Shelfies #30: Linda Schlegel

After handing in my PhD dissertation, I spent the second half of 2023 on a sabbatical to recover from… well, everything really. Shocking, right? I was told many times that this is an outrageous idea that would kill my career, the absolute worst time to take time off: “So young and already needing a break? Pfff.” and the age-old “Oh my God, you will have a gap on your CV! Gasp!“ 

But I’m a firm believer in taking a break from time to time and that, far from being a leisurely luxury, having time to free our minds and immersing ourselves in topics unrelated to our professional careers, makes us more well-rounded human beings. Hence, I began reading those books displayed above.

I’m happy to report that I do have a job now and that the – gasp – gap on my CV has yet to generate negative side effects. But I’m even happier to report that I’m a better person and a better researcher because of – and not despite – taking time to dip my toe into seemingly unrelated fields and “wasting my time” on books far outside what those naysayers would deem useful for my professional development. Joke’s on them, as I learned.

Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson and Range by David Epstein both discuss why it is not just interesting but also absolutely essential to engage with ideas that have no immediate connection to the problems you are currently working on. Throughout history, it has been the all-rounders and those looking to adjacent areas who produce the most creative ideas. This specifically includes engagement with the creative arts, because - surprise! – researchers who are engaged in creative activities outside of work are, on average, 20+ times more successful when it comes to breakthrough innovations than those who do not. Take that, naysayers!

Speaking of creativity, Your Brain On Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Rose describes in an accessible manner what happens in our brains when we consume and create any type of art, why doing so supports life-long brain development, reduces stress, and even extends our lives. Art is crucial to our well-being, both as individuals and as communities, and spending time on creative endeavors is anything but a waste of time.

The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul teaches “thinking outside the brain” and why we would all benefit from doing so. She tells us that what we termed intuition or gut instinct is actually our reptile brain’s way of thinking and why we better start listening to it, discusses why walking in nature helps us solve problems, why clean-desk policies are awful for our minds, and why we should design office buildings like monasteries to create optimal thinking environments.

In other words, read widely, indulge in art, be creative, trust your instincts, and don’t worry about the mess on your desk you’ve been wanting to clean up for ages - it actually helps you think better! 

By day, Linda Schlegel researches digital radicalization processes and potential avenues to prevent them. By night (and on weekends, holidays, vacation, sabbaticals, whenever she gets the chance), she reads books that have absolutely nothing to do with her day job, politics, or the current state of the world – let’s be honest, nobody can deal with the dark side all the damn time. 

Shelfies is edited by Lavie Tidhar and Jared Shurin. 
For more Shelfies, please join us on Instagram.