The Essentials
Runs Farnam Street
Twitter @shaneaparrish
Shane Parrish is the curator for the popular Farnam Street Blog, an intellectual hub of interestingness that covers topics like human misjudgment, decision making, strategy, and philosophy.
Farnam Street
The name ‘Farnam Street’ actually come from an address. According to the websites ‘Start Here‘ page, the
“early inspiration for Farnam Street emanated from the ideas of billionaire investor Warren Buffett and his business partner Charlie Munger. Our name is a homage to the pair; the address of their business, Berkshire Hathaway, is 3555 Farnam Street.”
The website had used a couple of domain names before settling on fs.blog. Previously, it was 68131 (the zip code for Berkshire Hathaway) and then farnamstreetblog.com. He shared this, and other details about the blog, in his 2018 annual letter to readers.
Annual Letters
The Farnam Street annual letters to readers is the best place to learn behind-the-scenes details about how Farnam Street is growing and changing. Shane shares details about his newsletter and podcast growth, publications and how various products have evolved.
Most of the content for this profile was sourced from these letters.
- Farnam Street’s 2015 Annual Letter to Readers
- Farnam Street’s 2016 Annual Letter to Readers
- Farnam Street’s 2017 Annual Letter to Readers
- Farnam Street’s 2018 Annual Letter to Readers
- Farnam Street’s 2019 Annual Letter to Readers
The Knowledge Project
“The Knowledge Project Podcast helps you master the best of what other people have already figured out.
In a world that tends to skim on the surface, we seek rich and nuanced conversation.
Guests love our show because we don’t interrupt them or ask the same questions as other shows. Listeners love our show because they learn what works, what doesn’t, and why direct from the masters.”
Via the Knowledge Project Podcast page
When the 2018 letter was published, the podcast had forty-seven published episodes and 4.8 million downloads. When the 2019 letter was published, they had seventy two published episodes and over 11 million downloads.
Brain Food
The Farnam Street team team scours the web and devours hundreds of books a year to bring you the very best of human thinking. Just the most useful insights you can use today to sharpen your mind, make smarter decisions and live with more purpose.
The above quote is from the official newsletter page. Check out the link for more information
In 2019, the newsletter grew from 185,000 subscribers to 250,000
In 2018, it had grown from 155,000 to 185,000 subscribers.
Products
Books
The Great Mental Models project is the clearest way to change the way you see the world, avoid problems before they happen, and make better decisions.
The series consists of four volumes that cover the core, timeless, ideas that you should have learned in school and applies them to real life.
He talks about his experiences publishing the first book in his 2019 Annual Letter. This included how he partnered with Automatic to reprint the first book and his responses to criticism. He wrote about the process of writing and creating the book in his 2018 Annual Letter.
The Great Mental Models Volume 1: General Thinking Concepts
General Thinking Concepts covers the first 9 mental models in the series. A thorough understanding of these 9 models will, without a doubt, improve the way you approach problems, consider opportunities, and make difficult decisions.
Building on the idea that learning worldly wisdom improves our decisions and our outcomes, volume 2 of The Great Mental Models explains the foundational concepts of physics, chemistry, and biology, demonstrating the value of having these models in your toolkit.
The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Building on the idea that learning worldly wisdom improves our decisions and our outcomes, volume 2 of The Great Mental Models explains the foundational concepts of physics, chemistry, and biology, demonstrating the value of having these models in your toolkit.
Cool Interviews
Shane Parrish: Make it a little less about luck every day is a brilliant interview that dives into multiple facets of building the Farnam Street website.