how to become generally smart

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>hey, someone recently asked me how to gain general knowledge and how to be smart enough to engage in general conversation. i know most of you may not be looking for advice, but if you are, i have a few points below. this intelligence isn't something that you would use so much IN classes--it is more "intelligence" so that you can engage in general conversation. here are some ideas:</p>

<p>A) Read analysis of news, especially technical analysis. DO NOT read Time Magazine, it is really a ****ty magazine. Instead, go for publications like the Economist. This isn't very geared toward literary news, but it will provide you with fantastic general news with a very rational and libertarian stance.</p>

<p>B) For literary news, read the NYTimes Book Review and the New York Literary Review. Often, simply by reading the articles, you will a lot about the literary world. Also, read some of the books in the publications (more on this in point C).</p>

<p>C) Read plenty of modern novels--esp. those by Cormac McCarthy, Philip Roth, Joyce Carol Oates, etc. A good source to get ideas about modern writing is a list of Pulitzer Prize authors and the staff of the New Yorker Magazine. Also, DO NOT forget the classics, esp. Ancient Greek literature like the Aeneid, the Ovid, etc.</p>

<p>D) KNOW about pop culture. Regardless of whether you appreciate it, knowledgeable people know about what is in style, what is not in style, and the ludicrous modern celebrities. </p>

<p>E) Have a personal interest or sense of style based on an era or location. It is good to have hobbies and take them seriously. And it is good to have a general style that is based on something--a mix of different cultures, etc. But remember, these activities should be hobbies, not careers.</p>

<p>F) Sports: Play sports, stay in good shape.</p>

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<ol>
<li>I cannot believe you called Time a "****ty magazine." </li>
<li>When you say, "the Ovid," are you referring to Ovid's Metamorphoses?</li>
</ol>

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<p>^ actually, I"m a bit inclined to agree more w/ the OP. Time is great bathroom-reader, but its not that stimulating.</p>

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<p>how to become generally smart</p>

<p>1) kill a smart person
2) eat their brain</p>

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<p>
[quote]
how to become generally smart</p>

<p>1) kill a smart person
2) eat their brain

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I like this one better, less effort involved.</p>

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<p>Time is a good contemporary magazine, but it is so progressive that it gets stupid sometimes. However, if you want to get the lowdown of current issues and pop culture, I don't see why time would be a bad source. It's better than trying to learn from people who like to appear smart on CC.</p>

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<p>...or ARE smart. and Time is *<strong><em>ty, not because its progressive, but because it offers barely any analysis. Again, *</em></strong>ty from the perspective on an intelligent person. It's for the masses. And yeah, I meant the Metamorphoses, but also his Erotic Poems.</p>

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<p>Talk to debaters a lot.</p>

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<p>Blah to modern novels.</p>

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<p>Quote:
how to become generally smart</p>

<p>1) kill a smart person
2) eat their brain</p>

<p>Lol, that reminds me of Sylar from Heroes (there's a pop culture reference for you, Paco de Lucia)</p>

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<p>The Economist is one of the best ways to expand ur knowlegde and critical thinking. If u keep up with news not on the tv but by reading ur reading comprehension skills will improve dramatically. Other than that there is no real way to get smart. u have to have something to begin with this can only help. if ur dumb than idk how much its gonna help.</p>

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<p>BTW you guys are free to add more stuff if you think you're qualified. More ways are, watch GOOD TV shows, not CNN and stuff but more CNBC, Bloomberg, Charlie Rose, and Sunday morning programs w/ George Stephanopoulos. More stuff is reading PG Wodehouse, Nietzsche, and other comedians/nihilists/ people who don't take themselves too seriously. Oscar Wilde is good too. What else? Know some other language, but NOT with perfect pronunciation, write with words that are not too long, and don't speak too much or too fast. And when you have finished speaking, back down.</p>

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<p>yeah, us debaters are a smart breed...</p>

<p>couple things i would definately add</p>

<ol>
<li><p>READ THE TIMES OP-ED PAGES - you will see these writers quoted or referenced a lot, and not only can you know who the hell people are talking about but you read world-class ****</p></li>
<li><p>WATCH HOUSE - copy his analytical skills... just start to notice things more ... haha... i just love that show. </p></li>
<li><p>READ/LEARN ABOUT PHILOSOPHY - dahl/rawls/nozick/kant/mill/nietszche (i always botch the spellin on that one)</p></li>
<li><p>READ QUOTES - start reading compilin different quotes together - you learn a lot and can come up with some witty phrases</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>Paco, I agree with some of the things that you've listed, but frankly, I think you are putting too much emphasis on details. Should you read The Economist instead of Time or Newsweek or whatever? Sure. Should you try and read high quality novels? Sure. </p>

<p>Who cares though what era or location your 'style' is based on. Who cares how fast you speak. Nobody with half a brain will judge your intelligence based on these things. Also, why not speak foreign languages with perfect accents (if you can)? </p>

<p>I think most of the things you've listed, outside of reading high quality publications, will make you appear smarter but won't actually make you any more intelligent. All you have to do to be smart is 1. have the right genetics, and 2. read a lot. Everything else is just window dressing. </p>

<p>Oh also, the Aeneid wasn't Greek and Nietzsche wasn't a comedian or a nihilist.</p>

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<p>Time isn't an analysis magazine, it reports the news. There is a very large difference. It finds news stories and tells them in interesting ways. The Economist focuses on trends, because its business readers prefer that. I read both every week. They cater to entirely different audiences. If you want to become smart and intelligent, read the news analysis magazines like The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, etc. THEY give you analysis. The Economist writes short snippets of so many things. Those magazines will give you in-depth reporting and analysis.</p>

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<p>Although this thread is informative, its quite odd that someone would take the time to make something like this.</p>

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<p>The best way to become smart is to treat every bit of information as it is just as important as anything else. I do this and my best trait is that I am never wrong, everything I say is guaranteed because nothing is more important than something else.</p>

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<p>G) Read books about history and philosophy.</p>