Brilliantly said JK. That’s a wonderfully clear and powerful framework."Literacy, Numeracy, and Curiosity" plus "the acceptance of basic humility" - these are the tools to understand the world, and the mindset to never stop exploring it.
In my quest to find books that highlighted the place of curiosity and questions, I found few written specifically on that subject. So , when I discovered Grazer's book several years ago, I delved into it with optimistic expectations. While he is driven by what he terms emotional curiosity, and uses it along with strong drive to network as a tool for career advancement, it is not the Curiosity I mean when I say: Lead with Curiosity.
Like you, I think that driven curiosity will create uncomfortable questions, not unlike the ones that 2 year olds ask, so innocently, like ' Why is that man's nose so big?" Such questions are not stated with mean-filled intention, but often, such questions remain unanswered because the observation and resultant wondering makes people uncomfortable.
In order to foster open ended, and open minded curiosity, uncomfortable questions must be asked, and honestly explored into possible areas where answers could exist. These kinds of questions are harder to answer, just as that question from a 2 year old needs to be. An answer to that rather simple question would include social norms about what to say in public, but it would ask include an exploration of how humans differ in looks, and how we can honour that while simultaneously asking the question.
As you state Colin, curiosity can be inconvenient, and I'd say, questions that matter most likely are inconvenient. But, it was the those driven to to ask inconvenient questions in the past- even if it resulted in some questioners paying with their lives- that created the Renaissance and the age of innovation, which we all benefit from today.
Thank you. You have articulated the central tension with remarkable clarity: the divergence between a curiosity used as a tool for personal advancement and one that serves as a principle for genuine, open-ended inquiry. Your concept of "Lead with Curiosity" is a powerful counterpoint to Grazer's model. (I am happy we share the same views on his book).
The analogy of the two-year-old's question is particularly brilliant. It perfectly isolates the moment where pure, unfiltered observation clashes with adult social conditioning. I agree the first barrier to many important questions is not a lack of inquisitiveness, but a fear of the social friction they might cause.
You are right Wendy, answering these seemingly simple questions requires a complex, layered, and honest exploration. The true work of curiosity isn't just in the asking, but in the rigorous and respectful formulation of an answer. That is the very work that an instrumental, career-focused curiosity so often sidesteps in favor of a quicker, more convenient takeaway.
Curiosity is also very evident in nature. Monkeys have it, magpies also. And I read an incredible book on wolves by people who lived with them and they devoted a whole chapter to curiousity that wolves have.
Absolutely Vincent, good reminders. I have heard about that wolves story before. Is it the book by Jim and Jamie Dutcher called The Wisdom of Wolves? If so, it sounds like a must read.
Yes it is. Fascinating. I feel wolves get, and have received, a lot of bad press. When you read books like this, you understand, like a lot of other things in nature, that wolves are very sensitive creatures. We project a lot onto to them that is not real.
Thank you for this multifaceted look at curiosity, and especially the insightful critique of Grazer — what he gets right and, perhaps more importantly, what he gets wrong!
Thank you Veronika. He certainly shows that curiosity is an 'essential' trait to be nurtured, but then uses to many examples and speaks widely of material success and name dropping... nit curiosity to help humanity or to live more grounded and consciously. Simply gain material wealth and possessions!
Amen. Of course, it doesn't help that their answers are usually either subterfuge, half truths or out and out fabrications. I never even imagined we'd be living in times like these, but here we are.
Wisdom requires three core elements, all of which I hope to impart on my son:
Literacy
Numeracy
Curiosity
Literacy is foundational for learning. If we cannot write well, we cannot think well. Numeracy is foundational for understanding statistics.
Everything else is curiousity. An eagerness to learn more, but also the acceptance of basic humility…that there is always more to discover.
Brilliantly said JK. That’s a wonderfully clear and powerful framework."Literacy, Numeracy, and Curiosity" plus "the acceptance of basic humility" - these are the tools to understand the world, and the mindset to never stop exploring it.
In my quest to find books that highlighted the place of curiosity and questions, I found few written specifically on that subject. So , when I discovered Grazer's book several years ago, I delved into it with optimistic expectations. While he is driven by what he terms emotional curiosity, and uses it along with strong drive to network as a tool for career advancement, it is not the Curiosity I mean when I say: Lead with Curiosity.
Like you, I think that driven curiosity will create uncomfortable questions, not unlike the ones that 2 year olds ask, so innocently, like ' Why is that man's nose so big?" Such questions are not stated with mean-filled intention, but often, such questions remain unanswered because the observation and resultant wondering makes people uncomfortable.
In order to foster open ended, and open minded curiosity, uncomfortable questions must be asked, and honestly explored into possible areas where answers could exist. These kinds of questions are harder to answer, just as that question from a 2 year old needs to be. An answer to that rather simple question would include social norms about what to say in public, but it would ask include an exploration of how humans differ in looks, and how we can honour that while simultaneously asking the question.
As you state Colin, curiosity can be inconvenient, and I'd say, questions that matter most likely are inconvenient. But, it was the those driven to to ask inconvenient questions in the past- even if it resulted in some questioners paying with their lives- that created the Renaissance and the age of innovation, which we all benefit from today.
Thank you. You have articulated the central tension with remarkable clarity: the divergence between a curiosity used as a tool for personal advancement and one that serves as a principle for genuine, open-ended inquiry. Your concept of "Lead with Curiosity" is a powerful counterpoint to Grazer's model. (I am happy we share the same views on his book).
The analogy of the two-year-old's question is particularly brilliant. It perfectly isolates the moment where pure, unfiltered observation clashes with adult social conditioning. I agree the first barrier to many important questions is not a lack of inquisitiveness, but a fear of the social friction they might cause.
You are right Wendy, answering these seemingly simple questions requires a complex, layered, and honest exploration. The true work of curiosity isn't just in the asking, but in the rigorous and respectful formulation of an answer. That is the very work that an instrumental, career-focused curiosity so often sidesteps in favor of a quicker, more convenient takeaway.
Beautifully observed, elegantly written.
Thank you so much :-)
Curiosity is also very evident in nature. Monkeys have it, magpies also. And I read an incredible book on wolves by people who lived with them and they devoted a whole chapter to curiousity that wolves have.
Absolutely Vincent, good reminders. I have heard about that wolves story before. Is it the book by Jim and Jamie Dutcher called The Wisdom of Wolves? If so, it sounds like a must read.
Yes it is. Fascinating. I feel wolves get, and have received, a lot of bad press. When you read books like this, you understand, like a lot of other things in nature, that wolves are very sensitive creatures. We project a lot onto to them that is not real.
Thank you for this multifaceted look at curiosity, and especially the insightful critique of Grazer — what he gets right and, perhaps more importantly, what he gets wrong!
Thank you Veronika. He certainly shows that curiosity is an 'essential' trait to be nurtured, but then uses to many examples and speaks widely of material success and name dropping... nit curiosity to help humanity or to live more grounded and consciously. Simply gain material wealth and possessions!
Sometimes I think I'm just a crazy cat
Running around, don't know where it's at
Getting confused with my way of life
That's when you say, now you cut that jive
Right now, right now
You keep this flame I have alight in me
And with this cat, it's curiosity
That keeps me hanging on night and day
Surprisingly, again I hear you say
Guess what, guess what, curiosity killed the cat
I'm telling you I know where it's at
Love is everywhere to be found
Open your eyes and look around...
The Little River Band - brilliant lyrics :-)
Curiosity as disruption. A most intriguing idea. I'm curious as to how this can be applied to disrupt our backslide into authoritarian rule.
Hmmm.. well we certainly need to be asking better questions of those in authority!
Amen. Of course, it doesn't help that their answers are usually either subterfuge, half truths or out and out fabrications. I never even imagined we'd be living in times like these, but here we are.