Reading :::Knowledge v. Intellect

[Maulik]

If you want knowledge, read The Economist.

now you try

[Frequitude]

I don't get it.

Are you saying that The Economist is not intellectual?

[Maulik]

it certainly is intellectual and stimulating for a writer, however I don't think you become smarter reading it as you might reading and understanding a Linear Algebra book.

[wacki]

[ QUOTE ]
it certainly is intellectual and stimulating for a writer, however I don't think you become smarter reading it as you might reading and understanding a Linear Algebra book.

[/ QUOTE ]

1) I disagree
2) 1-400 level Linear Algebra = not hard

[Frequitude]

[ QUOTE ]
it certainly is intellectual and stimulating for a writer, however I don't think you become smarter reading it as you might reading and understanding a Linear Algebra book.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree because they are two completely different types of knowledge. One is mathematical and rule based, so it's easy to think that you're "getting smarter" because you can quantify what you've learned. But the other is a much more vague. There are no rules and step-by-step processes to current events, but you're certainly still getting smarter from reading about them.

I've been out of the country for a year, and I read the Economist weekly to keep up with what's going on in the world. I'd say I'm smarter for having done so, especially reading their big special topic "surveys" in the middle of each issue.

Edit: The best example of this was the survey on China last October or so. I learned TONS from that. Though I'm not sure if the European and North American issues are the same.

[Frequitude]

[ QUOTE ]
If you want knowledge, read The Economist.

now you try

[/ QUOTE ]


I'm still confused by what you're trying to say here... /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Maulik]

What I'm trying to say is I don't think history or political events is wisdom is intellect. You are not going to find clever ways to solve a problem or ideas you can apply to a project you've been working on.

[poker-penguin]

If you want to become more intelligent, read the art of war.

Were you going for something like that?

[wmspringer]

[ QUOTE ]
If you want knowledge, read The Economist.

[/ QUOTE ]

I used to, but I decided it wasn't worth the money, although I liked the magazine otherwise.

So I pay $12 for a 3-year subscription to The Week instead :-)

[Maulik]

[ QUOTE ]
If you want to become more intelligent, read the art of war.

Were you going for something like that?

[/ QUOTE ]

precisely! now let's get back on track /images/graemlins/cool.gif