ELI advisory board member Tony Wagner's new book is a fantastic read, and as ELI CEO Gary Schoeniger says, "it's an honest, insightful, and inspirational story that every parent and teacher should read."

From the book's description:

"Tony Wagner is an eminent education specialist: he has taught at every grade level from high school through graduate school; worked at Harvard; done significant work for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and speaks across the country and all over the world. But before he found his success, Wagner was kicked out of middle school, expelled from high school, and dropped out of two colleges. Learning by Heart is his powerful account of his years as a student and teacher.

"After struggling in both roles, he learned to create meaningful learning experiences despite the constraints of conventional schooling–initially for himself and then for his students–based on understanding each student’s real interests and strengthening his or her intrinsic motivations. Wagner’s story sheds light on critical issues facing parents and educators today, and reminds us that trial and error, resilience, and respect for the individual, are at the very heart of all teaching and learning."

Yale University's Craig Wright attempts to unpack the term "genius" in his new book.

Within it, you will find a compelling and thoughtful examination of 14 "drivers of genius—characteristics and patterns of behavior common to great minds throughout history. He argues that genius is about more than intellect and work ethic—it is far more complex...Brilliant insights that change the world are never sudden, but rather, they are the result of unique modes of thinking and lengthy gestation. Most importantly, the habits of mind that produce great thinking and discovery can be actively learned and cultivated, and Wright shows us how.  

"This book won't make you a genius. But embracing the hidden habits of these transformative individuals will make you more strategic, creative, and successful, and, ultimately, happier."

Paul Graham's piece from November 2020 discusses a topic near and dear to the study of entrepreneurship, conventional- vs independent-thinking. This distinction, he argues, is very important in understanding how we individually perform in our work, and where there is room for innovation and creativity.

He argues that anyone can learn to be independently-minded and that there is room for all of us to adapt to this way of thinking. Breaking out of conventional or conformist modes of thinking can not only benefit us individually but can have an impressive impact on the work we do and the communities we inhabit.

How can thinking for ourselves aid us as we move forward into continued unknowns? When can it get in the way?

For those familiar with ELI's definition of mindset, there are few things more important than our locus of control, or "the psychology behind how an individual perceives their agency as they interact with their environment."

For those with an external locus of control, social scientists and psychologists have found that there are a variety of patterns associated. They also make the distinction between a victimhood mindset and having experienced trauma or otherwise being victimized. 

Researchers have found four main dimensions, which consist of "(a) constantly seeking recognition for one’s victimhood, (b) moral elitism, (c) lack of empathy for the pain and suffering of others, and (d) frequently ruminating about past victimization."

In this piece, you'll learn more about each, and about how they may impact us interpersonally and beyond.

"Much of the history of psychology has been dominated by a framework in which people and animals are driven by the past. In this picture, past history, present circumstance, and inner states drive behavior..." 

So begins a paper authored by Martin E. P. Seligman, Peter Railton, Roy F. Baumeister, and Chandra Sripada. What follows is a comprehensive introduction to an emergent new framework for understanding human and animal motivation, navigating-the-future.

"Where do the representations of the possible futures we simulate come from? How is past experience used in forming these representations, and what other factors might influence them?"

The work of Albert Bandura has had a profound impact on a wide variety of fields, including much of ELI's work.

Looking back on the past year, we felt that it would be useful to reflect on his work as a whole, but also specifically on his thoughts about fortuity. Bandura posits that we can make chance work for us and in turn illicit a more fortuitous life for ourselves. 

We hope that each of you reading this can find hope in this, and create a better future for yourselves and those around you.