The Polymath Playbook
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The Polymath Playbook
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Re: The Polymath Playbook
#2You’ve likely heard the saying: “A jack of all trades is a master of none.” It warns against the futility of pursuing too many disciplines. Be a specialist, or you’ll be nothing.
It may surprise you to learn there’s actually an extended version: “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” With a subtle addition, its meaning becomes inverted to tout the benefits of being a polymath (a.k.a. generalist).
Why is the former so common, and the latter so unknown?
The answer lies in modern society’s preference for specialization. This essay explores how specialization limits workers’ freedom, how the polymath approach can offer a reprieve, and my own learnings exploring a multitude of pursuits.
Re: The Polymath Playbook
#3So under this definition I too am a polymath but so are most of my colleagues. Some of the smartest engineers Ive ever met have wildly different hobbies outside of engineering or software. Boating. Baking. Triathlons. Music. But the most successful people do one thing, 100% in an all consuming way before flipping into another. Theyre the best bakers. Have sailed the furhest distances, written the best songs, and posted the best times.
Another way to think about it is “you can have anything you want, but not everything you want”. Choose accordingly.
Re: The Polymath Playbook
#4Great read. "A gentleman should play the flute, but never too well." - Aristotle. Our specializations are not states of nature. Let's restart and strengthen this narrative with another observation: today's USA public companies are statistically destined to last only 15 years, down from 67 years in 1925. So, how do specializations correlate across companies? What's more, where innovations and adaptations are concerned, our communicative capacities are semantically constrained by our semantic overlaps. Specializations are mostly specializations within "wholes," and many of those, particularly academic departmental specializations, are largely calcifications. I'm not claiming there are easy solutions, but we can easily observe commonplace trainwrecks in motion.
Re: The Polymath Playbook
#5A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
— Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love
Re: The Polymath Playbook
#6You’ve likely heard the saying: “A jack of all trades is a master of none.” It warns against the futility of pursuing too many disciplines. Be a specialist, or you’ll be nothing. It may surprise you to learn there’s actually an extended version: “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” With a subtle addition, its meaning becomes inverted to tout the benefits of being a p…
I think it's a mistake to call a polymath a generalist. The concept of a polymath is predicated on top notch knowledge and skill at multiple disciplines.
Generalist implies breadth but not depth.
Re: The Polymath Playbook
#7So under this definition I too am a polymath but so are most of my colleagues. Some of the smartest engineers Ive ever met have wildly different hobbies outside of engineering or software. Boating. Baking. Triathlons. Music. But the most successful people do one thing, 100% in an all consuming way before flipping into another. Theyre the best bakers. Have sailed the furhest distances, written the best songs, and post…
This is the way to do it. Done well, a 5-year deep dive can make you a world-class expert in most things. Do that, and then move onto the next thing, bringing that skillset along.
It goes faster every time too. It turns out there are lots of overlaps. Linear algebra and differential equations are (roughly) the same in electronic engineering, quantum mechanics, or mechanical engineering, and where they're not is where you often bring in unique insights.
The people who struggle are the ones who go shallow. A half-dozen HN articles a day.
Re: The Polymath Playbook
#8You’ve likely heard the saying: “A jack of all trades is a master of none.” It warns against the futility of pursuing too many disciplines. Be a specialist, or you’ll be nothing. It may surprise you to learn there’s actually an extended version: “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” With a subtle addition, its meaning becomes inverted to tout the benefits of being a p…
Please make it clear that you’re quoting the piece. Your entire comment is a literal copy/paste of the first few paragraphs.
Re: The Polymath Playbook
#9Thanks for sharing your sentiments. I tend to associate polymaths with the Renaissance era. People like Da Vinci and Galilei are true polymaths. In modern days Elon Musk is one. However I do think the word polymath is more well-regarded/skilled than a generalist.
Re: The Polymath Playbook
#10You’ve likely heard the saying: “A jack of all trades is a master of none.” It warns against the futility of pursuing too many disciplines. Be a specialist, or you’ll be nothing. It may surprise you to learn there’s actually an extended version: “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” With a subtle addition, its meaning becomes inverted to tout the benefits of being a p…
I think it's a mistake to call a polymath a generalist. The concept of a polymath is predicated on top notch knowledge and skill at multiple disciplines. Generalist implies breadth but not depth.
That too was my only gripe with the article - solid and engaging writing, but I was wincing every time polymath was mentioned. I feel like you could substitute most uses of the word with just 'generalist' and the article would have held together just as well.