1 Big Idea
When I was a kid a monkey ripped an aerial from my car at a safari park, shat on the roof, then jubilantly ran away.
The sheer disrespect has stayed with me for 20 years.
But I honestly hadn’t thought too much of it until I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which described an old method for capturing monkeys called the South Indian Monkey Trap.
The idea is that hunters would take a coconut, cut a small hole in it, and place piece of fruit or sweet rice inside. The monkey would reach in and grab the treat, but then find it impossible to pull its clenched fist back out through the narrow hole.
At any moment, the monkey could relax its hand, let go of the treat, and be free.
But, it doesn’t. It refuses to let go of the thing it wants.
And so, it stays stuck.
(There’s an interesting video from 1912 demonstrating how this works, if you want to check it out.)
The point is that we all have our version of that trap.
Something we’re clutching so tightly that it’s keeping us stuck.
Maybe it’s an old ambition that no longer feels meaningful, but we’ve invested too much to walk away.
Maybe it’s a version of ourselves we’ve outgrown, but we’re afraid of what might happen if we let it go.
Or maybe it’s just a belief that we have to do it all, have to look a certain way, have to live up to someone else’s expectations.
And like the monkey, we think we’re trapped. But the trap isn’t real.
The trap is just our unwillingness to let go.
3 Weekly Lessons
#1 The Tetris Effect
The Tetris Effect shows that repetitive activities (like playing Tetris) can reshape how you perceive the world and rewire the way you think. Named after a 1994 study in American Psychologist, this phenomenon reveals how consistent engagement in a task, like practicing gratitude or problem-solving, can train your brain to automatically seek similar patterns in daily life. For example, Robert Stickgold’s 2000 study in Science found Tetris players visualised game shapes in their sleep, enhancing spatial skills.
#2 The Power of “Weak Ties” for Opportunity
Sociologist Mark Granovetter’s 1973 paper, The Strength of Weak Ties, revealed that casual acquaintances (not close friends) are often the best sources for new opportunities, like jobs or ideas. Weak ties connect you to diverse networks, exposing you to fresh perspectives.
#3 Embrace Imperfection to Build Trust
The Pratfall Effect, identified in a 1966 study by Elliot Aronson in Psychonomic Science, suggests that competent people become more likable when they show minor flaws or make small mistakes. In experiments, participants found a highly skilled individual more relatable after they spilled coffee or fumbled a task, as it humanised them. This effect highlights the power of vulnerability in relationships.
5 Things Worth Your Time
A collection of links and other stuff I think are worth sharing.
◾️ Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: A philosophical journey blending personal narrative with reflections on quality, reason, and the human experience. It’s a profound read that challenges you to rethink how you approach life’s complexities.
◾️ EPA-1: A beautifully-designed electric moped from Teenage Engineering. Actually, these guys have a bunch of really interesting and unique items in their store that are worth taking a look at.
◾️ Examine.com: A great website that analyses and summarises the latest scientific research to help you be healthier. I particularly enjoyed reading about different supplements this week as I’m trying to figure out my ideal supplement stack.
◾️ The King Soundtrack Score: When doing some deep work, I’ve been listening to the soundtrack from the 2019 movie The King. It’s genuinely world class.
◾️ Egoistic Altruism: Why should you care about the well-being of people half a globe away? A selfish argument for making the world a better place.