Personal Pursuit of Knowledge

Every now and then I update my never-diminishing Books To Read List.   It makes me feel invigorated,  anticipating all these riveting chunks of paper I have not yet read.

But then I remember people I know whose houses are full of stacks of Pulizter-prize winning and generally critically acclaimed books.  And they’re self-absorbed, myopic people that do not contribute to society in any meaningful or kindly way.  Maybe to dinner conversations, maybe not even.  And it makes me wonder: is the pursuit of knowledge rendered null/futile if this acquired knowledge does not help you help others?  Is there any point in accumulating knowledge for the sake of knowledge?

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assuming there is truth to the worst caricature of Steve Jobs, does his genius justify his asshole-ness? Does his genius make him admirable despite his asshole-ness?  Yes it does, he completely paradigm-shifted us.  No it doesn’t, his inventions created an addiction to the virtual that with every passing day makes us a little less human.

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your inner circle cares about what kind of person you are, strangers care about your professional achievements.  Do they both matter equally?