The most practical skill you can learn is working smarter. But here's what nobody tells you about working smarter: it often looks like you're working slower.

A programmer might spend 20 hours wrestling with a difficult algorithm, then have an insight in the shower that solves it in 10 lines of code. Those 20 hours weren't wasted—they were necessary

Key Takeaways Understanding Critical Thinking: It’s more than just thinking hard. It's about deep, objective analysis to make a judgment. It's the conductor ensuring harmony in our cognitive symphony. Avoiding Negative Assumptions: Critical thinking doesn't mean being negative. It's about seeking clarity and understanding both the good and bad

The primary obstacle to good thinking is not a cramped desk or an uninteresting horizon. It is, first and foremost, anxiety.