Category: Learning & Education
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Review: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
What Is This Book About Never Split the Difference was written by Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator. The book draws on his experience negotiating in some of the highest-stakes situations imaginable, kidnappings, bank robberies, and international crises, to argue that the same techniques work everywhere: job negotiations, business deals, and even buying a…
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‘The Effective Executive’ by Peter Drucker: How Relevant Is It Today?
Initially, I did not expect too much from this book. Published in 1966, and filled with examples from companies and governments that no longer exist in the same form. I have read of newer books on productivity and effectiveness, and I assumed this one would feel dated. I was wrong. The Effective Executive turned out…
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Book Review: This is Strategy by Seth Godin
It was on the Tim Ferriss Show that I first heard about Seth Godin. I was interested right away because Seth has had one of the earliest blogs and has been posting consistently since the internet began. He is a great storyteller and marketing expert, so when I saw his audiobook on Spotify, it was a no-brainer…
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Building a Home Server: Taking Back Digital Autonomy
Everything I know about computers comes from YouTube tutorials, forums, and whatever LLMs tell me. What I lack in formal training, though, I make up for in curiosity. I’m intrigued by how technology works and how it shapes our society. I’ve written about our digital footprint, and the more I think about it, the more…
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Why Everybody Needs a Personal Website
Most content about personal websites and blogs focuses on which platform to use or how to optimise for SEO. That’s where the affiliate money is. But the more interesting question, and the one that gets asked a lot less, is why you should have a personal website in the first place. I’ve been running my…
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My Duolingo 2025 Rewind: Three Years, 16 Hours, and Some More Strange Sentences
My Duolingo streak just passed 1102 days. That’s three years of daily Norwegian practice without breaking the chain (with some help from streak freezes though). As with every app nowadays, Duolingo provided me with a 2025 review. The Numbers According to Duolingo, I’m now a “top 9% learner.” That surprised me. I do exactly one…
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Gym Progress Tracking: Why Paper Beats Apps
I’ve been going to the gym consistently for years. Three times a week, rarely missing a session, feeling like I was putting in the work. But the truth was that my progress was rubbish. I was stronger than when I started, but not to the level I should have achieved with that level of consistency.…
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Vacation and Productivity: Lessons from Marrakech
Introduction We’re waiting for the train to Gardermoen Airport. The Oslo sky is autumn blue, warm enough for just a light wool jumper. I can’t quite believe that this afternoon we’ll be in 30-degree heat in the bustling medina of Marrakech. I’m mentally reviewing my packing list, but not the usual holiday checklist. I’m thinking…
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Book Review: The Paradox of Svalbard
After spending seven weeks on Svalbard, I thought I had a good understanding of what life was like in Longyearbyen. I’d experienced the midnight sun, navigated the rules about polar bear safety, and observed the unique dynamics of this remote Arctic community. But it wasn’t until I read The Paradox of Svalbard by Zdenka Sokolíčková…
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My Messy Writing Workflow: From Brain Dump to Published Post
My writing process isn’t what you’d call “polished.” There’s no content calendar, no editorial strategy, and no organised system. What I do have is a workflow that consistently publishes posts, which is more than I can say for the rigid systems I’ve tried and abandoned in the past. Going with the flow This simplicity is…
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1000 Days of Norwegian On Duolingo; The Strangest Sentences
Duolingo is known for its somewhat strange sentences. Scentences that make you question, when will I ever use this? Because they are so strange, you do tend to remember them. But then again, will you ever use them? questions questions… Here are the eight strangest sentences I’ve encountered or found on the web during my…
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A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy (1859): Marx’s Preface Explained
Background I was discussing the course literature of ”Philosophy of Science and Research Methods (MEE125)” (Part of the Master Sustainability at the University of Stavanger), and I thought that one of the texts on the list would make for a good blog post. In this blog post, I’ll explain the main arguments of Marx in…
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900 Days of Duolingo Norwegian: Was It Worth It?
As I celebrate my 900-day streak learning Norwegian on Duolingo, it seems like the perfect time to reflect on whether this daily habit has actually improved my language skills. After living in Norway for two years and using Norwegian regularly in my daily life, I can offer some perspective on the app’s effectiveness as part…
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My Experience Using Rayyan for Systematic Literature Reviews
For my thesis work, I’ve been using the paid version of Rayyan to conduct a scoping review of existing literature. It’s a cloud-based platform designed specifically for systematic literature reviews that helps researchers organise and manage their review process. After using the tool for several months, I thought I’d share my thoughts on its strengths…
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7 Risk Management Book Recommendations
I was looking for some new books to read and thought I would take this opportunity to put together a list of the best books on risk management. This list focuses on infotainment books—informative but also fun to read.
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Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
In a world of quick-fix solutions and viral productivity hacks, “The 7 Habits” stands out for its comprehensive, principle-centered approach. It’s not just about being more productive – it’s about becoming more effective in every role you play.
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Sapiens: A Brilliant History with Some Debatable Claims
If you’ve spent any time around me lately, you’ve probably heard me talk about Yuval Noah Harari’s “Sapiens.” It’s a book that makes you look at humanity through an entirely different lens. While I found it brilliant overall, there are some points where I think Harari’s arguments could use a friendly challenge.
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Exploring Data Analysis with R on Coursera: A Personal Review
Coursera provides a low-risk, high-quality learning environment. The free trial period offers a perfect opportunity to test the waters before committing time and resources to a full program
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Finding Value in Bluntness: A Review Of “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck”
You know those moments when someone tells you something you kind of already knew, but somehow hearing it from them makes it click differently? That’s pretty much my experience with Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.” The book starts with what feels like unnecessary shock value. Manson comes in hot with…
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Thinking Fast and Slow: Where Psychology Meets Risk Management
During my Master’s in Risk Analysis, Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow” was on the recommended reading list. I was surprised, as it is more of a ‘popular’ book than a textbook. But I was also pleased that it was on there. It had been on my reading list for quite some time, and now…