November 17, 2013

Doris Lessing: Learning is Understanding Something You’ve Understood All Your Life, in a New Way

“That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way.” -Doris Lessing, 1919 – 2013

bigthinkeditor

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

“That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way.”

-Doris Lessing, 1919 – 2013

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Map showing migration routes across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans to the Indian Ocean, with sightings marked by colors and dates.

Strange Maps

Hungry or horny? Whale makes record swim halfway across planet

In 8,000-mile journey, a male humpback ditches Colombia for Tanzania — however, scientists don’t know why he made the trip.

A person with a backpack stands on rocky terrain, contemplating the distant, mist-covered volcanic mountain under a clear blue sky, pondering the longevity of nature's breathtaking beauty.

Business

How to build something that lasts

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

In the depths of space, a spiral galaxy twists like a cosmic Kraken, its bright core and distinct arms encircled by a sea of stars against the dark expanse.

Starts With A Bang

Devouring “the Kraken” led to the modern Milky Way

Did the Milky Way form by slowly accreting matter or by devouring its neighboring galaxies? At last, we’re uncovering our own history.

A man in a suit and tie speaks at a podium with a microphone, gesturing with his right hand.

High Culture

In Carl Sagan’s death, an amazing life lesson

“Carl faced his death with unflagging courage and never sought refuge in illusions.”

Starts With A Bang

Our Universe has more galaxies than Carl Sagan ever imagined

Forget billions and billions. When it comes to the number of galaxies in the Universe, both theorists’ and observers’ estimates are too low.

Up Next

Rethinking Self-Control: The Psychology of Waiting

When we fail to exercise self-control, this may not be a “failure” as we traditionally think of it. In fact, it may be “a reasoned response to the uncertainty of time.