Decided to check out priceonomics.com tonight, following some suggestions from a colleague who recently gave a talk about financial statements. I enjoyed reading The Invention of the Aeropress. It is an easy, fun, well-written article about the story of Alan Adler, a Stanford professor and inventor, known for creating the Aerobie and the Aeropress.

Here is a passage that struck me.

“I was never happier than when I was learning a new discipline,” he tells us.

This curiosity led to his pursuit of a diverse range of hobbies; as “the type of person who always seeks ways to make things better,” his hobbies invariably led to inventions. Today, he owns over 40 patents – some of which are in surprising fields.

In particular, this quote reminds me of Feynman. It seems these characters are always able to enter new fields without a fuss. This perhaps illustrates the importance of fundamental critical thinking skills.

One of his inventing tips also stood out to me.

Be willing to try things even if you aren’t too confident they’ll work. Sometimes you’ll get lucky.

This willingness to try things, to be curious and explore, seems to really pay off.

Smarts plus curiosity and ingenuity; that’s what Adler has. That’s awesome.