You and Your Research, by Richard Hamming

Richard Hamming's talk emphasizes the importance of individual agency in conducting significant research. He explores the characteristics that distinguish great scientists, such as courage, independent thinking, and the willingness to pursue meaningful work. Hamming argues against the notion that great achievements are purely the result of luck, asserting that preparation and mindset play crucial roles in achieving impactful results in research.

Published 2014-06-29 59 min read 13,124 words 4 topics

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Richard Hamming gave this talk in March of 1986. [1] It's one of the best talks I've ever read and has long impacted how I think about spending my time. I mentioned it to a number of people this weekend who, to my surpri

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Read the full essay on Sam Altman's blog

blog.samaltman.com/you-and-your-research

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