Every Wednesday I share five things I've liked and think you might like too. Here are this week’s Five Things…

1. A very interesting article titled Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds. This quote jumped out to me: “Presented with someone else’s argument, we’re quite adept at spotting the weaknesses. Almost invariably, the positions we’re blind about are our own.”

2. “'Spite buildings' are constructions specifically intended to irritate or protest: our smallest human pettiness made manifest in bricks, mortar and a reckless disregard for planning laws.” What a strange species we are.

3. And continuing the architectural theme: How to hurricane-proof your house

4. I’ve just finished series 2 of Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast. It’s really good. He’s a masterful storyteller. I would recommend an episode but I think I’d end up listing them all, so just start at the beginning.

5. Here’s a song I hadn’t listened to in a while: In The Clouds by Under The Influence of Giants (GREAT band name). If you like that, definitely check out their album, It’s very good.

That's all for this week. If you enjoyed it, subscribe and you'll get the next one delivered to your inbox.

18 Days

Every Wednesday I share five things I liked and think you might like too. Here are this week’s Five Things…

1. There are a ton of benefits that come with learning a foreign language. Unfortunately though, it's just not very easy. Here are 7 tips from TED translators to help you on your way. If you fancy learning a language and don't know where to start, I recommend checking out Duolingo — It's free and pretty fun too.
    
2. And on the topic of learning. Here's an interesting conversation on How to Learn New Things as an Adult. — "You want to learn the systems, or the analogies, of the relationships between things in a certain field, and how they interact with each other. Then ultimately you gain that knowledge so that you can shift your own thinking, so when you see a new problem you’re better able to solve it."
    
3. A super-short video on speed reading. It's pretty incredible how quickly our brains can process information.
    
4. A fascinating article from Tim Harford on The Problem with Facts. — "When people are seeking the truth, facts help. But when people are selectively reasoning about their political identity, the facts can backfire."
    
5. This week's musical recommendation is Dave Pepper's Utrecht Suite. The album was recorded during a soundcheck, two days after the Paris attacks in November 2015. It's beautiful and reflective, consisting of just a solo guitar and a loop pedal.

That's all for this week. If you enjoyed it, subscribe and you'll get the next Five Things delivered straight to your inbox. You can check out previous Five Things posts here.

Room with a view

Every Wednesday I share five things I liked and think you might like too. Here are this week’s Five Things…

1. I love this... "Kids draw monsters, then artists from all over the world recreate them in their own styles!" — The Monster Project
    
2. A thought for the day from wise man Seth Godin — The smoking lounge
    
3. A fascinating read on Why Facts Don't Change Our Minds. It's easy to have strong opinions on complicated issues that are based on very little information. There's nothing wrong with strong opinions, but we have to be willing to change them when presented with new information. 
    
4. Whenever I hear someone say "I could care less" in place of "I couldn't care less" a shiver runs down my spine. I don't have many pet peeves, but that's definitely one! Here's Merriam-Webster's attempt to clear up the confusion — Is it 'I Could Care Less' or 'I Couldn't Care Less'?
    
5. This week's musical recommendation: St Vincent performing Your Lips Are Red at Austin City Limits in 2014. They know how to put on a show...

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