Lately I’ve been paying attention to how different foods and substances that I ingest (caffeine, booze etc.) affect my concentration. I find, for instance, that when my blood sugar’s low (say, right before lunch) it’s hard to concentrate and absorb information. The first couple cups of coffee are great for focussing but too many has the opposite affect. I think a lot of the learning process is related to finding the right chemical balance for your metabolism.

It would be interesting to find out whether successful, learned people have a balance of chemicals in the brain and body that allows them to stay focused for long periods. If that turned out to be true, normal people could develop similar abilities by sticking a straw into the heads of successful people and drinking their brains.

Who knew getting smart could taste so good!?