Hi!
Over the past 15 years of writing Now I Know, I’ve learned something important: curiosity isn’t just nice to have — it’s a skill you can practice. That’s what inspired me to create The Curiosity Habit: 14 Days to See the World Differently.
To give you a taste of what it’s like, I’m sharing the Introduction and Day 1 lesson as a free sample. You’ll see how each day combines a story, a quick insight, and a simple five-to-ten-minute challenge designed to help you notice more, ask better questions, and build curiosity into your everyday life.
I hope you’ll enjoy diving in — and I’d love to hear what sparks your curiosity as you read.
Thanks!
Dan
PS: If you like what you see, you can grab the full 14-day course for just $18 at this link.
[The Intro] Welcome to the Curiosity Habit!
I wish I could fly. Or at least walk through walls. But… no such luck. I didn’t grow up on a planet with a red sun, or been exposed to gamma rays, or been injected with super-soldier serum. But I do have a superpower — just not in the comic book sense.
My power? Curiosity. And I want it to be yours, too.
Fifteen years ago, I started Now I Know, a daily email newsletter where I share something I discovered recently — a fun fact and the story behind it. It’s unpredictable, powered by my insatiable love of learning and discovery. It’s driven by curiosity, not categories. Today, tens of thousands of people read it each day. And while I’m glad they do, that’s not what brings me the most joy. Learning the things I share is the true reward.
I’m not alone. It turns out that curiosity leads to joy. People who are more curious than others tend to be happier, be more creative, have better memories, and cope with stress better. We can use our curiosity to connect with our tasks and with other people better. And it may even make us better leaders.
And there’s great news: the habit of being curious is something you can develop for yourself.
That’s right — curiosity isn’t an innate talent that you’re either born with or without. We all start out in this world curious — as little kids, we explore this brand new world around us and learn, grow, and thrive. We have the basic skills needed to be lifelong learners. All we need is the right environment, habits, and reinforcement to get us there.
My goal for Now I Know is to share my joy of learning with you. And with this course, I want to help you unlock that same curiosity superpower — so you can experience that joy for yourself. All the time.
Over the next 14 days, I’m going to share short stories, insights, and simple exercises to help you build one of the most powerful (and underrated) skills you already have: curiosity. And we’ll work together to help you unlock that superpower. And it’s a lot less painful than a radioactive spider bite. (Promise!)
Get ready — we’re going to get curious!
[Day 1] Curiosity: Your Secret Superpower
Hi!
Welcome to Day 1 of The Curiosity Habit Starter Kit!
Since today kicks off our journey, the format’s a little different than usual. Usually, I’ll have a quick story at the top (but not always). But as we haven’t started talking about anything yet, there’s no story to anchor it. Instead, here are some ground rules for this Curiosity class.
Don’t take my word for it. I’m going to share a lot of stuff over the next two weeks, and I promise, I’ve done the research and double-checked to make sure it’s right. I’ve been discovering the science of curiosity while writing this, and I share it throughout. But if something seems off to you, please check it yourself. Google it, ask ChatGPT (and uh, then Google what it says), ask your neighbor, whatever. I won’t be offended. And if I’m wrong, please tell me. I’ll fix it!
Go at your own pace. I’ve spaced this out over two weeks, and while you can’t go faster, you can go slower. If you don’t want to do a course on the day it becomes available, don’t worry -- there’s always tomorrow. It’s always a day away.
Actually do the Curiosity Journal thing. You’ll learn more about that at the bottom. It’s a light lift, but it helps things stick.. I also attached a few “extra” activities to some lessons; those are probably a good idea, too, but they’re not as critical.
Have as much fun taking this course as I did putting it together. Case in point: I’ve dropped a few subtle pop culture references throughout the course, mostly because I found it fun to do so. Not every day will have one, and some may have more than one. (The quizzes have a lot.) If a phrase or reference seems kind of random, there’s a good chance you’ve stepped on one of the eggs. You probably noticed one in item 2, above -- I didn’t exactly hide it.
I’m sure I could come up with some other sage advice, but this is getting long already. Let’s go right to the science!
🧬 Science Bite: Curiosity Correlates with Life Satisfaction
Throughout this course, I’ll drop “science bites” like the one below. Usually, I’ll anchor it in an anecdote, as I mentioned above, but for today, let’s just go right into the science.
You’re probably here because you already think that being curious is valuable. Good news: you’re right. Longitudinal studies show that higher trait curiosity predicts greater well-being, life satisfaction, and reduced depression. Curiosity fuels novelty, which strengthens dopamine and positive affect. This came to light in a very pronounced way in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers studied 183 people in lockdown, “completed questionnaires measuring curiosity, information-seeking, social and mental health.” Their conclusion? “Curiosity and information-seeking may benefit well-being and mood in high uncertain and challenging times.”
(And as we’ll see in the upcoming two weeks, it also helps during good times!)
💡 Today’s Takeaway: It’s Good to be Curious!
Curiosity transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary opportunities. It makes the world more interesting, and it can change how you see everything around you. And it can also make you happy.
This course is all about training your “curiosity muscle” so that we build the habit of being curious. It’s a good thing to be happy -- that should go without saying, but it often doesn’t! -- and I want you all to walk away from this course with a strong habit that makes you happier. 😀
🚀 Your Day 1 Challenge
Each day, I’ll challenge you to do something to make that habit stronger. Great news: today’s is easy! (Honestly, almost all of them are easy.) You know that Curiosity Journal I mentioned above? Your challenge today is to start on that.
Grab a notebook (or open a doc).
Write down 3 things you wondered about today -- big or small. Here are some examples that I came up with today, but please, use your own!
What makes “oven-ready” lasagna noodles oven-ready? And why aren’t all lasagna noodles oven ready?
Why do people typically wear watches on their non-dominant wrist?
What actually is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? (African, European, doesn’t matter.)
That’s it. No need to answer them yet -- just notice your questions.
See you tomorrow, when we’ll explore the power of asking better questions.
(Curious yet?)
Until tomorrow,
Dan
P.S.: In case you want more right away, don't worry -- I've got you covered. This lesson also has a quick one-sheet titled "The Science of Curiosity at a Glance," with a quick activity at the end. It's totally optional, but you may like it! (But you have to actually sign up for the course to get this part!)