17. May - 23. May 2020:

The Second Brain (in English)

Since ancient times, intellectuals have used writing to record their thoughts, refine their theories, and share their ideas with the world. During the Renaissance, this practice was given a name: “commonplace” books. These books contained interesting quotes, facts, stories, and observations about a world that was becoming increasingly hard to understand. Writers, philosophers, and artists documented the many new ideas they were encountering in an attempt to make sense of their moment in history, and to support them in doing their best work. 

Fast forward to today, and all of us find ourselves in the very same situation: too much change and too much information, with not enough time to process and understand it. And more pressure than ever to do our very best work and compete in a global economy. All of us now need to keep a commonplace book. We need it not only to survive the onslaught of information overload, but to make meaning out of the conflicting narratives we are told. The 20th century was about educating our “First Brain.” The 21st century will be about building and enhancing our “Second Brain.”

The only jobs left for humans are those that require creativity. But if we leave creativity to chance, hoping for a flash of inspiration or a “bolt from the blue,” we’ll soon be out of a job. We are told to be innovative, to adapt quickly, to bring our very best ideas to work every single day. Yet no one taught us how to consistently produce creative work. Our teachers told us to “take notes” for a single test or a single class. But now we are engaged in “life-long learning” that never ends. How do we take notes for a lifetime of creative exploration, not just an isolated task? 

In this week of reflection, we will explore these questions in depth. Drawing on Tiago Forte’s work writing, speaking, and teaching, we will examine what it means to build a “Second Brain” – an external repository of our best ideas, learnings, research, and knowledge. We are at a pivotal moment in history where technology has finally made it feasible to extend our mind’s abilities. For the first time, this is not a sci-fi fantasy or a dystopian nightmare – it is a real possibility already taking place before our eyes.

The week will take place over 5 days at the Château d'Orion, a hotel and cultural center at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains in Southwestern France. In the depths of World War II, a group of French resisters met at the Château to make their plans. What better place for us to discuss the revolution in thinking that intelligent machines are causing? We have the opportunity to shape how “Second Brains” find their way into society. This week will be our attempt to look deeply into the ethics, values, and principles underlying “cognitive extension. “

We will gather 10 people over 5 days at this special location designed for deep reflection. Tiago Forte and his partner Lauren Valdez will lead the group through a series of presentations, discussions, and embodied exercises. These conversations will focus on the deeper philosophical implications of the “Second Brain,” including the impact it might have on agency, identity, memory, truth, perception, and the body.

The speaker

Tiago Forte is one of the world’s foremost experts on productivity. He writes and speaks on how knowledge workers can revolutionize their personal effectiveness using technology and has taught more than 20,000 people around the world through his online courses and live workshops.

Tiago’s online course Building a Second Brainhas been taken by more than 1,000 people from more than 60 countries. He draws on academic disciplines such as Information Science, practical fields such as User Experience Design, and his professional experience working with top organizations and leaders in Silicon Valley. Tiago believes idea management is one of the most impactful skills in the world today, and this course makes it accessible to individuals for the first time.

Previous clients include Toyota, Genentech, Nestle, and the Inter-American Development Bank, as well as startups, universities, and non-profits. His work has been featured in media outlets like The New York Times, Inc. Magazine, Lifehacker, The Atlantic, Thrive Global, and Quartz.

Tiago writes about his ideas on his blog, Praxis. In a previous life, he worked in microfinance in Latin America, served in the Peace Corps in Ukraine, and consulted for large companies on product development in Silicon Valley. He lives in Mexico City with his wife Lauren.

price

2.450€ in a single room

2.200€ p.P. in a double room

Includes an opulent breakfast, a 2-course lunch menu and a 3-course evening menu, drinks during breaks and fruit at any time. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

All prices include VAT.

The entire Équipe d'Orion feels responsible for your well-being. Please do not hesitate to contact us before booking!