Novel Sunday I

[Barrett Dorko]

Let’s read a book together. I found this one soon after arriving at the Cuyahoga Falls public library and now it is my newest favorite book of all time. I want to post about it each Sunday for a while.

The title is New: Understanding our need for novelty and change by Winifred Gallagher.

I’ve found that I like reading about how we came to be the way we are by evoking its evolutionary advantage. This explains that which is often inexplicable otherwise and often highlights the unconscious motivation that is the remnant of our kluge of a brain. After all, most of us have one.

The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.

Marcus Aurelius

Our genius for responding to the new and different distinguishes us from all other creatures, saved us from extinction 80.000 years ago, and has fueled our progress.

Winifred Gallagher

Gallagher calls it Neophilia, and this refers to our affinity for novelty. It helps us adapt, learn about or create new things that matter.

Novelty is something we speak about quite often when discussing treatment.

Today, I’m convinced that it is far more important than I’d previously thought – and now there’s a book about that.

What do you think?

[Barrett Dorko]

I think novel stimulation of various sorts has been mentioned here in various contexts.

We have examples of how this might be done, when it might be done and why it's a good idea.

[byronselorme]

I have reserved this book from the library but I will have to wait for 2 people .

I often condemned myself for always looking to provide novelty in what I am doing. For example always changing something in a recipe, a workout, some task.

I have always felt it to be a bit of a failing for not being "consistent".

[CDano]

I was thinking the same thing Byron. I think there is a yin yang relationship.

There is sort of a everything is disposable, trend of the week issue that's a frustrating for someone who wants to go deep into something. Certainly in our line of work there are a lot of people who try this try that and never really get anywhere.

But then there is an important training principle, the same but different. Keep doing the same thing the same way all the time and all progress will stop.

Knowing when it's time to introduce change is its own art.

[Ken Jakalski]

I've always felt it to be a bit of a failing for not being "consistent".

I know what you mean. I'm the only coach on the Lisle staff who never changes my team uniform. I may upgrade to different material, but the logo and design itself has been the same for the past twenty-six years.

Many tell me that kids 'like' change, and that new uniforms inspire a team. I like the fact that kids can look at images of former Lisle state champions from years ago and realize they are wearing the same uniform.

I believe there is great value in tradition, but I can guarantee that the next Lisle coach will change that jersey as soon as his or her uniform rotation comes up.