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Ryan Orban

Ryan Orban

Subject
7 entries

Thinking

Bookmarks

  1. 40 Useful Concepts You Should Know

    Gurwinder's collection of 40 named cognitive and philosophical concepts — from Chesterton's Fence to the Dunning-Kruger effect — curated for practical use in reasoning and decision-making. A broadly useful reference for anyone building a personal mental model library.

  2. CFAR Handbook 2021: Applied Rationality Curriculum

    The CFAR Handbook is the curriculum guide from the Center for Applied Rationality — a workshop-based training program for systematic thinking, calibration, and overcoming cognitive biases. It operationalizes concepts from the LessWrong rationalist community into concrete exercises.

  3. Second-Order Thinking

    Farnam Street's essay on second-order thinking — asking 'and then what?' to trace the cascading consequences of decisions beyond their immediate effects. A foundational mental model for strategic decision-making from Howard Marks.

  4. Untools: Thinking Frameworks and Mental Models

    Untools is a curated collection of thinking frameworks and decision-making tools — systems thinking, problem decomposition, first principles, and more — each explained concisely with practical guidance on when to apply them. A lightweight reference for structured reasoning.

  5. How to Write More Clearly, Think More Clearly, and Learn Complex Material More Easily

    Michael Covington's guide arguing that writing, thinking, and learning are deeply interconnected — you don't truly know something until you can write about it clearly. Practical advice on clear academic and technical writing aimed at amplifying intellectual capacity.

  6. Most Advice Is Pretty Bad

    Sam's 'All That Is Solid' essay arguing that most advice fails because it's decontextualized — stripped of the specific circumstances under which it was true for the person giving it. A case for skepticism toward advice as a form of knowledge transfer.

  7. Solitude and Leadership

    William Deresiewicz's 2010 West Point address arguing that solitude — time alone with your own thoughts — is the prerequisite for genuine leadership. A sharp critique of multitasking culture and the kind of 'excellent sheep' produced by elite institutions.

All bookmarks