How not to be wrong summary

   In Jordan Ellenberg’s, how not to be wrong, Ellenberg opens by discussing how math is a universal language upon which all things can be proven or disproven. He continues on and discusses how many people see life as a linear line, when in reality it is better seen as a bell curve or even an quadratic function. Furthermore, Ellenberg demonstrates that we do not know everything there is to know about math and that not all things line up such as 3/3=.9999...=1. Ellenberg also shows how proportions especially in relations to deaths is often just comparing apples to kittens. Lastly, Ellenberg also discusses how percentages are manipulated in the political realm in order to alter views on various subjects such as job gains and losses.

Outliers Summary (1-50)

Gladwell starts of with a story about a young Canadian hockey player, who grows up to be a very successful athlete, and questions ifindividuals like him are responsible for their own success. He claims that people corralate success stories with individual qualities, when in reality, successful outliers are a result of beneficiaries, hidden advanteges, opportunities, and cultural legacies. He then goes on to explain how Psycologistslook at a Canadian youth hockey team roster and discover how many players are born within the first few months of the year, where the age cutoff is,putting them n the older (and more talented) side of the spectrum. He stresses that something as small as age could be a disadvantage, and that succes is based on advantages and accessible resources, not always individual talent. Gladwell then examines the research settled on the 10,000 hour rule. Research proves that no expert rose to the top without practice and no amateur failed in spite of practice. He settle with the idea that only extrordinary opportunity gives a person the chance to become an expert.

Two people were absent in our book club meeting on Tuesday. So Josh and I just spoke about the information we had within the roles we had. And we were given Julissa's paper and we went over what she said. We came to some interesting conclusions and some interesting topics arose regarding the 10,000 hour rule.

How to not be Wrong Summary (1-50)

Students tend to question when in life they will use the material that they learn in math class. Throughout these chapters the author goes on to talk about how mathematical thinking is used in day to day life. Jordan Ellenberg uses many examples to relate math to life by comparing experiences to the Pythagorean theorem, nonlinear line, and many others. One example that stood out to me was Ellenberg relating math to sports. In order to be good at a sport you have to repetitively work on your craft and it is the same for math as well. Ellenberg also points out that if we learn to solve things thoroughly like we do a math equation we gain a sense of joy like no other. 

During are book club meeting we all discussed what we wrote for our job roles. Sydney pointed out many main points within important chapters that I didn’t catch at first. Julianna explained that arguments that the author pointed out. Unfortunately, are discussion director Gia was not there, but are group pushed through and successfully fulfilled the discussion on our own. Overall, the meeting went well and we all have a better understanding of what the author is trying to accomplish with this read.

Atomic Habits Summary #1 - Pg. 1-79

               James Clear does an excellent job in making me go, “wow, what did I just read”. He introduces an entirely new way of thinking when it comes to accomplishing goals: rather than focus on achieving the goal, instead think more on what can get you to that goal. Your “system”. Clear explains the importance of small habits and how they not only help shape what you do, but who you are, and how to change them. Why it matters to read this book basically. He uses relatable ideas and scientific evidence to make his points. Nearing the end of the 5 chapters, Clear explains the best way to develop a new habit, bringing up concepts such as the 1st Law of Behavior Change, the implementation formula, etcetera. Overall great read, definitely enlightened.

Why We Slep: Summary (1-56)

As humans we are supposed to get at the very minimum 8 hours of sleep, but most of us get an average of 6 to 7 hours of sleep. Not getting a good night's worth of sleep is more detrimental to your health in comparison to going without food or exercise. We have a circadian rhythm that regulates our bodies to be asleep and awake for about 24 hours, not approximately 24 hours. The rise and fall of the sun helps reset our circadian rhythm back to approximately 24 hours. Things like caffeine and jet lag have a bad effect on our sleep. When you drink a cup of coffee it take around 12 hours for all the caffeine in you body to leave. Jet lag requires your body to adjust to the timezone that you in. When you travel west, you must subtract one hour for every timezone that you pass. When we sleep we have 2 types of sleep, REM, and NonREM sleep. REM sleep take care of strengthening memories and important info, NonREM sleep is in charge of regulating of memory in a whole.


In our Book Club talk we asked questions about why we have more REM sleep vs NonREM sleep, and what would happen if we got more REM sleep vs NonREM sleep? When we talked about the book we found interesting and ironic that he kind of encourages you to go to sleep while reading his book.

Summary (pgs. 1-48): Deep Work by Cal Newport

Deep work clarifies undistracted tasks improves people's cognitive abilities to their limit. Furthermore, expands and exposes new outlooks along with complex discoveries. There's a choice to develop your ability to concentrate for longer periods of time and to tolerate distractions. There are several methods to reduce distractions that involve avoiding noise, hunger, and the temptation of technology.
Distractions do not benefit or surpass the ability to push through cognitive abilities; therefore, practicing techniques to limit contact with technology will improve the skills of conductive work. Being distracted and indulged will weaken the ability to resist distractions. The addiction to technology will reinforce the brain to become associated with the addiction and limit the abilities that could have been surpassed.

Why We Sleep: Summary of Pages 1 - 56

Throughout the world many fail to get there commended 8 hours of sleep.  Sleeping less than 6 or 7 hours a day demolishes a person's immune system, along with the increased of many diseases.  We generate a daily circadian rhythm signal that tells our body when to sleep, be awake, eat, and drink (works like a clock).  People have different 24-hour patterns, in which peaks/toughs during 24-hour time differs, and sleeping times are different.  24-hour circadian rhythm is a factor determining wake and sleep.  Another factor is sleep pressure.  During the day, adenosine builds in the brain, causing sleepiness.  Our brain produces more intense, unorganized brain waves during NREM sleep, then compressed waves during REM sleep.

During our book talk, our group had a good discussion.  We went through what other people wrote based on their roles (ex. we answered questions and summarized).  Along with the roles, we talked about some shocking facts we read from the book.  Also, we discussed anything that was vague to others.

-Samuel Dawson

Deep Work Summary

In our book club meeting we discussed the definition of what Deep Work was. We analyzed the text and what the definition was in the beginning of the novel and came to a conclusion that Deep Work is the ability to stay focused on one task while being able to work efficiently and at a great quality. This is going to be required in order to be successful in today's modern society. There are also reasons as to why deep work habits are becoming increasingly rare and that is because of the development of technology that is creating more and more distractions. These distractions cause us to lose focus on our task which causes us to do shallow work which is the opposite of deep work. Shallow work is the ability to complete a task, but it is not anywhere near great quality because you are performing the task while not being focused at the same time. Deep work is the main habit needed to be successful in life especially in today's society.

-Justin Palacios

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Outliers Summary (1-50)

Malcolm Gladwell begins the first two chapters by explaining how most famous athletes are selected to be drafted to the professionals Those who are born in the first three months of the year have a higher chance of being selected rather than someone who was born later than March. He also specifies that most descriptions of how people perceive success are "profoundly wrong" and while most public figures may have a special talent, the secret to their success has a chance of being from a hidden advantage. An example of which from be a family inheritance or an economically stable household. Gladwell brings forward multiple analogies, one example being when he mentions how the tallest tree in a forest not only came from a good seed but also grew in better sunlight and healthier soil than the surrounding trees.

Deep Work Summary (1-50)

As a teenager in this modern world who was access to so many forms of distractions, I often struggle with focusing. Even when I began to read this novel, I was constantly checking my phone for notifications and getting distracted my social medias. I had come to the conclusion that it was just a part of who I was and that being distracted by my phone was just something I was never going to be able to beat. However, this novel by Cal Newport titled Deep Work: Rules for Focused 

Success in a Distracted World has dramatically changed my view point of my work ethic, even though I am only 50 pages in. 

Newport states there is two types of working: Deep Work and Shallow Work. Deep work is working without distractions and completely focusing, while shallow work is working inefficiently and working along side distractions. Newport uses historical examples of authors who had used the theory of deep work, such as J.K Rowling and Mark Twain. Both cut off all access to society and communication and were able to completely give themselves to their work. He uses personal insight with deep work to defend his claim. Newport shares that deep work has made his become a better writer and connect with his publications. He transitions into the first chapter by stating the ideals of deep work can only be upheld if you adapt to your surroundings. Meaning, Deep work was more attainable when there wasn't as many distractions, such as technology. Newport states that the trick is to adapt to the new advancements in the new world. Furthermore, his thesis is symbolized with this equation: (time spent) x (intensity of focus) = high-quality work produced. All in all, this equation shows Newports main point of focusing and spending time working will conclude with quality work.  

Atomic Habits Summary

If you find yourself struggling to build a good habit or break a bad one, it’s not because you’re incapable of improving. It’s because you haven’t crossed the “Plateau of Latent Potential,” as some call “overnight success.” Which is really just improving up 1% at a time. It’s not about aiming to the level of your goals but focusing on your systems to get better results overtime. A good form of motivation is when habits become part of your identity. Habits are here to solve problems in life with less effort as possible and when you want to change behavior think: How can I make it obvious? How can I make it attractive? How can I make it easy ? How can I make it satisfying?

[AF/KC] Propaganda Sub Plan

On WEDNESDAY, you will need a textbook, your notebook, and a Chromebook.

STEP ONE - Textbook & Notebook
Read "How to Detect Propaganda," pages 756-761.  Open your notebook, title and date a fresh page, and keep notes on characteristics of different forms of propaganda.

STEP TWO - Chromebook & Notebook
Read this glossary of "the language of disinformation."  Take some notes.  Do you see any of the techniques listed in the 1937 Institute for Propaganda Analysis newsletter article here on this list from 2020?

STEP THREE - Chromebook & Notebook
Google the phrase "2020 Election Disinformation" and choose an article to read.  Take good notes.

[AF] QuestBridge seeking academically excellent, low-income students

QuestBridge matches top juniors from low income families to excellent colleges across the country.  We would love to recommend you.  Check this link and read the qualification criteria to see if you are eligible; if you are, let Ms. Colln or Ms. Fletcher know, and we'll refer you!  QuestBridge will take it from there.

Mayfair alumni Nashville Burrola went to the University of Chicago on a full QuestBridge scholarship.  I can't remember which year!  Maybe somewhere between 2003 and 2007?  Ms. Colln, do you remember?

Atomic Habits Summary

Small atomic habits don't make a big differences in the beginning but over time it slowly leads to exponential growth that makes a massive differences. Habits over time also changes your beliefs about yourself in return you start getting results you might not even have been able to imagine. Also rather then trying to get an outcome first start with what kind of person you want to be. Then ask questions about what kind of person you want to be when faced with a difficult situation. For instances, "what would a kind person do? or "what would a hard worker do". By asking these question if gives you a chance to think about what to do and eventually you'll become a hard worker or kind person because that is now your identity. Although goals work it is often better to look at the system or the process to achieving your goals instead of trying to get an outcome or result.

Atomic Habits Book Club Discussion

During the book club we slightly argued about one of James Clear's claim that it is not necessary to set goals rather we should look at the process. One of our members disagreed with this claim because without goals we wouldn't be able to know when we have succeeded. While I agreed with James Clear because if you set a goal to clean your room each time it gets messy you constantly have to set the goal to clean, however if you have a system you almost never have to set the goal because the system will help keep your room consistency clean. Overall, we didn't have much to talk about yet, but I did enjoy our group discussions.

[AF]: TED Talks on Language

Language is like the proverbial fish in water (check tattoo) -- we swim in it, not often thinking about what it actually is.  We are born into the world ready and hard-wired to learn a language, and learn the basics inside of 2-3 years; we are then immersed in language, but rarely think about it, how it works, how we acquire more of it, or how our perceptions may change when we switch from one language to another.

Getting better at using language is an advantage, and knowing more than one language is an advantage; anything we can do to improve language proficiency overall will open opportunities that we often cannot even imagine.  For example...

Here's the thing that always blows my mind:  if I don't have a word for something, I can't even really perceive or think about that "something" well, no matter what it is.  I mean, sometimes we may have an idea and then a word will appear that describes this idea and helps us to develop it, but it's usually the other way around.  For me, that word was "hegemony."  Once I learned that word, an entire universe of learning and reading and thinking opened up.  I only had hazy ideas about hegemony before learning the word.

It's a fascinating subject, and one that comes up on the AP exam surprisingly often.  Since you are taking an AP English LANGUAGE class, perhaps you'd like to look into this topic a bit deeper.

TED TALKS ON LANGUAGE