing two people simultaneously." If only we could take a step back and apply broader critical thinking, we would realize the statement remains valid without deeper analysis. Personally, it took me some time to arrive at the answer, highlighting my own cognitive limitations.

This illustrates the necessity of periodically challenging our thinking patterns. Engaging with those who possess differing viewpoints helps us determine whether our heuristics still apply. If we confine ourselves to familiar surroundings, we risk becoming complacent.

Consider turkeys. They enjoy a comfortable existence—cared for, fed, and protected—until the day of reckoning arrives, blindsiding them with a harsh reality. Let us not be like turkeys.

Chapter 2: Beyond Cognitive Shortcuts

In the video "5 Books That Will Make You Smarter Than 99% of People," we explore essential reading materials that can enhance our intelligence and critical thinking skills.

The second video, "99 Percent Miss This. What Is The Length?" delves into how even the most astute minds can overlook fundamental concepts, highlighting the importance of awareness in our thinking processes.