Derpetology

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

An educated native speaker of English has a vocabulary of about 25,000 words even though only about 6,000 of them account for 95% of what they say. So what is the value of knowing the other 19,000 words? A large vocabulary is a reliable signal that someone has read a lot, because that is the usual way someone comes to know many words. People who read a lot are usually smart; thus, the use of rare words is a signal to other intelligent people that they are alike and should interact. The fact that we have dictionaries (and can instantly look up the definition of words online) does not negate the advantage of having a large vocabulary.

It's similar to the way people wear certain clothes in order to fit into a group. There's a reason why businessmen always wear suits. It's an advertisement about who they are and wish to associate with.

Indeed, the most common way people try to ingratiate themselves into a group is by changing their appearance and sometimes their speech. People who move to a different country or region often adopt the accent there in order to be accepted.

Knowledge also works as a social cue. Most knowledge, especially the kind from formal education, has little direct utility, especially today when almost everyone has the internet in their pocket. The amount of practical knowledge a typical adult needs is surprisingly small. Almost all the rest functions as way to show interests and status. For example, knowing how to change a tire is a lot more useful than being able to read Latin, yet knowing Latin is a clear indicator that someone is inquisitive, well-read, and probably intelligent. I suspect this is the reason the high IQ society Mensa uses a Latin word for its name.

Someone who is very knowledgeable and demonstrates it is showing (unintentionally or not) who they are and who they want to associate with. This is why people should be careful about what knowledge they share. If you talk about astronomy all the time, people will wonder why you aren't working at a planetarium or a member of a stargazer club. Sharing knowledge on different topics sends mixed signals, sort of like switching from one language to another. If you want to speak English, it does no good to go around speaking Spanish or any other language.

Still, being knowledgeable on many topics is generally respected. Scholars hundreds of years ago were respected precisely because it was known to take a lifetime of study to learn so much. The key to avoid being called a know-it-all is to say little. Sile et philosophus esto is Latin for "be silent and you will pass for a philosopher". In any case, know-it-all refers to someone who pretends to be more knowledgeable than they are. Someone who really does know a lot on many topics is a polymath.

I say be a renaissance man if you can. The world can always benefit from another genius.

I should add that jokes are the most useful thing to memorize if you want to make friends and get people to like you.

Saturday, August 1, 2026

How many books should you read?

The short answer is the more, the better. But as in all other things, there are diminishing returns to reading.

It's better to read many short books than one long one. Nonfiction is more informative and often more enjoyable.

Here is a short reading list that provides a good education:

1. Bullfinch's Mythology

2. The Cartoon History of the Universe

3. Man's Search for Meaning

4. Animal Farm

5. Slaughterhouse 5

6. The Art of War

7. Ecclesiastes

8. Proverbs

9. Alice in Wonderland

10. The Hobbit

Anyone who reads all of those will have a pretty good grasp of life, the universe, and everything.

Should you go to college? Should you study engineering?

I think it is a bad idea to borrow a lot of money for college, though most who study law or medicine pay back their loans with no problem.

I was not enthusiastic about college. I went because I got a full scholarship and couldn't think of anything better to do. I don't regret going to college, but it made me realize that I did not want to spend any more time in school, though that ended up happening anyway.

My scholarship required that I study science, engineering, or technology. I picked chemical engineering because I liked chemistry in high school and the starting salaries were good. At the time, I wasn't sure if I wanted to get a PhD, so I thought engineering was a practical choice that would let me go to work right away if I wanted. As it turned out, after four years of studying engineering, I wanted to do something completely different for a while. So I joined the Peace Corps because I wanted to travel, learn another language, and have an adventure. That was probably the best decision I ever made.

In order to be a successful engineer, you have to be focused and driven. You have to care a lot about getting the design or process right. If you find the work boring, as I did, engineering will not work out for you as a career. Engineers usually work in teams, so they have to be sociable. If you're an introvert, avoid engineering unless you're really interested in the technology involved.

If I had to live my life over again knowing everything I know now, my life would be about 90% the same. That's a sign I don't have too many regrets and made mostly the right decisions.

suggested movies for homeschoolers and gifted/talented students

Many are available for free on YouTube.

The War of the Worlds (1953)

Some are family friendly, others not so much. Sex, violence, and profanity are parts of adulthood. Movies are a safe way to introduce them. Forbidden fruits are excellent incentives for good behavior.

1. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (1979)

2. Jaws

3. Star Wars (original trilogy)

4. The Thing (1982)

5. Saving Private Ryan

6. The Blues Brothers

7. Robocop

8. The Terminator

9. The Matrix

10. Patton

11. Tora! Tora! Tora!

12. Braveheart