Beacon / Documents
Reader Queue Mirror
This is Beacon’s local mirror of Reader documents. Use it to inspect what Corvus Beacon can currently see and how items are moving between Feed and Library states.
Observation mode is on. Ghost rankings are visible on feed items, but Beacon is not moving them automatically.
Category Filter
Current: emailDocuments
50 shown
Zero-Based Everything | Unqualified Opinions
Life changes fast, but organizations pile new rules on old ones, creating harmful "sludge." Zero-based thinking asks whether we would create each rule or structure if starting from scratch. That question could reduce needless persistence a…
Lebanon Ceasefire, Shakespeare’s Home, and Punch 2.0
Good morning. It's Friday, April 17, and we're covering a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a map showing William Shakespeare's London property, and much more.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold
3-2-1: On acting like a winner, thinking for yourself, and how to stop chasing what isn't working
James Clear urges focus on the right things and warns against perfecting the wrong ones. He advises questioning beliefs that come from others. Enjoy the present instead of racing ahead. Warren Buffett says don’t chase losses; move to the n…
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 1
😺 LIVE NOW: Testing Claude Opus 4.7: Is It Really That Good?
Starting RIGHT NOW, join Grant Harvey (Lead Writer @ The Neuron) for an unscripted, warts-and-all live test of Anthropic's newest flagship model.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 1
Ness Labs: Work Anxiety 🕯️
A couple of fun things happened this week.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Illusion of Clarity ✂️
It’s finally spring here in the UK and after completing some important milestones in a big research project, I have some breathing room for non-academic writing.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Thinking Deeper
This week something amazing happened: my essay on hypercuriosity was published in Aeon magazine. This is one of my favorite publications, so truly an honor.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Rebuilding Motivation 🧶
We also have lots of fun events in the community, including a workshop to learn how to sketch what you read and another one exploring our relationship to procrastination.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Experimenting with Emotions 🎭
What I often hear from people like us is that the realm of emotions is a bit more challenging to work with. Thinking?
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Gut Decision Matrix 🫀
You’ll also find an interview with Nir Eyal about his new book Beyond Belief, which is out this week.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Writing a Book 📖
The community is where we put tiny experiments into practice: weekly creative hours using metacognitive prompts, coworking sessions, a personal knowledge management group, a dedicated space to share your experiments, and much more.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Premature Certainty 💣
I just received incredible news: Tiny Experiments has crossed more than 100,000 copies worldwide just under one year after publication!
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Omnipotence Dilemma ♾️
I finally caved and installed OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent framework recently acquired by OpenAI.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Thinking Together 🤝
I’m also excited to feature two contributions from friends and fellow authors: Jonathan Goodman, with a short interview about his new book Unhinged Habits, and Nir Eyal – author of Hooked, Indistractable, and Beyond Belief – who will host …
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Finding Creative Flow 🌀
January is behind us! And from what many of you have shared, that comes as a relief.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Writing as Leverage ✍️
Looking back, none of those opportunities would have existed without my writing experiments, including this very newsletter you’re reading.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Compensatory Control 🔒 (+ watch my TEDx talk!)
My TEDx talk is live! Yes, the one where I blanked in front of 800 people and had to admit I forgot what I was supposed to say next.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: How to Get Unstuck ⛓️
If you’re the curious, nerdy analytical type, your default response might be to think harder, plan more, or improve your productivity systems.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Discipline is Overrated ⛔
Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes last week! I spent some time reflecting on what I want more of in my life, and one thing kept coming up: flow.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: A Year of Self-Discovery 🏔️
Happy new year to you, and happy birthday to me! Today, I’m turning 36 and this is also the 300th edition of the Ness Labs newsletter!
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Presence versus Performance ⚖️
Writing an annual review is one of the most powerful metacognitive practices you can build into your life.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Permission to Hibernate ❄️
The end of the year is the quintessential liminal space – caught between what was and what’s coming, feeling both uncertain and rushed, filled with anticipation, curiosity, and maybe a touch of anxiety.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Practice of Self-Curiosity 👁️
I’d also like to invite you to my Annual Review workshop on December 18th at 11am New York / 4pm London / 9:40pm Delhi as an opportunity to practice self-curiosity.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Art of Good Enough ⚖️ (+Black Friday bundle!)
It’s a special bundle with my Annual Review Workshop, the 6 modules of the Experimental Leader course, and a full year of Ness Labs community membership.
Ghost ranking (rules only): blocked / score 2 / blocked: looks like promotional or advertising copy
Ness Labs: How to Love Learning Again 🏔️
This edition also includes some special treats: my vlog documenting the launch the french version of Tiny Experiments in Paris (watch if you want to hear me speak French and meet my parents!
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Cost of Change 🚧
Thank you for all the well wishes and kind words celebrating the launch of the french version of Tiny Experiments!
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: What if it works out? 🏆
As I’m celebrating this milestone, I’ve been thinking about how even wonderful achievements bring unexpected changes – new pressures, expectations, shifts in how others see you.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Cognitive Luxuries 💸
It made me think about what a rare thing it is these days to read a whole book. Not because people don’t want to, but because our lives are so full of noise.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Analog Renaissance 🌳
I just got back from Nashville, where my TEDx talk went great...
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Reclaiming Your Ignorance 🗺️
I’m writing this from Nashville, where I’ll be giving a TEDx talk in a couple of days. Over the past few weeks, I watched a few TEDx talks to get a feel for the format.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Noticing What Works 👁️
A few days ago I found myself sitting at the airport, exhausted at the thought of boarding another plane.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Art of Getting Through to People 🫂
I have some fun news: I’m speaking at TEDxNashville on October 19th!
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: When Freedom Feels Heavy 🎒
The Experimental Leader is launched, the french edition of Tiny Experiments is announced (RSVP here if you’d like to join me in Paris on Nov 6th to celebrate together), and I’m now staring at my to-do list asking myself: what should I work…
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Experimental Leader is here! 🥳
I’m thrilled to announce that my very first self-paced course, The Experimental Leader, is finally live!
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Why Originality is Overrated 💅
I’m back in London and slowly settling back into a nice routine, although I’m still jet lagged and have quite a few looming deadlines: an article for Big Think, a script for a TEDx talk, a blog post for reMarkable...
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Cognitive Multiculturalism 🇫🇷
Today marks six months since Tiny Experiments came out.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Conditional Self-Worth ⚖️
I was recently reflecting on the year so far and noticed how differently I feel about myself on days when things go well versus days when they don’t.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Selective Admiration 🪡
A very short update from me this week – the first week in a while I had free to not do anything and relax, I got sick (the body knows! ).
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The trap of the deadline high 🪤
This week was my graduation ceremony! Funny thing is… I almost didn’t go.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: How to Trust Yourself 🤝
I’m writing this from the Black Forest in Germany, where I’ll take some much-needed time in nature.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Audience Effect 👀
I did it! I finally launched an offshoot newsletter dedicated to my ADHD research.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Psychology of Intellectual Self-Doubt 🧠
I also discussed this with the amazing Vicky Zhao on her podcast, where we covered how an experimental mindset can transform your relationship with personal and professional growth (topics I cover in depth in my book).
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Is ChatGPT really rotting our brains? 🤖
Last week many of you asked why YAMA for “You’re Always Missing Out” and the truth is... the person who coined it on twitter used that acronym and my brain didn’t even register the problem!
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: YAMA (You're Always Missing Out) 😌
I’ll keep the intro very as this week I’m in the process of scripting and shooting our first ever professional course at Ness Labs!
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Just dropped: Deep dive on the Modern Wisdom podcast 🎙️
You received this email because you subscribed to the Ness Labs newsletter. “-ness” is a suffix that means “state of being”, as in awareness, mindfulness, consciousness.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Skill Behind all Skills ⚡
I’m working on a research project that involves methods I’ve never used before. I’m about to launch an offshoot of this newsletter focused on my ADHD research.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: Your Hidden Assumptions ⛓️
In the spirit of curiosity and questioning the obvious, this week’s piece looks at illusory correlations: how we often see patterns that aren’t really there.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Art of Seeing Things Differently 🪞
I was supposed to send you this newsletter from New York City, but when I showed up at the airport yesterday, I found out my ticket had been cancelled.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: What makes a good experiment? 🤓
This is a question I cover in the first section of the book and that I have discussed in podcasts and in the Ness Labs community, but I thought it would be a nice opportunity to distill these principles.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2
Ness Labs: The Anxiety-Curiosity Switch 🔀
I’ve been asked to adapt the ideas from the book for a room full of online creators. Every time I shape a talk for a new audience, I want it to be useful, specific, resonant.
Ghost ranking (rules only): would hold / score 2