read part of Von Newman

I spent 2.5 hours in library read something about Von Newman. I don't know it worth or not.

 

The part of the story is that 

 

1) Teaching is good. Especially you have some one to ask your question and you are going to explain it (From Feyman). Maybe you imatine that if in a ideal world which you don't have any obligation, you will be more productive. Acutally it's not. If you are put in a vacuum, even the brilliant people are easy to have no ideas at all.  So treasure whatever you have and do your things well. Get used to what you have, and keep on doing the important thing. Be open mind, and get inspiration from the current moment.

 

2) Keep discussion and listen to others. Science makes progress by people pick up each other's work and keep improving it. So keep communication with colleagues, not keep patent in mind and prevent to talk. The discussion can lead to many results that you never excepted. Even David Mumford said that most of his ideas come from the exchanging with other researchers. Von Newman often talk to people and then go further than they did. And he highly relies on mathematics.

 

3) insist on thinking. these great people would love to think and work on math if necessary.

 

Some part of the story is talking about some great people also have the time to get stuck at something. They are genuius, but they are also comman person. They also have self doubts. Maybe next time, I should read some content more optimistic.  Anyway, as long as you stick at, you will gain something.

 

Knowledge is everywhere, how nice it would be to be curious about it and improve what you are doing.