Having curiosity and wonderment about the world around us is something kids seem to excel at, and we as adults tend to stop asking questions. Life seems to get much better when you start looking at the world through curious lenses again.
A good exercise for your son could be to actually take a doorknob off and walk through all the parts to show him how everything really works!
As I read this post, different thoughts and words came to mind. But the main word was Physics. Since I am curious, love nature and people, in the early 70s, I was headed down the science and math academic path. Physics was both a class in high school and college. I wish everyone could have joined me in this fun exploration of how the world works!
Tommy has written a wonderful article about the importance of being curious -- even about everyday things. As adults, we often need a gentle nudge to realise that our lack of curiosity might be robbing us of a deeper appreciation for our world. Tommy's piece is a delight. And a reminder of the benefits of seeing the world with childlike wonder, even if just for a moment.
A wonderful post. As a curious person I am asking but how does that actually work, digging beneath surface explanations of “well it just does”….this often leads me down many Wikipedia and YouTube videos on the most bizarre things as well as annoying those in tours of museums. I now have a 3 question limit given to me by my wife.
Love this. I remember my mum telling me how cars had become full of electronics and no one could fix them anymore. Computers, phones, etc. were all stuff no one understood. Then I met my husband who specialises in software and electronics and a whole new world of potentially understandable stuff opened up!
A topic close to my heart, if that wasn't already obvious from my Substack. Thanks for writing and demonstrating a perfect example of how easy it can be to navigate the world with low resolution understandings and heuristics, yet it doesn't stop us from becoming curious.
This is one of the joys that kids bring back into your life, I’ve found. Thanks for sharing it!
My kids love the Imagine This podcast - it explains all sorts of things about the world in ways that are easy to understand but not overly simplistic. There’s a cool book by Richard Dawkins called The Magic of Reality we like too. It’s actually what got me to start writing - because I think we’re much better at giving plain language explanations for kids than for adults.
Enjoyed this. Of course, the same approach can be used, if you can handle the increasing complexity, for understanding politics, social and legal systems, international affairs. And why and where problems arise.
I’m totally with you on this approach to the world. I always tell myself that if someone else put this thing together—dishwasher, dryer, car, etc.—there’s no reason I can’t take it apart and fix it. I just have to observe carefully and learn, and that’s a lot of fun. So I bought a 2012 car the other day and committed myself to doing all the work on it: I changed the oil, diff fluid, transmission fluid, replaced a door molding. Great stuff. But it takes time … it’s when I lack time that I simply default to paying others to do things I know I could do myself.
Plenty of your 2012 car's wiring will be printed circuits manufactured by robots.
You may be able to get a circuit diagram for your car and work out there is .033 uF capacitor on the board that needs replacing, but when you go down to your electronic shop, the thing the guy sells you, reminds you of the crystal radio kit you built aged 12, but the thing in your car is some other thing entirely.
And you'll need an interface and the software to hook up your lap top, or you can't turn off the service due engine light in the speedo face.
When my dads business in the 90's had a couple of good years, we were all given the same model Holden commodore, we only needed one set of tools, and one laptop.
Oh, and is your handbrake still attached to the rear wheels?
At least panel work is easier, even if you can't paint anything.
So true, and I’ll admit that once it gets to circuitry, I tend to give up. But this 2012 Mazda Miata feels so much more analog than my other cars. I can work on the brakes on my 2024 EV, but that’s about it.
You have a curious son! That is so awesome! Give him stuff to take apart. Like old mechanical alarm clocks, door knobs, etc. come over to my garage and I’ll give you some stuff for him. I was just like that. Curiosity is the key!!!
I've always been envious of naturalists' knowledge. Curious about how living things survive and thrive, that's my go-to place of wonder. Biosystems, interdependencies, the elk and wolves of Yellowstone, the salmon the bears and the nutrients of deep forests. Nature never fails to astound me.
I resonated with this article so much!! I don't have kids (yet) but I bought my first home 2 years ago, and MAN going through that first inspection I realized that I actually had no idea how anything in the house *really* worked. This is a great piece, that I think I'll come back to and read again. Lots of gems!
Love this post! While I was reading a thought came to my mind. Everything that we use and interface with in our lives was just a thought in someone's head at some point in the past. The same goes for every invention, every piece of art, every idea that has shaped our world. Stay curious!
Having curiosity and wonderment about the world around us is something kids seem to excel at, and we as adults tend to stop asking questions. Life seems to get much better when you start looking at the world through curious lenses again.
A good exercise for your son could be to actually take a doorknob off and walk through all the parts to show him how everything really works!
Curiosity lead me to a bird walk in a cemetery. Stay curious.
As I read this post, different thoughts and words came to mind. But the main word was Physics. Since I am curious, love nature and people, in the early 70s, I was headed down the science and math academic path. Physics was both a class in high school and college. I wish everyone could have joined me in this fun exploration of how the world works!
Tommy has written a wonderful article about the importance of being curious -- even about everyday things. As adults, we often need a gentle nudge to realise that our lack of curiosity might be robbing us of a deeper appreciation for our world. Tommy's piece is a delight. And a reminder of the benefits of seeing the world with childlike wonder, even if just for a moment.
A wonderful post. As a curious person I am asking but how does that actually work, digging beneath surface explanations of “well it just does”….this often leads me down many Wikipedia and YouTube videos on the most bizarre things as well as annoying those in tours of museums. I now have a 3 question limit given to me by my wife.
Love this. I remember my mum telling me how cars had become full of electronics and no one could fix them anymore. Computers, phones, etc. were all stuff no one understood. Then I met my husband who specialises in software and electronics and a whole new world of potentially understandable stuff opened up!
A topic close to my heart, if that wasn't already obvious from my Substack. Thanks for writing and demonstrating a perfect example of how easy it can be to navigate the world with low resolution understandings and heuristics, yet it doesn't stop us from becoming curious.
This is one of the joys that kids bring back into your life, I’ve found. Thanks for sharing it!
My kids love the Imagine This podcast - it explains all sorts of things about the world in ways that are easy to understand but not overly simplistic. There’s a cool book by Richard Dawkins called The Magic of Reality we like too. It’s actually what got me to start writing - because I think we’re much better at giving plain language explanations for kids than for adults.
I'll have to check those out, thanks!
Enjoyed this. Of course, the same approach can be used, if you can handle the increasing complexity, for understanding politics, social and legal systems, international affairs. And why and where problems arise.
I’m totally with you on this approach to the world. I always tell myself that if someone else put this thing together—dishwasher, dryer, car, etc.—there’s no reason I can’t take it apart and fix it. I just have to observe carefully and learn, and that’s a lot of fun. So I bought a 2012 car the other day and committed myself to doing all the work on it: I changed the oil, diff fluid, transmission fluid, replaced a door molding. Great stuff. But it takes time … it’s when I lack time that I simply default to paying others to do things I know I could do myself.
Plenty of your 2012 car's wiring will be printed circuits manufactured by robots.
You may be able to get a circuit diagram for your car and work out there is .033 uF capacitor on the board that needs replacing, but when you go down to your electronic shop, the thing the guy sells you, reminds you of the crystal radio kit you built aged 12, but the thing in your car is some other thing entirely.
And you'll need an interface and the software to hook up your lap top, or you can't turn off the service due engine light in the speedo face.
When my dads business in the 90's had a couple of good years, we were all given the same model Holden commodore, we only needed one set of tools, and one laptop.
Oh, and is your handbrake still attached to the rear wheels?
At least panel work is easier, even if you can't paint anything.
So true, and I’ll admit that once it gets to circuitry, I tend to give up. But this 2012 Mazda Miata feels so much more analog than my other cars. I can work on the brakes on my 2024 EV, but that’s about it.
Your miata is an MGB in disguise, it should feel agricultural, but lovely.
You have a curious son! That is so awesome! Give him stuff to take apart. Like old mechanical alarm clocks, door knobs, etc. come over to my garage and I’ll give you some stuff for him. I was just like that. Curiosity is the key!!!
I've always been envious of naturalists' knowledge. Curious about how living things survive and thrive, that's my go-to place of wonder. Biosystems, interdependencies, the elk and wolves of Yellowstone, the salmon the bears and the nutrients of deep forests. Nature never fails to astound me.
Ah, the simple yet not so simple yet simple things in life 😌
Thank you for sharing in such detail!
I resonated with this article so much!! I don't have kids (yet) but I bought my first home 2 years ago, and MAN going through that first inspection I realized that I actually had no idea how anything in the house *really* worked. This is a great piece, that I think I'll come back to and read again. Lots of gems!
I am wondering if curiosity is – on some level – my main fuel to do anything and not having completely given up yet.
My curiosity is very close to where I also find enthusiasm and optimism/hope.
It's through curiosity, really, that I am motivated to keep exploring, experimenting, trying, pushing, while not giving in to cynicism and despair.
Love this post! While I was reading a thought came to my mind. Everything that we use and interface with in our lives was just a thought in someone's head at some point in the past. The same goes for every invention, every piece of art, every idea that has shaped our world. Stay curious!