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Tim Harford: A powerful way to unleash your natural creativity
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What can we learn from the world's most enduringly creative people? They "slow-motion multitask," actively juggling multiple projects and moving between topics as the mood strikes -- without feeling hurried. Author Tim Harford shares how innovators like Einstein, Darwin, Twyla Tharp and Michael Crichton found their inspiration and productivity through cross-training their minds.
Tim Harford - Economist, journalist, broadcaster
Tim Harford's writings reveal the economic ideas behind everyday experiences. Full bio
Tim Harford's writings reveal the economic ideas behind everyday experiences. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
"To do two things at once
is to do neither."
is to do neither."
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同时做两件事
则两件都做不成。
则两件都做不成。
00:17
It's a great smackdown
of multitasking, isn't it,
of multitasking, isn't it,
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这是对多任务工作方式的
一个巨大打击。
一个巨大打击。
00:20
often attributed to
the Roman writer Publilius Syrus,
the Roman writer Publilius Syrus,
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这一概念常被认为是罗马作家
普布利留斯·西罗斯提出的，
普布利留斯·西罗斯提出的，
00:24
although you know how these things are,
he probably never said it.
he probably never said it.
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但你也知道这是怎么一回事
他可能从来没有说过这句话。
他可能从来没有说过这句话。
00:28
What I'm interested in, though,
is -- is it true?
is -- is it true?
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我感兴趣的是，它正确吗？
00:31
I mean, it's obviously true
for emailing at the dinner table
for emailing at the dinner table
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我想，这一概念应该是正确的，
若你在餐桌上发邮件，
若你在餐桌上发邮件，
00:35
or texting while driving or possibly
for live tweeting at TED Talk, as well.
for live tweeting at TED Talk, as well.
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或在开车时发短信，也可能是
在TED演讲现场推文。
在TED演讲现场推文。
但我想说的是，
在做一种重要的活动时
在做一种重要的活动时
00:41
But I'd like to argue
that for an important kind of activity,
that for an important kind of activity,
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双管齐下，
甚至是三、四管齐下
甚至是三、四管齐下
00:45
doing two things at once --
or three or even four --
or three or even four --
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00:48
is exactly what we should be aiming for.
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正是我们应该追求的目标。
00:51
Look no further than Albert Einstein.
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看看爱因斯坦就知道了。
00:54
In 1905, he published
four remarkable scientific papers.
four remarkable scientific papers.
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1905 年，他出版了
四篇出色的科学论文。
四篇出色的科学论文。
00:58
One of them was on Brownian motion,
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其中一个有关布朗运动。
01:00
it provided empirical evidence
that atoms exist,
that atoms exist,
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它提供了原子存在的实证，
01:04
and it laid out the basic mathematics
behind most of financial economics.
behind most of financial economics.
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并阐明了大多数金融经济学背后的
基本数学原理。
基本数学原理。
01:08
Another one was on the theory
of special relativity.
of special relativity.
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另一个是关于
狭义相对论。
狭义相对论。
01:11
Another one was
on the photoelectric effect,
on the photoelectric effect,
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还有一个有关光电效应。
01:13
that's why solar panels work,
it's a nice one.
it's a nice one.
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这就是太阳能电池板的工作原理。
这是篇不错的论文，
01:17
Gave him the Nobel prize for that one.
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让他得了诺贝尔奖。
01:19
And the fourth introduced an equation
you might have heard of:
you might have heard of:
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第四篇论文介绍了一个
你可能听说过的方程：
你可能听说过的方程：
01:22
E equals mc squared.
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E = mc^2
所以你能再告诉我
你不应该同时做几件事情？
你不应该同时做几件事情？
01:25
So, tell me again how you
shouldn't do several things at once.
shouldn't do several things at once.
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01:28
Now, obviously, working simultaneously
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现在，很明显，同时研究
布朗运动，特殊相对论
布朗运动，特殊相对论
01:32
on Brownian motion, special relativity
and the photoelectric effect --
and the photoelectric effect --
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和光电效应，
01:35
it's not exactly the same
kind of multitasking
kind of multitasking
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这种多任务处理与
你在看《西部世界》时
你在看《西部世界》时
01:38
as Snapchatting while
you're watching "Westworld."
you're watching "Westworld."
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发Snapchat不太一样。
01:41
Very different.
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非常不一样。
而且，爱因斯坦，
01:42
And Einstein, yeah, well,
Einstein's -- he's Einstein,
Einstein's -- he's Einstein,
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他是爱因斯坦啊！
01:46
he's one of a kind, he's unique.
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他是独特的，独一无二的。
但爱因斯坦所展示的行为
01:48
But the pattern of behavior
that Einstein was demonstrating,
that Einstein was demonstrating,
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01:51
that's not unique at all.
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并不独特。
01:54
It's very common
among highly creative people,
among highly creative people,
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在极具创造力的人中很常见，
包括艺术家和科学家，
包括艺术家和科学家，
01:57
both artists and scientists,
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02:00
and I'd like to give it a name:
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我想给它起个名字：
02:02
slow-motion multitasking.
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慢动作多任务处理。
02:06
Slow-motion multitasking
feels like a counterintuitive idea.
feels like a counterintuitive idea.
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慢动作多任务处理
感觉像是一个违反直觉的想法。
感觉像是一个违反直觉的想法。
02:10
What I'm describing here
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我在这描述的是
02:12
is having multiple projects
on the go at the same time,
on the go at the same time,
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同时在承担多个项目，
02:15
and you move backwards and forwards
between topics as the mood takes you,
between topics as the mood takes you,
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但你可以随着自己的心情或
情况的变化
情况的变化
在项目之间移动。
02:20
or as the situation demands.
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02:22
But the reason it seems counterintuitive
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但是它看起来违反常理的原因
02:24
is because we're used to lapsing
into multitasking out of desperation.
into multitasking out of desperation.
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在于我们习惯于出于绝望
而一心多用。
而一心多用。
02:29
We're in a hurry,
we want to do everything at once.
we want to do everything at once.
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我们很着急；
我们想同时做所有事情。
我们想同时做所有事情。
02:32
If we were willing
to slow multitasking down,
to slow multitasking down,
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如果我们
愿意放慢多任务处理，
愿意放慢多任务处理，
02:36
we might find that it works
quite brilliantly.
quite brilliantly.
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我们会发现
它非常出色。
它非常出色。
02:41
Sixty years ago, a young psychologist
by the name of Bernice Eiduson
by the name of Bernice Eiduson
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六十年前，一位年轻的心理学家
伯妮丝 · 艾杜森
伯妮丝 · 艾杜森
02:46
began a long research project
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开始了一个漫长的研究项目，
深入了解 40 名领先科学家的
深入了解 40 名领先科学家的
02:48
into the personalities
and the working habits
and the working habits
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个性和工作习惯。
02:51
of 40 leading scientists.
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02:54
Einstein was already dead,
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爱因斯坦已逝世，但她研究的其他四位
都得过诺贝尔奖，
都得过诺贝尔奖，
02:55
but four of her subjects won Nobel prizes,
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02:58
including Linus Pauling
and Richard Feynman.
and Richard Feynman.
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包括莱纳斯 · 鲍林
和理查德 · 费曼。
和理查德 · 费曼。
03:02
The research went on for decades,
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这项研究持续了几十年。
事实上，在艾杜森教授去世之后，
它仍在继续。
它仍在继续。
03:04
in fact, it continued even after
professor Eiduson herself had died.
professor Eiduson herself had died.
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03:08
And one of the questions that it answered
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它回答的一个问题是
03:11
was, "How is it that some scientists
are able to go on producing important work
are able to go on producing important work
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一些科学家是如何在有生之年
03:17
right through their lives?"
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不断从事并出产重要成果？
03:19
What is it about these people?
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这些人到底是怎么回事？
03:21
Is it their personality,
is it their skill set,
is it their skill set,
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是他们的个性？
他们的技能？
还是他们的日常生活？
还是他们的日常生活？
03:25
their daily routines, what?
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到底是么？
出现的模式很明显，
对一些人来说，也许是令人惊讶的
对一些人来说，也许是令人惊讶的
03:28
Well, a pattern that emerged was clear,
and I think to some people surprising.
and I think to some people surprising.
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03:34
The top scientists
kept changing the subject.
kept changing the subject.
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顶尖的科学家会
不断改变研究主题。
不断改变研究主题。
03:39
They would shift topics repeatedly
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他们会不断变换研究方向
03:42
during their first 100
published research papers.
published research papers.
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在他们发表的前100篇研究论文中。
03:46
Do you want to guess how often?
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你想猜猜变了多少次吗？
03:48
Three times?
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三次？
03:50
Five times?
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五次？
不对。
03:52
No. On average, the most
enduringly creative scientists
enduringly creative scientists
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平均而言，最有创造力的科学家
03:56
switched topics 43 times
in their first 100 research papers.
in their first 100 research papers.
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在发表的前一百篇研究论文中
变换了43次主题。
变换了43次主题。
04:03
Seems that the secret
to creativity is multitasking
to creativity is multitasking
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看来，创造力的秘诀是多任务处理，
04:08
in slow motion.
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慢动作地进行。
04:11
Eiduson's research suggests
we need to reclaim multitasking
we need to reclaim multitasking
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艾杜森的研究表明，
我们需要改造多任务处理，
我们需要改造多任务处理，
并提醒自己
它的有用之处。
它的有用之处。
04:15
and remind ourselves
how powerful it can be.
how powerful it can be.
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04:18
And she's not the only person
to have found this.
to have found this.
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而且她不是唯一发现这个的人。
不同的研究人员
使用不同的方法
使用不同的方法
04:20
Different researchers,
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04:21
using different methods
to study different highly creative people
to study different highly creative people
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来研究不同的，
具有高度创造力的人，
具有高度创造力的人，
他们发现这些人经常会
04:25
have found that very often
they have multiple projects in progress
they have multiple projects in progress
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04:29
at the same time,
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同时进行多个项目，而且他们
比我们大多数人更有可能
比我们大多数人更有可能
04:30
and they're also far more likely
than most of us to have serious hobbies.
than most of us to have serious hobbies.
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拥有专业的爱好。
04:35
Slow-motion multitasking
among creative people is ubiquitous.
among creative people is ubiquitous.
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慢动作多任务处理在创意者之间
无处不在。
无处不在。
04:40
So, why?
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那为什么呢？
04:43
I think there are three reasons.
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我认为有三个原因，
第一个是最简单的。
04:44
And the first is the simplest.
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04:47
Creativity often comes when you take
an idea from its original context
an idea from its original context
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创意往往出现于
把一个想法从原始情景中提取出来，
把一个想法从原始情景中提取出来，
04:51
and you move it somewhere else.
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并把它转移到其他地方。
跳出固有思维框架会变简单
04:53
It's easier to think outside the box
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若你可以自由移动于
已有的多框架之间。
已有的多框架之间。
04:54
if you spend your time clambering
from one box into another.
from one box into another.
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04:58
For an example of this,
consider the original eureka moment.
consider the original eureka moment.
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例如，
考虑最初的尤里卡时刻——
考虑最初的尤里卡时刻——
05:04
Archimedes -- he's wrestling
with a difficult problem.
with a difficult problem.
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阿基米德。
他在与一个困难的问题博弈，
05:08
And he realizes, in a flash,
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在一瞬间，他意识到可以用
水的位移来解决这个问题。
水的位移来解决这个问题。
05:10
he can solve it, using
the displacement of water.
the displacement of water.
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05:14
And if you believe the story,
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如果你相信那个故事，
这是当他泡澡事想到的办法，
这是当他泡澡事想到的办法，
05:16
this idea comes to him
as he's taking a bath,
as he's taking a bath,
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05:19
lowering himself in, and he's watching
the water level rise and fall.
the water level rise and fall.
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降低自己身位，观察
水位上升和下降。
水位上升和下降。
05:24
And if solving a problem
while having a bath isn't multitasking,
while having a bath isn't multitasking,
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如果在泡澡时解决问题
还不是多任务处理，
还不是多任务处理，
05:29
I don't know what is.
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我不知道什么是了。
05:32
The second reason
that multitasking can work
that multitasking can work
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多任务处理非常有效的
第二个原因是
第二个原因是
05:34
is that learning to do one thing well
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学做一件事
常常可以帮助你做别的事情。
常常可以帮助你做别的事情。
05:38
can often help you do something else.
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05:40
Any athlete can tell you
about the benefits of cross-training.
about the benefits of cross-training.
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任何运动员都会
告诉你交叉训练的好处。
告诉你交叉训练的好处。
05:43
It's possible to cross-train
your mind, too.
your mind, too.
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其实你也可以交叉训练
你的头脑。
你的头脑。
05:47
A few years ago, researchers took
18 randomly chosen medical students
18 randomly chosen medical students
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几年前，研究人员
随机选择了18个医科学生，
随机选择了18个医科学生，
让他们去听一门
在费城艺术博物馆的课程，
在费城艺术博物馆的课程，
05:52
and they enrolled them in a course
at the Philadelphia Museum of Art,
at the Philadelphia Museum of Art,
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05:57
where they learned to criticize
and analyze works of visual art.
and analyze works of visual art.
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在那里他们学会了鉴赏
视觉艺术作品。
视觉艺术作品。
06:02
And at the end of the course,
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在课程结束时，
06:04
these students were compared
with a control group
with a control group
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这些学生与
医学院的同窗对照组进行了比较。
06:07
of their fellow medical students.
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06:08
And the ones who had taken the art course
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那些参加艺术课程的人在
06:11
had become substantially better
at performing tasks
at performing tasks
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分析照片诊断眼部疾病等任务方面
06:15
such as diagnosing diseases of the eye
by analyzing photographs.
by analyzing photographs.
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完成得更好。
06:20
They'd become better eye doctors.
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他们成为更好的眼科医生。
因此，如果我们想
在自己的工作上变得更好，
在自己的工作上变得更好，
06:22
So if we want to become
better at what we do,
better at what we do,
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06:25
maybe we should spend some time
doing something else,
doing something else,
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也许我们应该花一些时间
做别的事情，
做别的事情，
06:28
even if the two fields
appear to be as completely distinct
appear to be as completely distinct
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即使这两个领域看似毫无联系
06:32
as ophthalmology and the history of art.
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就像是眼科医疗和艺术史一样。
06:36
And if you'd like an example of this,
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如果你想要一个例子——
让我们去看看不如爱因斯坦
那么极端的例子？
那么极端的例子？
06:39
should we go for a less intimidating
example than Einstein? OK.
example than Einstein? OK.
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好的。
06:42
Michael Crichton, creator
of "Jurassic Park" and "E.R."
of "Jurassic Park" and "E.R."
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迈克尔 · 克里顿，创造了
《侏罗纪公园》和《急诊室故事》。
《侏罗纪公园》和《急诊室故事》。
06:46
So in the 1970s,
he originally trained as a doctor,
he originally trained as a doctor,
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在 20 世纪 70 年代，
他最初受过训练成为医生，
他最初受过训练成为医生，
06:50
but then he wrote novels
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但后来他写了小说，
他执导了
最初的《西部世界》电影。
最初的《西部世界》电影。
06:52
and he directed
the original "Westworld" movie.
the original "Westworld" movie.
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06:56
But also, and this is less well-known,
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但还有——这不太为人所知——
他还写纪实文学，
06:58
he also wrote nonfiction books,
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07:00
about art, about medicine,
about computer programming.
about computer programming.
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有关艺术、医药
和计算机编程。
和计算机编程。
07:04
So in 1995, he enjoyed
the fruits of all this variety
the fruits of all this variety
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所以在 1995 年，
他享受这些的果实，
他享受这些的果实，
07:09
by penning the world's
most commercially successful book.
most commercially successful book.
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通过书写了
世界上最商业成功的书籍
世界上最商业成功的书籍
07:14
And the world's most commercially
successful TV series.
successful TV series.
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和创造了世界上最成功的商业电视剧
07:19
And the world's most commercially
successful movie.
successful movie.
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和商业电影。
07:24
In 1996, he did it all over again.
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1996 年，他又做到了。
07:29
There's a third reason
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慢动作多任务处理可以帮助解决问题
有第三个原因是
有第三个原因是
07:30
why slow-motion multitasking
can help us solve problems.
can help us solve problems.
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当我们陷入困境时，
它可以提供帮助。
它可以提供帮助。
07:35
It can provide assistance
when we're stuck.
when we're stuck.
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07:38
This can't happen in an instant.
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这可以在瞬间发生。
07:41
So, imagine that feeling
of working on a crossword puzzle
of working on a crossword puzzle
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所以想象一下，
在玩填字游戏时的感觉
在玩填字游戏时的感觉
07:44
and you can't figure out the answer,
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你无法想出一个答案。
07:46
and the reason you can't is because
the wrong answer is stuck in your head.
the wrong answer is stuck in your head.
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而你想不出的原因
是因为错误的答案
在你脑中挥之不去。
在你脑中挥之不去。
这很容易解决。
07:50
It's very easy --
just go and do something else.
just go and do something else.
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去做别的事情。
07:53
You know, switch topics, switch context,
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切换主题，切换环境。
07:56
you'll forget the wrong answer
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你会忘记错误的答案，
让出空间，
使正确的答案弹入脑中。
使正确的答案弹入脑中。
07:57
and that gives the right answer space
to pop into the front of your mind.
to pop into the front of your mind.
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08:02
But on the slower timescale
that interests me,
that interests me,
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但在我感兴趣的较慢的时间尺度上，
08:05
being stuck is a much more serious thing.
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被卡住是一个更严重的事情。
08:08
You get turned down for funding.
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你的资金申请被拒绝了。
08:11
Your cell cultures won't grow,
your rockets keep crashing.
your rockets keep crashing.
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你的细胞培育不会生长。
你的火箭不断坠毁。
08:16
Nobody wants to publish you fantasy novel
about a school for wizards.
about a school for wizards.
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没有人愿意发表
你的关于一所巫师学校的奇幻小说。
你的关于一所巫师学校的奇幻小说。
08:21
Or maybe you just can't find the solution
to the problem that you're working on.
to the problem that you're working on.
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或者，也许你无法找到
解决你正在处理的问题的方法。
解决你正在处理的问题的方法。
08:25
And being stuck like that
means stasis, stress,
means stasis, stress,
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像那样被卡死，
意味着停滞，压力，
甚至抑郁症。
甚至抑郁症。
08:30
possibly even depression.
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08:33
But if you have another exciting,
challenging project to work on,
challenging project to work on,
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但是，如果你还有另一个令人兴奋的、
具有挑战性的项目，
具有挑战性的项目，
08:38
being stuck on one is just an opportunity
to do something else.
to do something else.
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被困在一个项目上只是
一个做其他事情的机会。
一个做其他事情的机会。
08:42
We could all get stuck sometimes,
even Albert Einstein.
even Albert Einstein.
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有时候我们都会被卡住，
爱因斯坦也是这样。
爱因斯坦也是这样。
08:46
Ten years after the original,
miraculous year that I described,
miraculous year that I described,
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在我刚刚描绘的奇迹年的十年后，
08:51
Einstein was putting together the pieces
of his theory of general relativity,
of his theory of general relativity,
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爱因斯坦在把他的广义相对论的
碎片理论拼凑在一起，
碎片理论拼凑在一起，
08:56
his greatest achievement.
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这是他最大的成就，
08:58
And he was exhausted.
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但也让他疲惫不堪。
09:01
And so he turned to an easier problem.
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于是，他转向了一个
较容易的问题。
较容易的问题。
他提出了受激发射（SER），
09:03
He proposed the stimulated
emission of radiation.
emission of radiation.
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09:07
Which, as you may know, is the S in laser.
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你可能知道，
它的缩写就激光（laser）中的”ser“。
它的缩写就激光（laser）中的”ser“。
09:12
So he's laying down the theoretical
foundation for the laser beam,
foundation for the laser beam,
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他为激光束奠定了理论基础。
然后，当他正研究这个时，
他又回去研究广义相对论，
他又回去研究广义相对论，
09:16
and then, while he's doing that,
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09:18
he moves back to general relativity,
and he's refreshed.
and he's refreshed.
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他恢复精神振作起来。
他明白了理论所暗示的，
即宇宙不是静止的。
即宇宙不是静止的。
09:21
He sees what the theory implies --
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09:25
that the universe isn't static.
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09:28
It's expanding.
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它是不断扩大的。
这是一个如此惊人的想法，
多年，爱因斯坦自己都不相信它。
多年，爱因斯坦自己都不相信它。
09:30
It's an idea so staggering,
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09:32
Einstein can't bring himself
to believe it for years.
to believe it for years.
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你看，如果你卡住了，
09:37
Look, if you get stuck
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09:40
and you get the ball rolling
on laser beams,
on laser beams,
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你得在激光束上下下功夫，
09:45
you're in pretty good shape.
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这样你的状态会相当不错。
09:47
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
09:49
So, that's the case
for slow-motion multitasking.
for slow-motion multitasking.
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所以
慢动作多任务就是这样。
慢动作多任务就是这样。
我并不能保证
它会把你变成爱因斯坦。
它会把你变成爱因斯坦。
09:52
And I'm not promising
that it's going to turn you into Einstein.
that it's going to turn you into Einstein.
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我甚至没法保证它会
把你变成迈克尔 · 克里顿，
把你变成迈克尔 · 克里顿，
09:55
I'm not even promising it's going
to turn you into Michael Crichton.
to turn you into Michael Crichton.
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但它是一个有效的方式
来组织我们的创意生活。
来组织我们的创意生活。
09:58
But it is a powerful way
to organize our creative lives.
to organize our creative lives.
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10:03
But there's a problem.
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但有一个问题。
10:06
How do we stop all of these projects
becoming completely overwhelming?
becoming completely overwhelming?
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当所有项目变得完有些难以应付时，
我们怎么来阻止它呢？
我们怎么来阻止它呢？
10:12
How do we keep all these ideas
straight in our minds?
straight in our minds?
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我们如何将所有这些想法保持
在脑海中？
在脑海中？
10:16
Well, here's a simple solution,
a practical solution
a practical solution
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这里有一个简单的解决方案，
这是来自伟大的美国编舞家
崔拉 · 夏普的实用方案。
崔拉 · 夏普的实用方案。
10:20
from the great American
choreographer, Twyla Tharp.
choreographer, Twyla Tharp.
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10:24
Over the last few decades,
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在过去的几十年里，
10:26
she's blurred boundaries,
mixed genres, won prizes,
mixed genres, won prizes,
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她跨界，
混合流派，获奖无数，
混合流派，获奖无数，
10:30
danced to the music of everybody,
from Philip Glass to Billy Joel.
from Philip Glass to Billy Joel.
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她伴随着从菲利普 · 格拉斯到
比利 · 乔尔的音乐起舞。
比利 · 乔尔的音乐起舞。
10:35
She's written three books.
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她写了三本书。
10:37
I mean, she's a slow-motion
multitasker, of course she is.
multitasker, of course she is.
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我的意思是，她是一个慢动作
多任务机，当然，她是。
多任务机，当然，她是。
10:41
She says, "You have to be all things.
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她说，“你必须成为一切。
10:45
Why exclude?
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为什么要排除呢？
10:47
You have to be everything."
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你必须成为一切。”
10:51
And Tharp's method
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夏普不让这些不同的项目
10:53
for preventing all of these different
projects from becoming overwhelming
projects from becoming overwhelming
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使她喘不过气的方法很简单。
10:58
is a simple one.
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10:59
She gives each project
a big cardboard box,
a big cardboard box,
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她给每个项目一个大的纸箱，
11:01
writes the name of the project
on the side of the box.
on the side of the box.
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在盒子侧面写上项目的名称，
11:04
And into it, she tosses DVDs
and books, magazine cuttings,
and books, magazine cuttings,
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她把DVD、书籍、
杂志剪报、戏剧单，
杂志剪报、戏剧单，
11:09
theater programs, physical objects,
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各种物品扔进去，
11:11
really anything that's provided a source
of creative inspiration.
of creative inspiration.
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任何会成为灵感源泉的物品。
11:16
And she writes,
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她写道：“盒子意味着
我永远不必担心遗忘。
我永远不必担心遗忘。
11:17
"The box means I never
have to worry about forgetting.
have to worry about forgetting.
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11:22
One of the biggest fears
for a creative person
for a creative person
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对于一个有创造力的人的
最大的恐惧是
最大的恐惧是
11:25
is that some brilliant idea will get lost
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一些绝妙的主意会被忘记
11:28
because you didn't write it down
and put it in a safe place.
and put it in a safe place.
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因为你没有把它写下来，
并把它保存下来。
并把它保存下来。
11:32
I don't worry about that.
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我不用担心，
因为我知道在哪里可以找到它。
因为我知道在哪里可以找到它。
11:34
Because I know where to find it.
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11:38
It's all in the box."
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都在盒子里。”
11:41
You can manage many ideas like this,
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你可以通过这种方式管理许多想法，
11:43
either in physical boxes
or in their digital equivalents.
or in their digital equivalents.
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无论是在盒子
还是利用电子设备。
还是利用电子设备。
11:48
So, I would like to urge you
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所以，我想力劝大家接受
慢动作多任务工作，
慢动作多任务工作，
11:50
to embrace the art
of slow-motion multitasking.
of slow-motion multitasking.
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11:54
Not because you're in a hurry,
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不是因为你想匆忙完成一件事，
而是因为你根本不着急。
而是因为你根本不着急。
11:56
but because you're in no hurry at all.
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12:01
And I want to give you one final example,
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我想给你们最后一个例子，
我最喜欢的例子：
我最喜欢的例子：
12:04
my favorite example.
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12:06
Charles Darwin.
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查尔斯 · 达尔文，
12:08
A man whose slow-burning
multitasking is so staggering,
multitasking is so staggering,
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他的慢动作多任务处理能力
非常惊人，
非常惊人，
12:12
I need a diagram to explain it all to you.
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我需要一个图表来向你解释一切。
12:16
We know what Darwin
was doing at different times,
was doing at different times,
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我们知道达尔文
在不同的时间做了不同的事，
在不同的时间做了不同的事，
12:18
because the creativity researchers
Howard Gruber and Sara Davis
Howard Gruber and Sara Davis
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因为创造力研究人员
霍华德 · 格鲁伯和萨拉 · 戴维斯
霍华德 · 格鲁伯和萨拉 · 戴维斯
12:22
have analyzed his diaries
and his notebooks.
and his notebooks.
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分析了他的日记
和他的笔记本。
和他的笔记本。
12:25
So, when he left school, age of 18,
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所以当他18岁离开学校时，
他最初对两个领域感兴趣：
他最初对两个领域感兴趣：
12:27
he was initially interested in two fields,
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动物学和地质学。
12:30
zoology and geology.
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12:33
Pretty soon, he signed up to be
the onboard naturalist on the "Beagle."
the onboard naturalist on the "Beagle."
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不久，他报名成为
小猎犬船上的博物学家。
小猎犬船上的博物学家。
这艘船最终花了五年时间
12:38
This is the ship
that eventually took five years
that eventually took five years
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12:40
to sail all the way around
the southern oceans of the Earth,
the southern oceans of the Earth,
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在地球的南部海洋中航行，
12:44
stopping at the Galápagos,
passing through the Indian ocean.
passing through the Indian ocean.
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停靠在加拉帕戈斯，
穿过印度洋。
穿过印度洋。
当他在小猎犬号上时，
他开始研究珊瑚礁。
他开始研究珊瑚礁。
12:47
While he was on the "Beagle,"
he began researching coral reefs.
he began researching coral reefs.
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12:50
This is a great synergy
between his two interests
between his two interests
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这让他在研究动物学和地质学之间
有了巨大协同作用，
有了巨大协同作用，
12:53
in zoology and geology,
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12:55
and it starts to get him thinking
about slow processes.
about slow processes.
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并开始让他
思考缓慢进程。
思考缓慢进程。
13:00
But when he gets back from the voyage,
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但是当他的航程结束后，
13:03
his interests start to expand
even further: psychology, botany;
even further: psychology, botany;
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他的兴趣开始进一步扩大——
心理学，植物学，
他的余生，
他的余生，
13:08
for the rest of his life,
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13:09
he's moving backwards and forwards
between these different fields.
between these different fields.
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他就在这些不同的领域之间移动。
13:13
He never quite abandons any of them.
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他从来没有抛弃过任何一项。
13:16
In 1837, he begins work
on two very interesting projects.
on two very interesting projects.
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1837 年，他开始了
两个非常有趣的项目，
两个非常有趣的项目，
13:20
One of them: earthworms.
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其中之一，蚯蚓，
13:22
The other, a little notebook
which he titles
which he titles
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另一个则是名为
《物种的演变》的笔记本。
13:26
"The transmutation of species."
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13:29
Then, Darwin starts
studying my field, economics.
studying my field, economics.
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然后，达尔文开始研究
我的领域，经济学。
我的领域，经济学。
13:35
He reads a book
by the economist Thomas Malthus.
by the economist Thomas Malthus.
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他读了一本
经济学家托马斯 · 马尔萨斯的书，
经济学家托马斯 · 马尔萨斯的书，
13:40
And he has his eureka moment.
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他有了他的尤里卡瞬间。
13:42
In a flash, he realizes how species
could emerge and evolve slowly,
could emerge and evolve slowly,
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他意识到物种如何能够
13:48
through this process
of the survival of the fittest.
of the survival of the fittest.
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通过适者生存
缓慢地出现和进化。
缓慢地出现和进化。
13:51
It all comes to him,
he writes it all down,
he writes it all down,
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当想到这一切时
他把这些都写下来 ——
他把这些都写下来 ——
13:53
every single important element
of the theory of evolution,
of the theory of evolution,
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进化论的每一个重要元素
13:57
in that notebook.
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他都写进了笔记本里。
但随后，他又有了一个新的项目：
他的儿子威廉的诞生。
他的儿子威廉的诞生。
13:58
But then, a new project.
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14:02
His son William is born.
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14:05
Well, there's a natural
experiment right there,
experiment right there,
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这是一个很自然的实验——
你可以观察
一个人类婴儿的发育。
一个人类婴儿的发育。
14:07
you get to observe
the development of a human infant.
the development of a human infant.
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14:10
So immediately,
Darwin starts making notes.
Darwin starts making notes.
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因此，
达尔文立即开始做笔记。
达尔文立即开始做笔记。
当然，他同时还在
研究进化论，
研究进化论，
14:13
Now, of course, he's still working
on the theory of evolution
on the theory of evolution
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以及人类婴儿的生长。
14:16
and the development of the human infant.
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但同时，
14:19
But during all of this,
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14:20
he realizes he doesn't really know
enough about taxonomy.
enough about taxonomy.
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他意识到自己
对分类学的了解不够。
对分类学的了解不够。
14:24
So he starts studying that.
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于是，他开始研究这个，
最后他花了 8 年时间
最后他花了 8 年时间
14:26
And in the end, he spends eight years
becoming the world's leading expert
becoming the world's leading expert
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成为世界领先的藤壶专家。
14:32
on barnacles.
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14:35
Then, "Natural Selection."
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还有《自然选择》
14:37
A book that he's to continue working on
for his entire life, he never finishes it.
for his entire life, he never finishes it.
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这本书，他的余生持续在写这本书，
但他从来没有完成它。
14:42
"Origin of Species" is finally published
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《物种起源》 出版于
14:45
20 years after Darwin set out
all the basic elements.
all the basic elements.
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达尔文开始列出基本原理的
二十年后。
二十年后。
之后，《人类的由来》
这本极具争议的书出版了。
这本极具争议的书出版了。
14:49
Then, the "Descent of Man,"
controversial book.
controversial book.
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14:52
And then, the book about
the development of the human infant.
the development of the human infant.
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接下来是一本关于
人类婴儿发育的书，
人类婴儿发育的书，
14:56
The one that was inspired
when he could see his son, William,
when he could see his son, William,
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这本书的灵感来自于他所观察到
他的儿子威廉
在客厅地板上爬来爬去。
在客厅地板上爬来爬去。
15:00
crawling on the sitting room
floor in front of him.
floor in front of him.
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当这本书出版时，
威廉已经是37岁了，
威廉已经是37岁了，
15:03
When the book was published,
William was 37 years old.
William was 37 years old.
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这一切发生时，
达尔文一直在研究蚯蚓。
达尔文一直在研究蚯蚓。
15:08
And all this time,
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15:10
Darwin's working on earthworms.
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15:13
He fills his billiard room with earthworms
in pots, with glass covers.
in pots, with glass covers.
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他在台球室里放满了
玻璃罩罐子里的蚯蚓。
玻璃罩罐子里的蚯蚓。
他把灯照在它们身上，
看它们是否会回应。
看它们是否会回应。
15:19
He shines lights on them,
to see if they'll respond.
to see if they'll respond.
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他把剑叶兰在它们旁边
看看它们是否会移动。
看看它们是否会移动。
15:22
He holds a hot poker next to them,
to see if they move away.
to see if they move away.
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他咀嚼烟草，并向蚯蚓吹气
15:25
He chews tobacco and --
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15:27
(Blows)
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15:28
He blows on the earthworms
to see if they have a sense of smell.
to see if they have a sense of smell.
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看看它们是否有嗅觉。
他甚至为蚯蚓吹奏巴松管。
15:31
He even plays the bassoon
at the earthworms.
at the earthworms.
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15:36
I like to think of this great man
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我喜欢想像这个伟人，
当他累了、
当他累了、
15:38
when he's tired, he's stressed,
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有压力时，
15:41
he's anxious about the reception
of his book "The Descent of Man."
of his book "The Descent of Man."
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他很担心他的书《人类的起源》会受到欢迎。
15:45
You or I might log into Facebook
or turn on the television.
or turn on the television.
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你我感到压力时，可能会刷脸书或
看电视。
看电视。
15:50
Darwin would go
into the billiard room to relax
into the billiard room to relax
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达尔文则会走进入台球室，
15:54
by studying the earthworms intensely.
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通过深入研究蚯蚓来放松。
15:58
And that's why it's appropriate
that one of his last great works
that one of his last great works
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达尔文的最后一件伟作是
《腐植土的产生与蚯蚓的作用》，
这一点也不足为奇。
这一点也不足为奇。
16:02
is the "Formation of Vegetable Mould
Through The Action of Worms."
Through The Action of Worms."
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16:07
(Laughter)
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（笑声）
他在那本书上工作了 44 年。
16:09
He worked upon that book for 44 years.
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我们不再生活在 19 世纪了。
16:16
We don't live in the 19th century anymore.
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16:18
I don't think any of us could sit
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我不认为我们任何人可以
在我们的创意或科学项目上
在我们的创意或科学项目上
16:21
on our creative or scientific
projects for 44 years.
projects for 44 years.
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花 44 年。
16:26
But we do have something to learn
from the great slow-motion multitaskers.
from the great slow-motion multitaskers.
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但是，我们确实要向
那些伟大的慢动作多任务者学习，
那些伟大的慢动作多任务者学习，
16:30
From Einstein and Darwin
to Michael Crichton and Twyla Tharp.
to Michael Crichton and Twyla Tharp.
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从爱因斯坦和达尔文，
到迈克尔·克里顿和崔拉·夏普
到迈克尔·克里顿和崔拉·夏普
16:37
The modern world seems
to present us with a choice.
to present us with a choice.
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现代世界
似乎给我们一个选择。
似乎给我们一个选择。
如果我们不打算在浏览器窗口之间
快速切换，
快速切换，
16:40
If we're not going to fast-twitch
from browser window to browser window,
from browser window to browser window,
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16:44
we have to live like a hermit,
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我们就得像隐士一样生活——
16:46
focus on one thing
to the exclusion of everything else.
to the exclusion of everything else.
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专注于一件事，
排除一切。
排除一切。
16:50
I think that's a false dilemma.
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我认为这是一个虚假的困境。
我们可以让多任务工作帮主我们，
释放我们的自然创造力。
释放我们的自然创造力。
16:53
We can make multitasking work for us,
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16:55
unleashing our natural creativity.
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16:59
We just need to slow it down.
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我们只需要慢下来。
17:02
So ...
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所以，
17:04
Make a list of your projects.
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列出你的项目。
放下你的手机。
17:07
Put down your phone.
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17:09
Pick up a couple of cardboard boxes.
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拿起几个纸箱。
17:12
And get to work.
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开始吧！
17:15
Thank you very much.
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非常感谢。
（掌声）
17:16
(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Tim Harford - Economist, journalist, broadcasterTim Harford's writings reveal the economic ideas behind everyday experiences.
Why you should listen
In the Undercover Economist column he writes for the Financial Times, Tim Harford looks at familiar situations in unfamiliar ways and explains the fundamental principles of the modern economy. He illuminates them with clear writing and a variety of examples borrowed from daily life.
His book, Adapt: Why Success Always Starts With Failure, argues that the world has become far too unpredictable and complex for today's challenges to be tackled with ready-made solutions and expert opinions. Instead, Harford suggests, we need to learn to embrace failure and to constantly adapt, to improvise rather than plan, to work from the bottom up rather than the top down. His next book, Messy: Thriving in a Tidy-Minded World will be published in September 2016.
Harford also presents the BBC radio series More or Less, a rare broadcast program devoted, as he says, to "the powerful, sometimes beautiful, often abused but ever ubiquitous world of numbers."
He says: "I’d like to see many more complex problems approached with a willingness to experiment."
Tim Harford | Speaker | TED.com