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The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness (compiled by Eric Jorgenson from Naval’s talks, tweets, and podcasts)

  PART I – WEALTH Chapter 1: Building Wealth Wealth means having assets that earn while you sleep. Avoid confusing wealth with money or status. Focus on creating value for society that doesn’t depend on your direct effort. Get rich ethically — by building or owning, not renting your time. Chapter 2: Building Judgment Judgment is the rare skill of making good decisions with limited data. Learn to think independently; ignore the crowd. Read, reflect, and compound wisdom over time. Judgment + leverage = extraordinary outcomes. Chapter 3: Learn to Build and Sell To get rich, learn how to build (create) and sell (communicate) . Builders create value; sellers move value into the world. The best entrepreneurs master both. Chapter 4: Find and Apply Specific Knowledge Specific knowledge is deeply personal — skills gained through curiosity and passion. It can’t be easily replicated or taught in schools. Example: a unique combination of ...
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The Almanac of Naval Ravikant

  1. Build Wealth, Not Money Wealth is assets that earn while you sleep (businesses, investments, code, media). Money is just how we transfer time and trust; focus on creating real value. 2. Specific Knowledge Develop specific knowledge — skills that are rare, valuable, and hard to teach . It comes from following your genuine curiosity and passion, not from formal education. 3. Leverage Use leverage to multiply effort: Labor leverage (people working for you), Capital leverage (money working for you), Product leverage (code, media, or content — the most scalable). 4. Accountability Take personal responsibility for outcomes. Put your name on your work — it builds trust and reputation. 5. Judgment Good judgment comes from learning, reflection, and experience . It’s the key to long-term success — not just intelligence. 6. Learn to Build and Sell To create wealth, you must either build (products, systems, ideas) or sel...

Kant vs Emerson Philosophy

  1. Core Focus Kant: Concerned with how we know and how we ought to act — a philosopher of epistemology and ethics. Emerson: Concerned with how we should live spiritually and intuitively — a philosopher of self and transcendence. 2. Knowledge and Experience Kant: Claimed knowledge arises from the interaction of sense experience (empiricism) and reason (rationalism) . We cannot know “things-in-themselves” ( noumena ), only their appearances ( phenomena ). Emerson: Believed intuition could directly grasp spiritual truths beyond sense and reason — a more mystical stance. He rejected Kant’s limits on knowledge, claiming we can access divine truth through our inner spirit. 3. Role of the Individual Kant: The rational individual must act according to universal moral laws (the categorical imperative ). Emerson: The individual should act according to inner conscience and self-reliance , guided by intuition rather than external rules. 4. ...

Emerson 10 Point Philosophy

  Self-Reliance – Emerson’s central idea is that individuals should trust their own thoughts, instincts, and inner voice rather than conform to external authority or societal expectations. Individualism – He believed every person has a unique inner potential and must cultivate it rather than imitate others. Transcendentalism – Emerson was the leading figure of the Transcendentalist movement, which taught that spiritual truths transcend sensory experience and can be grasped through intuition. The Over-Soul – He proposed that all living beings share a universal spiritual essence or soul, which connects humanity to nature and to God. Nature as Divine – Emerson viewed nature not as mere scenery but as a manifestation of the divine spirit — a source of wisdom, inspiration, and moral guidance. Nonconformity – He urged people to resist social pressure and act according to their own moral compass and convictions. Moral Idealism – Emerson believed that moral princip...

Conversation in the Cathedral Summary

  Summary Setting: The story takes place in Lima, Peru , during the dictatorship of Manuel A. Odría (1948–1956) — a period marked by political repression, corruption, and moral decay. Structure: The novel unfolds largely through a long, fragmented conversation between two men — Santiago Zavala (Zavalita) and Ambrosio , a former chauffeur — who meet by chance in a rundown bar called “La Catedral.” Their dialogue, mixed with memories and flashbacks, reveals the intertwining of personal and national tragedy. Plot Overview: Santiago Zavala is a disillusioned journalist from a wealthy family. Once an idealistic university student, he rebelled against his conservative father and now lives an aimless, bitter life. Ambrosio , once the chauffeur of Santiago’s father, Don Fermín Zavala , is now a poor man working odd jobs. As they talk, Santiago tries to uncover the truth about a murder and political scandal linked to his father’s business and Ambrosio’s past. Their co...

Bill Ackman Strategy

  Analyzing Risk And Portfolio Management Ackman's stated strategies for managing his portfolio and for minimizing risk include: 1. Avoid excessive diversification : Ackman focuses on a small number of companies whose businesses are easily understandable and are predictable. However, having a concentrated portfolio means that sometimes returns can take a large hit. 2. Learn from mistakes : Ackman isn't afraid to admit when he's wrong and to correct course. One example of this is Ackman selling his stake in Netflix at a loss once he realized that his initial theory was wrong. 3. Ignore short-term market turbulence : Ackman believes it's not possible to predict short-term market swings and that upward swings and downward swings are part of the investment landscape. 4. Adopt a long-term approach : Ackman’s position is that if you have a well-defined investment strategy, it will reduce any temptation to exit positions due to short-term volatility. After several down years b...

10 daily habits that instantly boost productivity

  10 daily habits that instantly boost productivity 1. START YOUR DAY WITH A MORNING ROUTINE A structured morning routine sets the tone for the entire day. Activities like stretching, meditation, or journaling can increase focus, reduce stress, and enhance mental clarity. Even 15–30 minutes of intentional morning habits can create momentum for the day. 2. PRIORITIZE TASKS WITH A TO-DO LIST Writing down tasks helps organise your day and prevents mental clutter. Use the Eisenhower Matrix or a simple priority list to identify urgent and important tasks. Completing high-priority tasks first ensures that energy and focus are used efficiently. 3. USE TIME BLOCKING Time blocking involves assigning specific time periods to tasks or activities. This reduces distractions, ensures dedicated focus, and prevents procrastination. For example, allocate 9–11 am for deep work and 11–11:30 am for emails. 4. MINIMISE DIGITAL DISTRACTIONS Notifications, social media, and constant messages can dr...