Ten steps to making your life more interesting

August 22, 2012

In issue 41 of The Idler – The quite interesting issue you can find The QI Manifesto – 10 steps to making your life more interesting. Here’s a short version….

1. Everything is interesting: Provided that you look at it in the right way.

2. Ask more questions: Everyone asks lots of questions at a young age, then you are told it is best to let people teach you things which are often wrong.

3. We all know less than we think we know: This is what General Ignorance is. We still do not know how or why the universe began, what consciousness is, what light is, or even the best way to bring up children.

4. Look for new connections: Write down the things you do not know already. Interestingness cannot be defined or taught. It is a spark which arcs between two previously unconnected things.

5. If it’s worth writing down, it’s worth writing down clearly: Jargon, technical terms other confusing pieces of language are the enemies of truth.

6. What you leave out is as important as what you leave in: It is better to be interesting than to be comprehensive.

7. Digressions are the point: QI is about making connections, not lists of trivial facts. One piece of interesting information leads to others just as interesting.

8. Take your time: It may take a long time of reading boring information before you finally find a gem that will change your life.

9: Walk towards the sound of gunfire: Do what is right and say what is right, without fear of what other people will think of you.

10: You already have everything you need: Instincts, curiosity and your own ignorance. The paradox is that you have to stop talking about how much you know.

Have a curious day.