Happy Friday! If you're new to Now I Know, you'll notice that today's format differs from the rest of the week. On Fridays, I pause to write the "Weekender," my "week in review" type of thing, or to share something else I think you may find interesting. Thanks for reading! — Dan
Curiously Asked Questions
Hi!
As you know, I just announced my new course, “The Curiosity Habit: 14 Days to See the World Differently.” Thank you so much to everyone who has already signed up! This has been a passion project for me and I’m thrilled I get to share it with you.
This course has been a long time coming and you’ll hear me talk about it more over the next couple of weeks. Right now, though, I want to address some questions, in hopes that you’ll give it a try (if you haven’t already!).
The Curiosity Habit FAQs
I want to try the course but I can’t commit to two consecutive weeks — I have other stuff going on? What do I do?
No problem at all! The course is designed to be flexible. Each day’s email stands on its own, and you don’t have to do them back-to-back. If life gets busy, you can pause and pick up right where you left off. Many people spread it out over 3–4 weeks instead of 2 — it still works just as well.
How much time does the course take each day?
Each day takes about 10 minutes: a short story, a science insight, and a quick challenge. That’s it. No long lectures or heavy reading. There are optional activities and printables, too. (Although I guess the whole thing is optional — there are no grades, after all!)Is this just trivia, like the newsletter?
Not at all. While the stories are fun and engaging, they’re chosen to spark reflection and practice. The focus is on building the habit of curiosity, not collecting facts.What makes this different from reading the free newsletter?
The newsletter entertains your curiosity; the course trains it. It’s structured, intentional, and designed to help you apply curiosity to your own daily life.Is there homework?
Not in the school sense! Each day has a short, practical challenge — something you can do in just a few minutes — that helps strengthen your curiosity muscle. But feel free to share anything you create, I’m always interested!What if I don’t feel naturally curious?
That’s exactly why the course exists. Curiosity isn’t something you either have or don’t — it’s a habit you can grow. This course gives you tools to practice and strengthen it.Can I retake the course later?
Yes — once you’re in, the materials are yours. You can revisit the lessons anytime you want a refresher.Is there a community or group element?
Right now, it’s self-paced and private — just you and your inbox. That way you can go through it without pressure or comparison. But please let me know if you’re interested in me adding a community aspect!Why does it cost money if the newsletter is free?
The course goes deeper and is structured for transformation, not just information. It’s also how I can keep creating both the free newsletter and resources like this course.
Any other questions, just let me know! And if you’ve tried it already, I’d love your feedback — it should go without saying, but I’m curious (😉) about your thoughts!
What’s the “Curiosity Habit”?
Writing Now I Know for 15 years has taught me this: curiosity is a superpower. It makes life richer, work more creative, and challenges easier.
That’s why I created a 14-day, self-paced course to help you unlock it for yourself:
✨ Learn faster & remember more
🧠 Boost creativity & problem-solving
🌱 Find more joy in everyday life
You can start today → Enroll in The Curiosity Habit
The Now I Know Week In Review
Monday: Why Was This Video Game So Hard to Beat?: Blame Blockbuster.
Tuesday: The Worst Movie Money Couldn't Buy: Throughout this one, I called the movie Million Dollar Heist, but it’s actually Million Dollar Mystery. I’ve corrected it on the archives — sorry about that!
Wednesday: When the Cows Come Home: An uplifting post-9/11 story.
Thursday: Sherlock Holmes and the Case of Being Too Nice: Why was Sherlock such a jerk? It's elementary! No, wait, it's actually kind of complicated.
Long Reads and Other Things
Here are a things you may want to check out over the weekend:
1) “American Hindenburg” (The Atavist, 40 minutes, August 2025). The Atavist also described this story as “the worst air disaster you’ve never heard of” and I think they’re right.
2) “Why Romania Excels in International Olympiads” (Palladium, 10 minutes, August 2025). This piece explores how Romania — despite its modest size and often middling performance on standard educational assessments — consistently does very well in international academic competitions (“Olympiads”), and the tradeoffs involved.
3) “The Curiosity Habit: 14 Days to See the World Differently” (Now I Know, 14 days but really only about four hours, September 2025). Just one last reminder (for now!). It’s a good way to spend some of your weekend 😀
Have a great weekend!
Dan