“… and that’s why energy density is so important to think about when considering what kind of energy - regardless of whether it’s nuclear, solar, wind, or oil - to use when trying to power a city.”

My mouth gaped open a little.

“How… do you know so much about… so many things?” I asked my friend who had just finished giving me an impromptu TED talk on energy sources, the supply of copper in the world, and infant mortality rates in the U.S.

“I mean, what methods do you use to learn that allows you to retain all that information and then put it together to come up with such a clear vision of the big picture?” I asked, as I tried to compose myself.

I was talking to my friend, Beren, who I met while I was digital nomading on a tiny island off the coast of Honduras a few years ago. This guy is about 10 years younger than me, but has a general knowledge of the world that is absolutely mind boggling.

“I use knowledge integration,” he said.

I quickly Googled the term.

Knowledge integration is a cognitive skill that merges new information with existing knowledge. It fosters a deeper understanding and facilitates applying that knowledge across various contexts.

“Every time I learn something new, I pause and think about all the different ways it could be applied to all the stuff I already know,” he added helpfully. “It helps me remember what I learned, and I use it to construct my own understanding of the world from first principles.”

Okay then. This sounds like a useful skill.

So how can we do it?

When I asked my friend this question, he said that some of the research his dad did on this subject for his PhD actually showed that this skill is usually innate, and if someone doesn’t have it, it’s rare that they can truly develop this skill deeply.

I’m not sure I can accept defeat so easily, so I read up on how to hone the technique.

We all have some level of capacity in this skill, but those who can really do it well are almost limitless in what they can retain and recall, how they can tie in seemingly disparate pieces of information, and learn even more information to create better models of understanding.

Here’s a tl;dr:

1. Seek diverse learning sources: Put yourself in situations that encourage you to explore knowledge from diverse sources, such as books, articles, experts, online courses, and hands-on experiences. The more varied the inputs, the richer the integration.

2. Pause to deliberately reflect & apply: After you learn something, practice pausing. Reflect on what you've learned and how it aligns or challenges your existing existing mental models. Apply what you just learned to as many real-world examples as you can.

3. Recognize patterns: Train your mind to identify patterns between new information and what you already know. Look for common themes, shared principles, or analogous concepts that bridge different domains.

4. Teach or discuss with others: Don’t live in a silo, talk to people. Figure out how to expose yourself to alternative viewpoints and new perspectives.

How to NOT do knowledge integration

1. Learn superficially: Avoid memorizing facts without understanding their deeper implications (AKA how schools teach you how to learn). True knowledge integration involves grasping the underlying concepts and their interconnectedness.

2. Be closed-minded: When someone challenges your opinion, are you silently waiting for your turn to talk, or are you able to see if your existing beliefs and mental models need to shift?

3. Overlook relationships: When you learn something new, do you look for relationships between new and existing knowledge? Do you over-compartmentalize “work” knowledge and “non-work” knowledge (or whatever the categories may be for you)? Knowledge silos == fragmented understanding. Always seek to connect the dots.

4. Neglect application: Don't stop at theoretical knowledge. Actively apply what you've learned to real-world situations to reinforce integration and discover practical applications.

This sounds hard. Why bother?

If this isn’t it for you, totally A-okay.

If this knowledge integration has given a name to a concept you’ve already known about and you want to get better at it, this is for you.

Research has shown that individuals who excel at knowledge integration tend to be more innovative and exhibit higher problem-solving abilities. They can transfer ideas and principles across different domains, which is more likely to generate creative solutions and breakthrough innovations.

For people who are strong in knowledge integration and set up their lives to generate exposure to interdisciplinary topics (ahem, like this newsletter), they can more easily draw analogies and make connections that others might miss, giving them a competitive advantage in tackling complex problems.

Every time you learn new information and apply it in uncommon ways, you’re modifying your neural networks and building new connections.

Neuroscientists have observed that when people learn new information, existing neural networks are modified to accommodate the integration of the new knowledge. This rewiring of the brain enables a more holistic and interconnected understanding of the world.

The skill of knowledge integration can be a transformative journey, expanding your cognitive abilities and fostering adaptability in an ever-changing world. Embrace the process with an open mind, explore diverse topics, and actively apply your knowledge.

Barbie, but make it classical

In honor of Barbenheimer week, here’s a YouTube video of a brilliant man who re-wrote “I’m a Barbie girl” in the style of 6 classical composers.

As someone with classical music training, I say bravo, ser.

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