June 23, 2021
Emily Balcetis
THE WASHINGTON POST – Iâve tried a bunch of strategies to increase my intelligence, and you probably have, too. Iâve made flashcards to memorise the definitions of archaic words. Iâve subscribed to daily crosswords. Iâve eaten avocados and salmon. I studied the French language and had a brief affair with German.
What did I get for it? Mediocre scores on standardised tests. A bunch of unfinished puzzles. Shinier hair.
The power to order a coffee and baguette in Paris and come in third place at a karaoke contest in Leipzig. But I canât say any of those tactics made me noticeably smarter.