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This was a 3-star until the last chapter when I came to questioning my teaspoons and discovered the Boring Conference, Georges Perec, and Henry James. I think I want to go back and listen to that part before returning this.

I've been slow-reading this, and remember the era of the first few chapters when the two main types of curiosity are discussed - Diversive (shallow/fleeting) and Epistemic (deep/effortful). There is also Empathic curiosity.

I related that to Geeks vs Nerds, but that's another story.

I like it when a book teaches me new things. I really like it when it expands my sense of possibility, and whets my appetite to go deeper (epistemic-me). I love it when a book can unsettle me enough to allow for growth to happen.

This book introduced me to the concept of NFC (Need for Cognition), which is one I recognize and cherish in myself. Just a few weeks ago, as I was skimming through my day with my different interests (diversive-me), I suddenly felt the unsatisfied feeling of not biting deep enough. I was popcorning my day away. And then, I delved into a lecture. Mmmm.

NFC is the joy of seeking out new intellectual journeys and enjoying effortful cognitive activity.

The book then takes us back to Stone Age and dissects how or why curiosity evolved, the leverage our species has because of the transfer of knowledge, and the various attitudes towards curiosity through history (Oh Galileo!)

There is interesting contrarian discussion arguing against Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Sir Ken Robinson about schools killing creativity. The more ideas (facts) we have in our head, the more opportunity for combining them into new creative patterns. This is something I can agree with.

There is another point that I am not fully aboard with. The author argues that schools can't teach thinking skills without teaching knowledge. I think the issue here is how that knowledge is imparted. Is it rote memorization, or hands-on learning?

It was, however, in the last chapter that I felt myself on the verge of unsettling an idea I have had shelved since my teens - that I will need to have interesting experiences to write interesting things.

The transformative power of attention to bring life to seemingly mundane things gave me more than a pause, it opened a sense of possibility into discovering the enigma of ennui, while uncovering the novelty inherent in normal. Staying curious allows us to never be bored again.

I also found value in being reminded of goal-oriented motivation vs experience-focused motivation
"When all our attention is directed at the future, we easily get bored with the present"

That last chapter is packed with an entire star by itself.

Overall, I am satisfied with having dialogued with my own sense of curiosity, and having built a relationship with my NFC, in foraging for knowing what I do not know, in balancing specialism and generalism, and writing this review to engage deeper with my reading habit that serves me in staying curious.