Author Archives: Simon Riley

The 5 hour rule: keep learning the Benjamin Franklin way

http://www.inc.com/empact/why-constant-learners-all-embrace-the-5-hour-rule.html I enjoyed this article from Michael Simmons in Inc. Like seemingly all Americans who write about anything, he has a Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) fixation – but why not, it probably beats my fixation with Paul Scholes (1974- ), articulate and thoughtful though the Bury-born former midfield ace is. Franklin was of course famously productive,Continue reading “The 5 hour rule: keep learning the Benjamin Franklin way”

Johnny behavioural science mnemonics: EAST and MINDSPACE

It’s too late to improve Keanu Reaves’ acting, but there’s still hope for using behavioural economics to improve other outcomes. Here are a couple of ‘what to remember about behavioural economics’ mnemonics I thought I’d share, from my recent reading of David Halpern’s Inside the Nudge Unit. According to Halpern, the man behind the BritishContinue reading “Johnny behavioural science mnemonics: EAST and MINDSPACE”

Eating the cabin boy: clues to Brexit from the mists of the Noughties

The period around a decade ago, at any given time, is often lost in a Bermuda Triangle of cultural amnesia. We remember very recent events; and we enjoy revisiting events further back, the tracks through which have been trodden down by enough historians to count as ‘history’. But go back only one decade and weContinue reading “Eating the cabin boy: clues to Brexit from the mists of the Noughties”

Riding the elephant towards empathy: an RSA Animate

In this RSA Animate short film, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the RSA (whose blog is here: https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/matthew-taylor-blog) gives a really interesting overview of the currents of change in big thinkers’ ideas about society. The RSA itself is an organisation that follows, curates and influences these developments. He points forward to what we can expectContinue reading “Riding the elephant towards empathy: an RSA Animate”

What kind of Brexit? Don’t just ask the 52 per cent – we’re all leaving

Brexit means Brexit. When I studied law, that’s what we called a “circular definition”. The question of what it does mean – that is, how Brexit is to be carried out and what future relationship with the EU we are aiming for – has been deferred. Until now that is. The political mood seems toContinue reading “What kind of Brexit? Don’t just ask the 52 per cent – we’re all leaving”

Brexit brands: catching up with the left behind

Campaign: Brands Favoured by Remainers and Leavers Back at my desk / wheel / digi-recorder, I wanted to register this article I missed in August before we all move on and forget the summer ever happened (some of us would prefer to; but every day I wake up and it turns out it still did).Continue reading “Brexit brands: catching up with the left behind”

Harry Frankfurt on “Bullshit” – with thx to Martin Weigel’s blog

One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share. But we tend to take the situation for granted… Why is there so much bullshit? Of course it is impossible to be sure that there is relatively more of it […]Continue reading “Harry Frankfurt on “Bullshit” – with thx to Martin Weigel’s blog”

Gender Pay Gap: Still Holding Britain Back

If you’re a woman coming into the workforce in Britain, the best advice seems to be to join the police and make it to chief constable, go into IT, or drive a train. There you have a chance of being paid more than a man. Otherwise though, it seems you can expect to earn lessContinue reading “Gender Pay Gap: Still Holding Britain Back”