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Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

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Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#101

Post by TimTheTinker »

dllthomas wrote: post #88
TimTheTinker wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought of that, but it sounded like it was just studying particular mathematical structures -- not learning "how to read arbitrary algebraic expressions". Or perhaps algebraic expressions in different mathematical specialties are differentiated enough to make knowledge about how to read a given expression mostly non-transferable?

Ah, to my mind "algebra" is the structure. It sounds like you want a survey of mathematical notation?

> a survey of mathematical notation

YES!

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#102

Post by chmod600 »

jmcphers wrote: post #91

> My mother is amazing to watch because she doesn't do anything efficiently, really: She puts about three times as much energy as necessary into everything she does. But she never spends any time wondering what to do next or how to optimize anything; she just keeps working. Her strategy, slightly simplified, is, "See something that needs to be done and do it." All day long. And at the end of the day, she's accomplish…

This is effective because analysis paralysis is mentally draining.

We tend to think/optimize in terms of time. But I've found it helpful to optimize for mental energy, which is often the limiting factor.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#103

Post by bigcat12345678 »

copperx wrote: post #49
mymythisisthis wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have quick summary of Knuth stating this? Just want to know, curious.

He has indeed said that, I can confirm that much. It should be easy to find in one in the interviews.

In addition to the other post in this thread mention that it's time consuming to go through the list.

Fundamentally, that work can be saved by the original author spend negligible amount of energy to provide the reference.

When I see people hiding information, or forgot to provide links, I am thinking a bit of human intellectual energy is wasted for no good reason...

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#104

Post by mrmuagi »

chmod600 wrote: post #102
jmcphers wrote: post #91

> My mother is amazing to watch because she doesn't do anything efficiently, really: She puts about three times as much energy as necessary into everything she does. But she never spends any time wondering what to do next or how to optimize anything; she just keeps working. Her strategy, slightly simplified, is, "See something that needs to be done and do it." All day long. And at the end of the day, she's accomplish…

This is effective because analysis paralysis is mentally draining. We tend to think/optimize in terms of time. But I've found it helpful to optimize for mental energy, which is often the limiting factor.

This carries over to social anxiety as well -- you tend to overthink what people think and such -- the more you do things the better you naturally get from experience as well.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#106

Post by [deleted] »

SoftTalker wrote: post #85

Every day I look at the things that I'm ready to do, and choose the one that I like the least, the one that's least fun — the task that I would most like to procrastinate from doing, but for which I have no good reason for procrastination. I'm not sure I've seen this approach to combating procrastination before. I can see how it might work: once you've completed the thing you least wanted to do, you might feel relief…

[deleted]

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#107

Post by notabee »

mpwoz wrote: post #99
SoftTalker wrote: post #85

Every day I look at the things that I'm ready to do, and choose the one that I like the least, the one that's least fun — the task that I would most like to procrastinate from doing, but for which I have no good reason for procrastination. I'm not sure I've seen this approach to combating procrastination before. I can see how it might work: once you've completed the thing you least wanted to do, you might feel relief…

If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first. Mark Twain

Beat me to posting the same quote. I don't always manage to follow it, but it has helped me sometimes.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#108

Post by RaoulP »

jmcphers wrote: post #91

> My mother is amazing to watch because she doesn't do anything efficiently, really: She puts about three times as much energy as necessary into everything she does. But she never spends any time wondering what to do next or how to optimize anything; she just keeps working. Her strategy, slightly simplified, is, "See something that needs to be done and do it." All day long. And at the end of the day, she's accomplish…

My mom is exactly the same and I really admire her for it.

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#109

Post by orzig »

bowsamic wrote: post #50
wnolens wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did you value another enough to enter into marriage with them? What was that decision like?

It just seemed like the obvious thing to do. We are more like very stable roommates that hug, rather than lovers.

That’s a poetic description of what sounds like a wonderful relationship. Hats off to you!

Re: Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)

#110

Post by hamiltonians »

ipnon wrote: post #54
skadamat wrote: post #53

One of my favorite facts about Knuth is how rarely he checks email! https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2008/07/17/bonus-post-how-th...

Fast responses to email was just cited as a key factor in founder success in Cowen's "Talent". He quoted Altman, who apparently ran some rudimentary data analysis based on his own emails while working at Y Combinator. Obviously Knuth is not successful as a founder .

yeah cuz tyler is the authority on this matter
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