THINKER'S ALMANAC - March 17

How is reading fiction like operating a flight simulator?

Subject:  Neuroscience - Reading Fiction

Event:  The New York Times publishes an editorial by Annie Murphy Paul entitled “Your Brain on Fiction,” 2012

There is no Frigate like a Book

To take us Lands away

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry –

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll –

How frugal is the Chariot

That bears the Human Soul –

-Emily Dickinson

On this day in 2012, the New York Times published a mind-blowing editorial by journalist and author Annie Murphy Paul.

In her article, entitled “Your Brain on Fiction,” Paul summarizes a variety of studies from neuroscience that reveal how reading fiction stimulates the brain and enhances human experience.

One study, for example, showed how specific sensory words related to smells, such as “lavender” or “cinnamon,” activated not only the brain’s language regions but also regions of the brain that are devoted to dealing with actual smells.  Another study using brain scans showed that words describing motion, such as “kick” and “grasp,” activated regions of the brain that coordinate the actual movements of the body.

                                                            Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay 

Another study showed that even figurative language had surprising neurological effects.  When laboratory subjects read a sentence like “The singer had a velvet voice,” the sensory cortex, the brain region that perceives texture, became active.  In contrast, when a subject read the sentence, “The singer had a pleasant voice,” only language regions were activated.

Additional studies revealed how reading fiction relates to social skills in the real world.  Canadian studies published in 2006 and 2009 revealed that frequent readers of fiction were more empathic and more able to see the world from the perspective of other people.  In Paul’s words, “This relationship persisted even after the researchers accounted for the possibility that more empathetic individuals might prefer reading novels.”

The studies summarized by Paul reveal that fiction is, in essence, the original virtual reality.  Reading fiction feeds our imagination with rich sensory imagery, evocative metaphors, and engaging details about the actions and interactions of people.  Long before we had computer simulations, fiction, and storytelling gave us a way to simulate reality. In fact, one might even argue that fiction provides an enhanced reality because, as Paul puts it, “novels go beyond simulating reality to give readers an experience unavailable off the page:  the opportunity to enter fully into other people’s thoughts and feelings” (1).

To sum up, what the research reveals, Paul makes an analogy between computers and books:  

Just as computer simulations can help us get to grips with complex problems such as flying a plane or forecasting the weather, so novels, stories, and dramas can help us understand the complexities of social life. 

Recall, Retrieve, Recite, Ruminate, Reflect, Reason:  In Canadian studies, what was the effect on frequent readers of fiction? When subjects read the sentence, "The singer had a velvet voice," what part of the brain was activated?

Challenge - All the World’s a Page:  What is a work of fiction that you think does the best job of simulating the real world?  Select a work of fiction that you love because its story captures the essence of real life.   Identify a specific passage from the work that you think exemplifies that author’s ability to simulate real life through the description of characters, setting, or plot.  Pay attention, especially to effective sensory imagery, figurative language, and/or dialogue. Copy the passage verbatim; then, write an explanation of what makes the writing in the passage exemplary.  

ALSO ON THIS DAY:

March 17, 180 A.D.:  On this day the Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius died of the plague, AD 180 (See Thinker’s Almanac - March 7).  He said the following about death: “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”

March 17, 1680:  On this day the French writer and aphorist François de La Rochefoucauld died (See Thinker’s Almanac - September 15 ). He said, 

“Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.”

Sources:

1-Paul, Anne Murphy.  “Your Brain on Fiction.”  The New York Times 17 March 2012.

THINKER'S ALMANAC - March 16

What can the shortest U.S. president teach us about planning and executing big ideas?

Subject:  Government - Madison and the U.S. Constitution

Event:  Birthday of James Madison, 1751

Philosophy is common sense with big words. -James Madison

James Madison, who was born on this day in 1751, had a soft voice and stood only five feet, four inches tall.  Nevertheless, he is remembered today as “the father of the Constitution.”  Even though he is seldom the first name that comes up when you think of the Founding Fathers, nevertheless, it would be hard to point to one person who contributed more both to envisioning our Constitution and to creating it.

           President James Madison and his wife Dolly - Image by Dennis Larsen from Pixabay 

Before the Constitutional Convention began in May 1787, Madison drafted a memorandum that outlined a vision for the new government; it was called Vices of the Political System of the United States.  Madison’s memo is a remarkable synthesis of history and political theory, and it provided the outline of what would become the U.S. Constitution.  

During the Convention, Madison took detailed notes, recording the progress of the convention and its various debates.  Because delegates to the convention had agreed to keep their discussion secret, Madison’s notes were not published until he and all the delegates had died in 1840, 53 years after the convention in Philadelphia.

Madison’s work was not finished when the Constitutional Convention adjourned on September 17, 1787.  The new constitution still needed to be ratified by each state.  To persuade them, Madison teamed with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to publish The Federalist Papers, which presented the key arguments for why the government prescribed by the Constitution would be the best for the United States.

Madison later became the Chief Executive of the government that he helped create, serving as U.S. President from 1809 to 1817. During his presidency, he led the country as it faced its first war -- the War of 1812.

Each year on March 16th, the American Library Association celebrates Freedom of Information Day.  It is a day that was intentionally created to coincide with Madison’s birthday, for he made many contributions to creating a free and open government.  

In his 2021 book The Constitution of Knowledge, Jonathan Rauch praises Madison’s unique contribution to the founding of the United States:

What set him apart was a grasp of political systems as intricate, self-adjusting, constantly changing social machines.  He more than anyone else translated the philosophical principles of Locke and the French philosopher Baron de Montesquieu, among others, into  working political order; and he did so with no successful precedent to consult.  History could show him only a long record of failures, both democratic and authoritarian. (3)

In a letter that he wrote long after leaving the presidency, we can see that Madison was still concerned about the key factors that established and maintained a strong, effective government:

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both. (2)

If you visit Washington, D.C., you won’t find a James Madison monument; however, just about everything you see there that’s related to a functioning, enduring democracy has his fingerprints on it.

Recall, Retrieve, Recite, Ruminate, Reflect, Reason:  What was the purpose of The Federalist Papers? What annual holiday coincides with Madison's birthday?

Challenge:  Founding Fathers Know Best:  Do some research on quotations by the Founding Fathers.  What is one quotation by a specific Founding Father that you find insightful?  Quote it, and explain why you like it. 

Also on This Day:  

March 16, 1971:  On this day Simon and Garfunkel’s song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was named both Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 13th Grammy Awards.  The song’s title hints at the song’s figurative image of friendship.  

Sources:

1-Rakove, Jack.  “James Madison and the Constitution”

2-James Madison to W. T. Barry, August 4, 1822

3.-Rauch, Jonathan. The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth. Washington D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2021: 81.

THINKER'S ALMANAC - March 15

How can Julius Caesar’s dying words help you keep your audience engaged?

Subject:  Rhetorical Questions - Et tu Brute?

Event:  The assassination of Julius Caesar, 44 B.C.

How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man? 

- Bob Dylan, “Blowing in the Wind”

On this day in 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated by the Roman Senate.  

After defeating his rival Pompey, Caesar returned victoriously to Rome in 46 B.C.  The Roman Senate made him dictator for life, but some senators feared Caesar had grown too powerful.  These conspirators planned a public assassination.

                                            Julius Caesar - Image by Dorothe from Pixabay 

Days before March 15th, the augur Spurinna had warned Caesar to “Beware the Ides of March.”  (The Ides were simply a way to designate the middle of each month. In March, May, July, and October, the Ides fell on the 15th day; in the other months, the Ides fell on the 13th day of the month.)

As Caesar approached the Senate meeting on the morning of the 15th, a friend handed him a note, warning him of the assassination plot.  Caesar, however, did not read the letter. As he entered the theatre where the Senate was meeting, Caesar saw the augur Spurinna. He addressed him mockingly, saying “The Ides 

of March has come.”  Spurinna replied, “Yes, but they have not yet gone.”

As Caesar took his seat, conspiring senators surrounded him, pretending to be paying their respects.  A frenzied attack ensued in which Caesar was stabbed 23 times before falling dead to the floor (1).

For Caesar’s assassins, the Ides of March was an important date.  The first month of the Roman year was March, and the Ides marked the first full moon of the new year.  On this date each year, the Romans celebrated the festival of Anna Perenna, the goddess of the cycle of the year.  To her faithful worshipers, Anna Perenna awarded a long life. By eliminating the dictator Julius Caesar, the assassins no doubt believed they were ensuring the long life of Rome (2).

In Shakespeare’s theatrical account of Caesar’s assassination, Julius’ dying words are “Et tu, Brute?” (You too, Brutus?), a rhetorical question uttered by Caesar as he looks at Brutus, a man who he thought was his friend.  Although there is no record that Caesar actually said this, we can see why Shakespeare added it: it heightens the emotion of the scene and heightens the drama of Brutus’ betrayal.

Shakespeare used rhetorical questions.  Should you use them too?

More than a day of just warnings, we should embrace March 15 as a day to remember the power of the rhetorical question.  As we see from Shakespeare’s example, rhetorical questions have the power to engage an audience.  Whether you're presenting a speech or communicating in writing, consider crafting questions that spark your audience's interest and that get them thinking.  The audience is not expected to actually respond to these questions out loud, but you want to frame your questions in a way that will encourage your audience to personally connect to your topic. 

Recall, Retrieve, Recite, Ruminate, Reflect, Reason:  Why should writers and speakers use rhetorical questions? What is the "Ides"?

Challenge:  Diverting Doom and Disaster:  Julius Caesar would have been smart to have listened more carefully to the warnings of Spurinna, who made his determination of the future by examining the entrails of animal sacrifices.  Today we receive our warnings from Public Service Announcements (PSAs).  PSAs began during World War II when radio broadcasters teamed up with advertising agencies to create the Advertising Council.  This partnership produced numerous messages to promote the war effort, such as advertisements promoting war bonds and famous messages like, “Loose Lips Sink Ships” — a warning against careless talk that might provide state secrets to the enemy.

Both Smokey the Bear and his famous slogan — “Remember… Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires” were created by the Ad Council.  

What are some possible dangers that people face on a daily basis?  What do people need to know to avoid these dangers? Write a PSA that identifies a specific danger and that includes some rhetorical questions to engage your audience. The purpose of a PSA is to equip the listener/reader with a specific strategy for avoiding the danger. Do some research on your topic to gather some facts and statistics; then, consider the target audience for your PSA.  Begin by doing something that grabs the audience’s attention, and do the best you can to show, not just tell, the danger along with explaining how to avoid it (4). 

Sources:

1-March, W.B. and Bruce Carrick. 365:  Your Date With History. Icon Books, 2005:  124-5.

2-Selwood, Dominic. ”The Ides of March: The Assassination of Julius Caesar and How It Changed the World.” The Telegraph 15 March 2018.

3-Ad Council. “Our Story.” 4-Bell, Jaclyn. “How to Create the Perfect Public Service Announcement.” Government Technology 12 March 2021.

THINKER'S ALMANAC - March 14

What aspect of “March Madness” is a sound, rational method for decision-making?

Subject:  Bracket Decision Making - NCAA Bracket

Event:  Beginning of first 64-team NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, 1985

On this day in 1985, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament began, the first time the tournament featured 64 teams.  The tournament originated in 1939, but at that time only eight teams competed. The birth of what has become known as “March Madness” began with the start of the 1985 tournament.  Fans across the nation feasted on a smorgasbord of first-round games, visually tracking the progress of the tournament using a 64-team bracket.

                                                                       Image by Ralph from Pixabay 

The moniker “March Madness” originated as a term to describe high school basketball.  Henry V. Porter, an official for the Illinois High School Association, first used it to promote his state’s basketball tournament in 1939.  With the gradual increase of teams in the annual NCAA college basketball tournament along with its growing popularity, March Madness graduated to the college ranks, becoming the operative term for the annual tournament. In 2010, the NCAA paid $17.2 million to trademark the term (1).

Besides the large number of teams in the tournament and ESPN’s saturation coverage of the games, the other element that made March Madness a cultural phenomenon was the bracket.  The bracket concept for tracking single-elimination contests is not new — it may go as far back as medieval jousting tournaments. Beginning with the large slate of teams in the 1985 tournament, fans across the nation could participate in office pools, filling out their brackets and tracking the progress of their predictions in each round. According to the American Gaming Association, $10.4 billion was spent on tournament betting in 2017 with approximately 40 million people filling out 70 million brackets (2).

In fact, brackets have become so popular that the concept has moved beyond just basketball and sports.  In 2009, Mark Reiter and Richard Sandomir published a book called The Final Four of Everything where they used the bracket form to judge everything from “SAT Success Strategies” to “Songs by the Grateful Dead.”

Reiter and Sandomir explain in the introduction to their book that a bracket is much more than just a list.  Unlike a list that ranks things from best to worst, the bracket presents “discrete one-on-one matchups” and allows “the two to rub together and create friction to determine the superior players” (3).

The following are some examples that show the variety of topics that can be found in The Final Four of Everything:

Philosophers, Cognitive Biases, Logical Fallacies, Most American Superhero, Disney Animated Films, Fears and Phobias, National Parks, Texas Sayings, Politically Correct Terms, Artisan Cheeses, Board Games, Presidential Speeches, Fatherly Advice, Acronyms, Fortune Cookies

A bracket can be an excellent method for decision-making, whether working alone or in a group.  Faced with many options, the bracket allows the decision 

maker to focus matchup by matchup. The round-by-round format of a bracket also allows time to make deliberate choices and to reexamine previous judgments.  Say, for example, you’re trying to decide on which college to attend.  Instead of focusing on a list of 16, you can compare two at a time, allowing the best colleges to emerge as you eliminate the unacceptable candidates and preserve and reexamine the best candidates.  

As Mark Reiter, author of  The Final Four of Everything puts it:

A bracket is a more dynamic way of understanding personal preferences.  The practice of parsing people, places, and things into discrete one-on-one matchups works because it’s simple and the face-off happens right in front of you – in real time. In that sense, a bracket invests your opinions with a narrative of how you decided something. 

Recall, Retrieve, Recite, Ruminate, Reflect, Reason:  How is the bracket format a more effective method of decision-making than making a list? What is the origin of the bracket format for competitions?

Challenge - Build a Better Bracket:  What are some sample categories that might make good topics for a bracket?  Brainstorm some possible categories; then, select one and break it into 64, 32, or 16 parts.  Draw a bracket on a piece of paper and fill in your list of competitors along with a title. Fill in the bracket based on who you think would win each competition.  For example, if your bracket were “Songs by The Beatles,” which song would you pick in the showdown between “Love Me Do” and “P.S. I Love You”? Write your explanation for the victor in at least six of the matchups on your bracket. 

ALSO ON THIS DAY:

-March 14, 1879:  Albert Einstein was born on this day.  He said, “Invention is not the product of logical thought, even though the final product is tied to a logical structure.”

-March 14, 1919:  Writer Max Shulman was born on this day.  His short story “Love is a Fallacy” tells the story of a law student’s failed attempt to apply logic to romance. 

-March 14, Every Year:  Pi Day

Sources:

1-Ledonne, Rob. “March Madness: Everything You Need to Know About the NCAA Tournament.” Rolling Stone 17 March 2016.

2-Weinstein, Arthur. “NCAA Tournament expected to draw record $10.4 billion in bets” Sporting News 13 March 2017.

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3-Reiter, Mark and Richard Sandomir (editors).  The Final Four of Everything.  New York:  Simon & Schuster 2009.

THINKER'S ALMANAC - March 13

Why did a public service announcement featuring an egg frying in a pan become one of the most successful PSAs of all time?

Subject:  Analogies - SAT

Event:  Analogies removed from the SAT, 2005

In 2005, the College Board removed analogy questions from the SAT.  These problems tested students’ ability to recognize vocabulary and make logical comparisons.  

For example, 

STORY : FABLE :: POEM : _______ 

(A. POET, B. NOVEL, C. RHYME, D. SONNET).  

Using analogical thinking, a student would see the relationship:  a FABLE is a type of STORY, and a SONNET is a type of POEM.

Writing in The New York Times on this day in 2005, Adam Cohen wrote an obituary of sorts for the SAT analogy, mourning its loss:

Intentionally misleading comparisons are becoming the dominant mode of public discourse.  The ability to tell true analogies from false ones has never been more important. (1)

Although analogies may no longer be a test item on the SAT, they remain a key strategy for thinkers and writers, both for clarifying their own thinking and for communicating their thinking to others.

An analogy uses comparison and ratio to reason to some conclusion.  In this 

sense, an analogy is less figurative than a metaphor or a simile, but a bit more logical.

For example, in an essay about nail-biting, the writer Suzannah Showler uses an analogy to show her readers that we should not go to extremes by labeling all nail-biters as obsessive-compulsives:

But just as the specter of hoarding shouldn’t rule out collecting as a hobby, not every nibbled nail should be judged by the end-stage diagnosis.

In another example, Joseph Addison uses an analogy to describe the benefits of reading:

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.  As by the one, health is preserved, strengthened, and invigorated; by the other, virtue -- which is the health of the mind -- is kept alive, cherished, and confirmed. 

Notice how Addison’s explanation echoes an almost mathematical relationship:  

Reading : Mind :: Exercise : Body

One of the most successful public service announcements ever produced employed a visual analogy comparing drug abuse to a fried egg.  The PSA was produced by the Ad Council in 1987. It featured the simple image of a single egg in a frying pan along with a concise message of just 15 words:  “This is your brain. This is drugs. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?”

Analogies are an excellent way to teach your reader and to avoid the curse of knowledge (see THINKER’S ALMANAC - January 2).  Look at your topic from your audience’s point of view.  Think about what they know and what they don’t know.  Like a teacher who tries to build a bridge between a student’s prior knowledge and a new concept, try to arrange an analogy that helps the reader to see the unknown through the lens of the known.

Recall, Retrieve, Recite, Ruminate, Reflect, Reason:  What is an analogy, and how can it help you overcome the curse of knowledge?

Challenge - The Annals of Analogy:  What is an example of an excellent analogy that you have seen used by a great thinker or writer?  Identify the analogy, and explain why you think it works.

Sources:

1-Cohen, Adam. “An SAT Without Analogies Is Like: (A) A Confused Citizenry…” The New York Times 13 March 2005.