One of America's greatest writers keeps a sign over his desk that says: "Look at your fish."
Here's why 🧵
Here's why 🧵
The writer's name is David McCullough and the saying helped him win a Pulitzer Prize.
The story goes back to a 19th century Harvard naturalist named Louis Agassiz, who was also a teacher.
The story goes back to a 19th century Harvard naturalist named Louis Agassiz, who was also a teacher.
Legend has it that on the first day of class, Agassiz would take a smelly jar out of a fish and drop it on the table.
Then, he’d say: “Look at your fish” and leave the room.
The students would say: "What is he talking about? It’s just a fish.”
Then, he’d say: “Look at your fish” and leave the room.
The students would say: "What is he talking about? It’s just a fish.”
After 20 minutes, he would come back and ask the students what they saw.
“Not much,” they’d say. It’s just a fish. It’s literally just a fish.
“Look again.”
“Not much,” they’d say. It’s just a fish. It’s literally just a fish.
“Look again.”
After a few days, students started to get it.
Looking closer, they saw details they’d glossed over their entire lives, from the color of the scales to the texture of the fins.
By the end of the semester, they saw how even a simple fish was wondrously complex.
Looking closer, they saw details they’d glossed over their entire lives, from the color of the scales to the texture of the fins.
By the end of the semester, they saw how even a simple fish was wondrously complex.
McCullough keeps a reminder of that story above his desk.
He says: “Insight comes, more often than not, from looking at what’s been on the table all along, in front of everybody, rather than from discovering something new.”
He says: “Insight comes, more often than not, from looking at what’s been on the table all along, in front of everybody, rather than from discovering something new.”
What's the point?
Writers are professional observationalists.
They live in search of ideas that others miss because they don’t look closely enough. They know that the best ideas are often hidden in plain sight.
Look at your fish.
Writers are professional observationalists.
They live in search of ideas that others miss because they don’t look closely enough. They know that the best ideas are often hidden in plain sight.
Look at your fish.
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