The importance of Multidisciplinary Mental Models
You must understand and master the key theories from important disciplines, and you must frequently apply them. You need to utilize all these mental models, not just rely on a few. Most people focus on only one discipline—for example, economics—and try to solve all problems with a single method. As the saying goes: “To the person holding a hammer, the world looks like a nail.” This is an inefficient way of thinking.
The Correct Way to Study
If you adopt the study method many students use, you will fail to truly master those 100 necessary thought models. Those students study well, but then they hand the knowledge back to the professor, and after getting the score, they discard the knowledge, as if pouring water out of a bathtub so they can fill it with new water next time. If this is how you approach learning these 100 mental models, you will achieve nothing in life. You must take these models seriously and allow them to become abilities you can call upon at any time.
The Power of Common Sense
Possessing systematic common sense—very fundamental knowledge—is an extremely powerful tool. While computer technology has brought convenience, it has also brought many dangers. People calculate too much, but think too little. Having common sense not only means you can identify wisdom, but it also means you can reject foolishness. When you eliminate many unnecessary distractions, you prevent yourself from falling into chaos.
We read a lot of books. Everyone I know is like that. However, reading alone is not enough:
You must possess a disposition that allows you to understand ideas and make rational decisions. Most people cannot grasp the correct ideas, or they don’t know how to apply them. The richer your foundational knowledge, the less new knowledge you need to absorb.