Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
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Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
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Re: Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
#2> In comparison, Forbes 30U30, MIT Tech Review TR35, or Stat Wunderkind, and other industry awards that highlight talent are lagging indicators of success.
At least one of these you have to explicitly ask to be added to to be mentioned in. It's worthless as a measure of value, yet taken to be one by this person.
That's what more money than sense gets you, I guess: A worship of dilettantes and a reliance on marketers to make commercials to advertise every opportunity to you.
Re: Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
#3Cowen is a unique talent in the world.
One of the most smartest people you'll ever read or speak to. It seems he has at least a modest understanding of important topics in almost any field you can mention, and an impressive mastery in a few dozen. From Brutalist architecture, tennis to Latin American art.
He talks and writes about politics, but rarely if ever is dogmatic or partisan. Has no problem admitting he was wrong about something, or that he doesn't know the answer (depressingly rare).
I highly recommend his blog and podcast. IMO the most underrated interviewer in the game. Each of his guests he researches deeply and always asks the most incisive, intelligent questions you wish you had thought of.
TC is fairly popular among the HN set but could always be more widely known.
Re: Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
#4Sounds like the issue of correlation and causation isn't solidified here. Maybe the very fact of Tyler Cowen recognizes them is what makes them so successful. He invests, puts their names out there and a lot of the elements needed for success fall at their feet. Or maybe Cowen made a deal with the devil and can predict the future. Hard to tell without a control group where Cowen doesn't exist.
Re: Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
#5Cowen is a unique talent in the world. One of the most smartest people you'll ever read or speak to. It seems he has at least a modest understanding of important topics in almost any field you can mention, and an impressive mastery in a few dozen. From Brutalist architecture, tennis to Latin American art. He talks and writes about politics, but rarely if ever is dogmatic or partisan. Has no problem admitting he was w…
I first learned about him when I moved to DC and discovered Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide (https://tylercowensethnicdiningguide.com/) which had my family and I traveling all over the DC metro area trying some of the cool picks from the list. I am amazed that he has time to keep it up given all the other stuff he's up to, but I think that sort of sums up his nature :)
Re: Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
#6Cowen is a unique talent in the world. One of the most smartest people you'll ever read or speak to. It seems he has at least a modest understanding of important topics in almost any field you can mention, and an impressive mastery in a few dozen. From Brutalist architecture, tennis to Latin American art. He talks and writes about politics, but rarely if ever is dogmatic or partisan. Has no problem admitting he was w…
> Has no problem admitting he was wrong about something, or that he doesn't know the answer (depressingly rare).
On the contrary, he generally suggests that government and "experts" can analyze issues and devise appropriate "policies" (including climate changes, yep) for all of us.
I tried to ignore that for years, but the pattern continued so eventually I had to stop following him. More recently I heard - those interested may want to check his blog rather than believe my recollection - that he was in favor of strict lockdowns or mandatory vaccination (I can't remember which, but I wasn't surprised when I heard about it).
Sadly, the man is a statist.
Re: Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
#7> As discussed above, Tyler eliminates the first need - efficiency - through selective distribution. Because the program keeps a low profile, there is a manageable number of applications (2000 at current date, running over the past 4 years) and the average quality is very high. At least for a hyperlexic, it is indeed possible to read and score every essay.
Will this article disrupt that?
Re: Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
#8Sounds like the issue of correlation and causation isn't solidified here. Maybe the very fact of Tyler Cowen recognizes them is what makes them so successful. He invests, puts their names out there and a lot of the elements needed for success fall at their feet. Or maybe Cowen made a deal with the devil and can predict the future. Hard to tell without a control group where Cowen doesn't exist.
Also marginal revolution and his podcasts probably pulls in right kinda people.
Re: Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
#9Sounds like the issue of correlation and causation isn't solidified here. Maybe the very fact of Tyler Cowen recognizes them is what makes them so successful. He invests, puts their names out there and a lot of the elements needed for success fall at their feet. Or maybe Cowen made a deal with the devil and can predict the future. Hard to tell without a control group where Cowen doesn't exist.
I agree there is likely impact from the recognition itself.
Shouldn't be hard to verify, no? Have him pick 2N candidates, randomly select half that he can not announce publicly, talk to or otherwise influence (impossible to prevent entirely but "good enough" will suffice to establish a difference). Then look at how the two groups are doing some time down the line.
Re: Tyler Cowen is a curator of talent
#10I'm a grantee of Tyler's Emergent Ventures program (I was in batch 2) and I have to say that I was impressed by the people I met during the Emergent Ventures unconference (there was one two years ago and there will be another one this November). I really felt out of place, since everyone else seemed so much more accomplished and smart.