# [[📚Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova]] #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 86](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=85) Holmes focuses only on what's important for solving the case that Dr. James Mortimer brings to him. He learns about the legend, the house, and the family of Baskerville. He asks questions to everyone connected to the case and even gets a map of the area. For Holmes, nothing else matters except solving the case. At the end of the day, he tells Watson that while his body stayed in the chair, his mind was busy studying the map of the area. Holmes wasn't aware of how much coffee or tobacco he used. He even asks Watson to leave so he won't be distracted. Holmes doesn't notice everything, but he does pay attention to what is important for his goal. This is why he sees clues that others miss. He is not wasting time; he is focusing his attention where it's needed. *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 87](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=86) To make good decisions, you need to know what you're aiming for. Your brain naturally focuses on things that are important to you. Imagine you're at a party with lots of groups talking. Most of it becomes background noise because your brain is only focused on your own conversation. But if someone says your name, you instantly pay attention. This is known as the cocktail party effect. But not everything important to you will be as clear as hearing your name. You need to teach your mind to focus on what matters to you. For example, if a man wants to avoid eating sweets while walking past a bakery, he needs a clear goal: don't eat the sweets. He can then focus on things that help him meet that goal, like the bad sides of the sweets or other smells around him. Knowing what you're looking for helps you focus and make better choices. *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 88](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=87) To improve focus and performance, psychologist Peter Gollwitzer suggests some strategies. First, think ahead and see the situation as part of a bigger plan. Second, set specific goals to guide your focus. Third, plan for different scenarios, like "if this happens, then I'll do that." Fourth, write down your thoughts to better remember them. Lastly, think about what could go wrong and what you'll gain if things go right. Being selective and focused is the first step in using your attention wisely. You can improve over time by using these strategies. However, don't let your goals blind you. Be ready to change your plans if new information comes up. Being flexible is key. *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 80](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=79) If you want to get better at focusing, you have to know what you're aiming for. Attention is like a muscle; it gets tired if you use it too much and needs time to recharge. The more you practice, the better you get, but you can only go so far. You have to take breaks and give yourself time to recharge, just like a muscle. If you're doing too many things at once, like listening to music while working, you're not giving your full attention to any one thing and you'll get tired faster. So, the key is to train your focus carefully and not try to do too much at once. This will help you improve your ability to pay attention over time. *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 81](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=80) Two people are on the Empire State Building's observation deck for a contest to see who spots an airplane first. They can use any available viewing machines and the person who sees the plane first wins. Watson is quick to act and wants to beat Holmes. He will probably start using the viewing machines right away without thinking much. He might run between multiple machines to cover as much ground as possible. In his rush, he might even mistake other objects for planes. He'll get tired quickly and might start questioning the point of the contest. He'll hope a real plane appears soon to end the task. *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 82](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=81) Holmes would take a different approach than most people when trying to spot a plane in the sky. He would first figure out where planes are most likely to appear, based on things like airport locations and the time of day. He would then focus his attention there. Holmes takes his time and uses all his senses, including hearing and smell, to help him. He is confident that he will spot the plane exactly where he expects it to be. Over time, he's likely to be more successful than someone who is just scanning the sky randomly. Our brains naturally filter what we pay attention to. This is good because noticing everything would be overwhelming. However, the key is to guide our focus mindfully instead of letting our brains do it automatically. This way, we become better at paying attention to what really matters. *** #### [[🌠The Holmesian Sky - Mindful Attention as the Art of Aeroplane Spotting]] *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 83](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=82) A man walks past a bakery on his way to work. In the first scenario, he's tempted by the smell of cinnamon and goes in to buy a cinnamon roll, thinking he'll start his diet later. In the second scenario, he still smells the cinnamon but decides he doesn't like it. He looks at the bakery items and thinks about the unhealthy ingredients and how they will make him feel bad. He decides not to go in and continues to his meeting, thinking about getting coffee instead. In both situations, the man is exposed to the same smells and sights. However, his mindset changes his experience and choices. The way he thinks about the bakery items affects what he pays attention to and how he interacts with his environment. *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 84](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=83) Our eyes and brains are good at filtering out a lot of information. We get a huge amount of data from our senses, but we only focus on a small part of it. What we pay attention to can change based on what we are thinking or feeling at that time. This can make us feel like we are experiencing lots of coincidences. For example, if you are thinking about the number 11, you start to notice it everywhere. But it's not that the number 11 is appearing more; you're just paying more attention to it. People often remember things that confirm what they are already thinking and forget the rest. This is why it might seem like some predictions come true even when they don't. Our brains are set up this way for a reason. Trying to pay attention to everything would be too much to handle. Our brain filters things out to help us focus on what's important. *** #### [[🌠The Curated Consciousness - Deciphering Perception through the Metaphor of an Art Gallery]] *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 137](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=136) Sherlock Holmes is good at taking a break and shifting his focus when he feels he can't solve a problem right away. This helps him think more clearly. Watson finds it hard to do this, which is why he often doesn't solve problems as well as Holmes does. Psychologist Yaacov Trope says that taking a step back from a problem can really help improve your thinking and choices. This can be a break in time, a change in location, or even imagining what someone else might think or do. It's a way to look at things from a new angle. Doing this can help you come up with better solutions and ideas, just like Sherlock Holmes does. *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 138](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=137) Psychological distance means how far your thoughts are from your immediate experience. This distance can be about time, space, social connections, or how real or imaginary something is. All these kinds of distance make you think beyond the present moment. The further you are in your thoughts, the more general and abstract your view becomes. If you think more closely, your thoughts become more specific and practical. This changes how you understand a situation and how you act. It even changes how your brain works, specifically in areas like the prefrontal cortex and medial temporal lobe. Psychological distance helps you think more clearly. Studies show it helps in problem-solving and self-control. For example, kids who use this technique, like imagining marshmallows as clouds, can wait longer for a bigger reward. Adults who think from a general perspective make better choices and have better emotional control. This is also true in solving problems and making long-lasting political judgments. Thinking this way is like doing a complicated puzzle without the picture on the box to guide you, and with pieces from other puzzles mixed in. It helps you focus on what's really important and make better decisions. *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 139](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=138) To solve a puzzle, you need to look at both the individual pieces and the big picture. Start with the pieces that are easy to place like corners and edges. As you work, you'll get a better idea of where the other pieces fit. Trying to force pieces without looking at the overall picture won't work. You need to combine detailed observation with a broad view. When I was young, I liked playing yes-or-no riddle games. One person knows the answer to a riddle, and others try to figure it out by asking yes-or-no questions. This kind of game forces you to split observation from guessing. You can't rush through it. You have to notice details, think about what you've learned, and give your imagination time to put it all together. This is a good way to improve your problem-solving skills. *** #### [Mastermind - How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova Page 140](x-devonthink-item://E3704ACD-9742-42E6-BD92-54E017F71775?page=139) The text talks about how Sherlock Holmes solves complex problems using a method called "imaginative distance." This means stepping back and thinking about the problem in a new or different way. Holmes sometimes does this by doing an unrelated activity, like smoking a pipe. This helps him clear his mind and look at the problem from a different angle. For example, in "The Red-Headed League," Holmes faces a strange problem: a man with red hair is paid to sit in a room for hours doing nothing. Instead of jumping to conclusions, Holmes says he needs to smoke and think, calling it a "three-pipe problem." He asks Watson not to talk to him for 50 minutes while he sits quietly, smokes, and thinks. Doing an unrelated activity can help you take a break from the problem and come back to it with a fresh perspective. Even creativity and imagination, which people often think you either have or don't have, can be developed this way. *** #### [[🌠The Culinary Dance of the Mind - Conscious and Unconscious Chefs in the Kitchen of Problem-Solving]] ***