I recently started reading “Think Like a Freak,” the newest book co-authored by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. It is the third book in a series they started in 2005 with “Freakonomics” and followed up in 2009 with “Superfreakonomics.” For years I have raved to family, friends, my students, and just about anybody that would listen to me about the cutting edge thinking these gentlemen were sharing with the world. Their ultimate goal is to discover the hidden incentives that cause people to make decisions and unintended consequences that can happen as a result of what would normally be considered unrelated events.

One of the earliest chapters in their latest book focuses on the importance of three simple words: I DON’T KNOW. So often in life people will pretend to know an answer they simply don’t know, or can’t possibly know. What is their motivation? Are they afraid to admit weakness? If they are in a situation where they are surrounded by their professional peers are they more likely to “fake it?” The reality is admitting you don’t know something takes a great deal of strength and confidence. It shows that you are able to identify a shortcoming and hopefully are willing to engage it and remedy it. Continue reading Human Geography: It’s OK to say “I Don’t Know” →