English Diary 2026
0830 Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction by Timothy Gowers explains not so much how to calculate, but how mathematicians think. Mathematics begins by constructing models. A mathematical model deliberately ignores many details of reality and focuses on the features that are relevant to a particular problem. This process makes it possible to discover common structures behind apparently unrelated phenomena. 0828 Really good Small habits compound into remarkable results. Improving by just one percent each day may seem negligible at first, but over time the effects accumulate. Likewise, seemingly trivial bad habits can gradually have detrimental consequences. Focus on systems rather than goals. Goals provide direction, but systems determine your progress. Instead of merely aspiring to read more books, establish a system such as reading ten pages every night. Sustainable success depends on making desirable behavior habitual. The most powerful habits are identity-based. Instead of say...