First Principles Thinking for Everyone
Want to think like a genius, win arguments, and solve problems like a boss? First principles thinking is the ultimate cheat code Ditch the shortcuts - learn how to break things down & build smarter!
Starting with Why - First Principles Guides?
Well, I have several young, incredibly imaginative and inquisitive minds in my house. Give them a topic and they’ll debate it until some cries uncle or their blue in the face. Or give them a roll of duct tape and they can build anything! Literally a steering system for a homemade cart! I ran into an issue where they constantly want someone to solve their problems for them. Instead I want to teach them how to… think differently, think deeper, and think for themselves to becomes independently, creative problem solvers.
I want to share some of those things with you, so here is the First Principles Guides outline.
Pro Tip: I’ll be updating this like a table of contents with links as I publish the articles. So bookmark this page and share it with your friends!
Chapter 1 - Foundational First Principles Thinking Tools
1.1 The Cheat Code to Solving Any Problem
Unlock your inner genius and break any challenge down like a pro gamer cracking the ultimate puzzle!
1.2 The ‘What If’ Trick That Turns You into a Super Thinker
Ever wondered what would happen if gravity took a break? Welcome to thought experiments - your mind's own sci-fi movie!
1.3 See the Future Before It Happens with Second-Order Thinking
Think ahead like a chess master or risk getting stuck in the dumbest decisions of your life (we’ve all been there).
1.4 How Thinking Backward Helps You Win at Life
Want an A in math? Try figuring out how to fail first. (Wait, what? Trust me, it works!).
Chapter 2 - Using First Principles to See the World Clearly
2.1 How to Spot the Simplest (and Usually Right) Answer
Is your missing dog actually abducted by aliens, or did your little brother leave the door open? Let’s talk Occam’s Razor!
2.2 Why Most People Aren’t Actually Out to Get You (coming soon)
Your friend forgot to text back - evil mastermind plan, or just bad Wi-Fi? Hanlon’s Razor will save you from unnecessary drama!
2.3 Know What You Know (and What You Don’t) (coming soon)
You wouldn’t ask your math teacher for dating advice, right? Let’s talk about knowing your strengths and weaknesses.
2.4 The Smartest Way to Predict the Future (coming soon)
Should you bring an umbrella? Should you take that risk? Welcome to probabilistic thinking - your personal crystal ball (that actually works).
Chapter 3 - Using First Principles to Make Better Decisions
3.1 Why Life is Never Exactly What the Brochure Says (coming soon)
Your school schedule, a game guide, or even Google Maps - none of them show the full picture. Here’s how to avoid getting lost in bad info!
3.2 Why Your Brain Loves to Lie to You (coming soon)
If you think all cats are evil, you’ll only notice the ones that hiss. Here’s how to fight confirmation bias and start seeing reality.
3.3 Why We Fear the Wrong Things (Sharks vs. Bathtubs) (coming soon)
Sharks are terrifying, right? Guess what’s deadlier - your bathtub. Welcome to the availability heuristic, where your brain plays tricks on you!
3.4 Why You Only Hear About Winners (and Why That’s a Problem) (coming soon)
Everyone talks about the YouTubers who blew up overnight… but what about the millions who didn’t? Here’s how survivorship bias messes with your head.
Chapter 4 - Using First Principles to Solve Problems Like a Genius
4.1 Why You Keep Doing Stuff That’s Clearly Not Working (coming soon)
Ever kept watching a bad movie just because you're halfway through? Welcome to the sunk cost fallacy - the reason we make dumb choices!
4.2 Every Choice Costs You Something—Are You Paying the Right Price? (coming soon)
"If you play video games for an hour, you’re also giving up something else—sleep, practice, or that one YouTube deep dive. Let’s talk opportunity cost!"
4.3 How Small Actions Can Have Massive Results (coming soon)
Why does a tiny seesaw move something 100x its size? That’s leverage. Use this trick in school, sports, and life to get more with less effort!
Chapter 5 - Using First Principles to be a Big Picture Thinker
5.1 How Tiny Habits Turn You into a Superhuman Over Time (coming soon)
Saving $1 a day, reading 5 pages, or doing 10 push-ups won’t change your life today - but compounding will turn you into a legend if you keep going!
5.2 Why Some Things Get More Valuable When More People Use Them (coming soon)
A social media app with one user? Lame. A club with only two members? Meh. Welcome to network effects - the reason some things explode in popularity!
5.3 Why the 10th Slice of Pizza Isn’t as Good as the First (coming soon)
More is better… until it isn’t. The law of diminishing returns explains why you should stop before you ruin a good thing!
Chapter 6 - Conclusion
6.1 The Ultimate Mental Toolbox for Smarter Decisions (coming soon)
The world is full of confusing problems - now you’ve got the brain tools to handle anything. Here’s how to keep sharpening them!