On Really Trying (2009)

summary

Human motivation and problem-solving efficiency are profoundly influenced by the psychological certainty that a solution is possible. When individuals believe an answer exists—whether through a hint, a proof of concept, or a mistaken assumption—they are more likely to persist through difficulty and discard failing theories. This mental shift bypasses perceived limits of competency and fatigue, enabling breakthroughs that would otherwise be stalled by doubt or a sense of impossibility.

key points

1. Certainty of a solution acts as a catalyst for discovery, as seen in cases where mathematicians and scientists solved famous problems simply because they mistakenly thought they were homework assignments or knew a proof of concept existed.
2. The perception of fatigue and impossibility is often a subjective brain-constructed limit rather than a physical one, allowing those who can bypass these mental inhibitions—through external guidance or neurological shifts—to achieve extreme endurance.
3. A single piece of information confirming that a task is achievable can drastically reduce the time required to solve it, shifting the effort from questioning feasibility to executing the solution.

who should read it

Researchers, students, and anyone interested in the intersection of psychology and high-performance achievement who wants to understand how mental framing affects productivity.

discussion skeptical