Pour Over is a collection of items I’ve read, heard, or watched this week that I’ve found challenging, insightful, or compelling. Hope you enjoy.

The Work Required To Have An Opinion

What good are our opinions? We see something on the news, take a stance that aligns with our previously held beliefs, and yell at each other. We get more angry without changing each other’s minds, widening the divide between us.

This short post addresses one problem with our opinions: we haven’t earned them. We don’t know the arguments that could substantiate and persuade. We don’t understand the other side.

What if we did the work that Charlie Munger says is required? How would our discussions change? Would we be more compassionate? More persuasive? Would we come up with better solutions to our disagreements?

How Social Media Impacts Our News Consumption, Behavior, and Productivity

I have been driven to distraction over the last year and a half or so, trying to keep up with the latest breaking political news and the responses by voices I admire and trust.

What has the benefit of this been to me? Not much. Anxiety, worry, and depression about America’s state of affairs. Arguing with friends, family, and co-workers to no avail (see above).

Especially now that the election is over and our new president is installed, I need a change.

Cal Newport, on The Federalist Radio Hour podcast, shows a new way: digital minimalism. Check out his blog also for more on the topic.