Daniel J. Levitin, The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload (aff). New York: Dutton, 2014. 513 pages.
This book falls into the same genre as Thinking Fast and Slow. I have read several books lately that examine how people think and solve problems. This book is filled with references to various studies in the field. It reads somewhat like a scientist’s compilation of years of his experiments and studies. It can be somewhat overwhelming, yet it is filled with fascinating observations.
Levitin seeks to help readers understand how to grapple with a world that is filled with far more information than people can process or remember. Some of his advice is basic, like using index cards and always placing your car keys and glasses in the same place. Other insights are entirely counterintuitive.
It would be impossible to list every insight I underlined in this book. I will just mention a few. He evaluates the brain from an evolutionary perspective. He argues that evolution has not yet caught up with modern sophistication. Hunter and gatherers were not inundated with text messages and Facebook posts. He posits that “The average American is sleep-deprived, overstressed, and not making enough time for things she wants to do” (xxv). He notes that in 1976, the average supermarket stocked 9,000 unique products. In 2014, that number had risen to 40,000 (5). In 2011, the average person took in five times as much information as in 1986, the equivalent of 175 newspapers (6).
Levitin emphasizes that our brains must be organized and information off-loaded so we can process the information and relationships that are most important. He points out that “We are surrounded on this planet by billions of other humans but we can understand only two at a time at the most! It’s no wonder that the world is filled with so much misunderstanding” (7). Levitin states, “Attention is the most essential mental resource of any organism” (11). Therefore, we must organize ourselves so we can focus on what matters most.
Levitin notes that our brains are constantly overloaded. The key to success is simplifying what we can. He discusses “shadow work” (19). He says, “Each of us is doing the work of others and not getting paid for it. It is responsible for taking away a great deal of the leisure time we thought we would all have in the twenty-first century” (19).
Levitin writes that people are easily swayed by first-person stories and vivid accounts of a single experience (21). There are more than 6,000 languages on Earth (25). Interestingly, the first two words people develop for color is light and dark. The third word for color is always red (30). He notes that our brains come preconfigured with categories into which we put information (37). This system helps us understand our world and retrieve memories later. He points out that attention has a cost: “It is a this or that, zero-sum game. . . Your attentional filter is almost always operating, quietly out of the way in your subconscious” (41).
Levitin argues that memory is not just replaying what happened; it is rewriting those events (50). He claims that the best-remembered experiences are distinctive, unique, or contain a strong emotional component (50). If emotions are engaged, it’s easier to remember (52). Interestingly, Levitin notes that merely making a to-do list relaxes us (68).
Levitin suggests the power of writing things down on 3×5 cards (69). This approach may be somewhat “old school,” but there is power in writing things down. He suggests that “The task of organizational systems is to provide maximum information with the least cognitive effort” (81). He suggests “The rule of the designated place,” in which we always put our car keys and glasses in the same place. Doing so frees our mind of having to remember the last place we left them (83). He suggests that “We can construct our homes and work environments in such a way that they become extensions of our brains” (87).
He notes that “Although we think we are doing several things at once, multitasking has been shown to be a powerful and diabolical illusion” (96). “Even though we think we’re getting a lot done, ironically, multitasking makes us demonstratably less efficient” (96). He points out that “The brain region we need to rely on for staying on task is easily distracted” (96). He goes on to say “The cognitive losses from multitasking are even greater than the cognitive losses from pot smoking” (97). He also points out that if we have been making many small decisions, our minds will be less alert and susceptible to making mistakes about more important issues (98). This phenomenon can explain why busy, normally efficient people can make catastrophic choices when they are weary from much work.
Levitin addresses the obvious, that social media can be distracting and time consuming. He adds, “Make no mistake: E-mail, Facebook, and Twitter checking constitute a neural addiction” (102). Interestingly, he writes, “Nothing is foolproof because fools are ingenious” (109). He also points out that when you poll a group for their opinion, the average is usually surprisingly close to the truth (117). He proposes we trust the group more than ourselves.
He suggests “externalizing” as much information as we can on lists or computers so we free our mind of having to remember it (124). He also notes that couples who have been together for a long time naturally share a memory function, with each remembering different things. He also notes that “The presence of satisfying, intimate relationships is one of the strongest predictors of happiness and emotional well-being that has been measured (129). Having a best friend in high school is a key success factor for teenagers (129). Interestingly, marriages that began with Online dating have a 22% lower risk of ending in divorce than relationships between those who met in person (133).
Levitin includes an interesting discussion about how Khrushchev diffused the Cuban Missile Crisis (155). I have never heard that take on those events and am leery of his conclusions. The Russian leader was not as sophisticated as Levitin credits him with being, and his handling of the crisis ultimately led to his downfall.
Interestingly, the human brain weighs around three pounds, yet it uses 20% of the body’s energy (168). It takes more energy to shift your focus after an interruption than it does to focus on what you are doing (170).
Levitin notes that what separates experts from novices is that experts know what to focus on (177). Sleep is a key factor in brain performance and memory (189). Levitin claims that sleep deprivation in the work force costs 150 billion dollars per year (191). He recommends afternoon power naps, suggesting they can greatly elevate performance and brain function (193). He also notes that a ten-minute afternoon nap is worth an hour and a half of nighttime sleep (308).
Ironically, he also suggests that successful people have often experienced more failures than people who have been less successful (200). In part, the reason is that people learn more from negative experiences than from positive ones (216).
Levitin cites numerous interesting studies and statistics. He claims that immediately after 9/11, many people were frightened to fly commercially, so they drove their cars instead. In the two months immediately after 9/11, deaths on airlines remained low, but auto deaths increased by 2,170 (256). He notes that people’s perception is often untrue.
Levitin also shares interesting information related to the workplace. He notes that treating employees with respect dramatically increases productivity and reduces absenteeism (292). He also notes that for every ten hours of vacation, year-end performance improved by 8% (308).
This book is filled with scientific studies and statistics. It could probably be divided into three books. But its basic point is that in an information-filled world, people need to organize their mind to best process the information bombarding them. There are tricks and practices that can free your mind to focus on what matters most. These issues are only going to become more challenging as technology and human knowledge increases. This book is a helpful resource to guide you along the way.
Rating: 3
