01 / Belief
Where did that
certainty come from?
Some beliefs arrive through experience. Others come from family, culture, or a confident voice. Asking how we came to believe something is a useful place to begin.
The power is in the questions.
A little doubt.
A better
way to think.
Finding reality & truth by questioning what we “know.”
More than 60% of what the average person “knows” was never personally verified. This book is an invitation to rediscover the joy — and freedom — of asking better questions.
Critical thinking. Awareness. Wisdom.
01 Pause before reacting.
02 Question your certainty.
03 Stay open to discovery.
An invitation to think again
Being smart doesn’t
make us immune.
“In order to seek truth, it is necessary once in the course of our life, to doubt, as far as possible, of all things.”
René Descartes
Where did that
02 / Awareness
Notice what has
your attention.
A headline. A fear. The need to be right. Before deciding what to think, pause long enough to notice what is shaping your reaction.
03 / Wisdom
Leave room
to be surprised.
Clear thinking is a practice: listen carefully, examine the evidence, and stay willing to revise your view. A changed mind can be a sign of progress.
A moment of inquiry
Try a better
question.
Bring to mind something you feel certain about. A judgment. A headline. An opinion you’ve defended. Then sit with this question.
QUESTION 01 / 06
What would change my mind?
The book by Larry G. Stambaugh
Why Smart People
Believe Stupid Things
…and How Not To
We inherit most of our beliefs the way we inherit furniture — handed down, rarely examined, and somehow always in the room.
A warm, often funny exploration of belief, doubt, awareness, and the practice of wisdom. For anyone ready to examine familiar assumptions and rediscover the freedom of asking better questions.
Inside the book
Nine chapters. A lifetime of questions.
LARRY G. STAMBAUGH · AUTHOR & LIFELONG QUESTIONER
Meet the author
Curiosity is
a lifelong practice.
“When I was young, I knew everything. Absolutely everything. Then life started poking holes in that certainty.”
Larry G. Stambaugh writes for anyone who has ever wondered how much of what they believe is actually true. His work explores how we form beliefs, how we examine them, and how better questions can help us see more clearly.
His aim is to help readers rediscover the joy of questioning, cool a few overheated arguments, and make it a little harder for the smooth talkers to get away with their tricks.
Start a conversation ↗Keep the inquiry going
A question worth
making room for.
Occasional questions to sit with, ideas to explore, and news about the book. An invitation to pause in a world that rarely does.
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