Comforting thought: Liking something is all about anticipation and memory

It turns out we like things when we have the opportunity to pine for them in anticipation and also to think about them fondly as a memory. ‘Liking’ something happens on a continuum of past, present and future according to the fascinating book about tastes, You May Also Like by Tom Vanderbilt. Even as youContinue reading “Comforting thought: Liking something is all about anticipation and memory”

Interesting Thought: We like things according to a U-shaped curve

One leading theory by Daniel Berlyne is that our liking of things such as music follows an inverted U shaped graph, based on the factor of complexity. We prefer and like things less the more simple or complex they are. The sweet spot for most people is somewhere in the middle. You May Also LikeContinue reading “Interesting Thought: We like things according to a U-shaped curve”

Comforting Thought: Memory is a radio station that only plays the songs you want to hear

Music and the nostalgia of our youth “Why do we all (not just the Woodstock generation) seem to insist that the music of our youth was better? Because everyone has this experience, it cannot be objectively true. One study found that in the same way that we tend to remember positive life events more stronglyContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Memory is a radio station that only plays the songs you want to hear”

Comforting Thought: We remember what we like/we like what we remember

Memory functions in curious and fascinating ways according to the fascinating guide to why we like things called ‘You May Also Like’ by Tom Vanderbilt. One of the simplest and most innocent forms of bias is memory itself. In various types of competitions, people who performed later seemed to do better. You might think, asContinue reading “Comforting Thought: We remember what we like/we like what we remember”

Book Review: The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly

Genre: Non-fiction, archaeology, history. Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Publisher: Pegasus Books Historian and writer Lynne Kelly has created a fascinating book with a realistic theory its heart – that ancient monuments – Stonehenge, the Ring of Brodgar and also smaller hand-held objects (Lukasa, Coolamon) are actually memory aids. She believes that these objects largeContinue reading “Book Review: The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly”

I Saw Your Name on a Wall [Short story]

Soundtrack for story – Hear playlist I saw your name on a wall. I paused and couldn’t look away. It was a busy day in our cathedral to capitalism, our hive of activity where there was a lot of people milling around but mostly they were seated, with headsets on like train drivers of theContinue reading “I Saw Your Name on a Wall [Short story]”

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet this Week #9

1. Olan Ventura’s surreal splashes of colour in Still Life With Golden Goblet Here is a quirky kaleidoscope of things that inspired me this week, I hope you enjoy them. Let me know if you have any things of your own to share…Much love Via Yavuz Gallery 2. Sam Barsky knits epic sweaters to celebrateContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet this Week #9”

Book Review: The Abundance by Annie Dillard

Creative non-fiction genius and nature writer extraordinaire Annie Dillard has won a Pulitzer Prize for her essay writing. She has a unique, warm and intensely spiritual, even transcendental way of writing that elevates her above most other writers. That’s big praise I know, but this is really great writing. She has the ability to probeContinue reading “Book Review: The Abundance by Annie Dillard”

Book Review: The Trauma Cleaner: One woman’s extraordinary life in decay and disaster by Sarah Krasnostein

This is quite possibly the most incredible non-fiction memoir that I have ever read in my life. I know that sounds big, but this book was a real knock-out. It has won countless awards including the Victorian Prize for Literature. Originally a fantastic long-form essay on Narrative.ly, author Sarah Krasnostein then developed the story ofContinue reading “Book Review: The Trauma Cleaner: One woman’s extraordinary life in decay and disaster by Sarah Krasnostein”