Infinite Loops Michael Dean — The Architecture of Essays (EP. 281)
Michael Dean, an architect-turned-writer and creator of Essay Architecture, delves into the hidden structures of nonfiction writing. He introduces his 27-pattern framework for essays, emphasizing how design principles can enhance writing. The conversation touches on the evolution from rigid formats to more innovative approaches, the role of AI in education, and the importance of blending traditional techniques with modern tools. Michael also advocates for personal expression and shares his insights on effective essay techniques and the significance of documenting thoughts for self-awareness.
01:34:25
Essays Have A Hidden Pattern Language
- Michael Dean maps essays to a pattern language so composition becomes teachable rather than mystical.
- He believes mastering composition can be accelerated with structured practice and technology.
Architecture Professor Who Demystified Critique
- Michael recounts a design professor who ranked student models from best to worst on day one and worked up from the worst.
- The professor taught them to see patterns and save poor designs through relentless critique.
Idea, Form, Voice: A Measurable Framework
- Essay Architecture groups composition into Idea, Form, and Voice with measurable patterns and scores.
- A three-out-of-five indicates publishable competence while five denotes mastery and creative variance.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app 1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right 7 chevron_right 8 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 3min
Mastering Essay Composition
03:22 • 17min
Navigating Innovation in Education
20:00 • 30min
Rethinking Essay Writing
50:18 • 8min
Navigating Writing in the Age of AI
57:49 • 19min
Navigating the Quirks of AI Dialogue
01:16:29 • 2min
Unlocking the Art of Essay Writing
01:18:53 • 9min
Exploring Thought Documentation and Identity Logic
01:28:10 • 6min
#
The Best American Essays 2024 Anthology
None
Kim Dana Kupperman
Wesley Morris
The Best American Essays series is an annual anthology that showcases the finest essays published in North American magazines and journals.
Each edition features a diverse collection of voices and perspectives on a wide range of topics, from personal reflections to social commentary.
The essays are selected by a guest editor, who brings their unique sensibility and literary expertise to the curation process.
The anthology celebrates the art of the essay, highlighting the power of language, storytelling, and critical thinking.
It provides a platform for both established and emerging writers to share their work with a broad audience.
The series is a valuable resource for readers interested in contemporary essay writing and the intellectual currents shaping our culture.
#
The limits of scientific reasoning
David Faust
"The Limits of Scientific Reasoning" explores the challenges and potential pitfalls of relying solely on scientific methods and logical reasoning in decision-making processes.
David Faust examines how cognitive biases, flawed assumptions, and the inherent uncertainties of empirical data can undermine the validity of scientific conclusions.
He critiques the application of quantitative models in various fields, including medicine, psychology, and law.
Faust advocates for a more nuanced and critical approach to scientific inquiry, emphasizing the importance of incorporating human judgment and ethical considerations.
The book encourages readers to recognize the limitations of scientific reasoning and to cultivate a more balanced perspective on knowledge and decision-making.
#
Towards a Golden Age
Paul Graham
Paul Graham's "Towards a Golden Age of the Essay" explores the potential for essays to flourish in the internet age.
Graham argues that the internet provides an ideal medium for essays, allowing writers to reach a wider audience and receive immediate feedback.
He contrasts the constraints of traditional academic writing with the freedom and creativity of online essays.
Graham emphasizes the importance of clear, concise writing and original thinking.
The essay reflects on the evolving nature of publishing and the opportunities for writers to connect directly with readers.
Graham suggests that the internet can foster a new era of intellectual discourse and creativity.
#
Essay Architecture
(in progress)
Michael Dean
Essay Architecture (in progress) explores the hidden structures and design principles underlying effective essay writing.
Michael Dean proposes that essays, like buildings, can be designed using a framework of patterns rather than relying solely on inspiration.
The project identifies 27 distinct patterns across three dimensions: Idea, Form, and Voice.
It aims to make the craft of essay writing more teachable and to provide useful AI feedback without replacing the writer's creativity.
Essay Architecture addresses the cultural risks of treating writing as mere vibes, advocating instead for a structured approach to composition.
The project seeks to empower writers to create compelling and well-crafted essays by understanding and applying these fundamental patterns.
#12636
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
A Portrait of the Artist
As a Young Man
James Joyce
James Joyce's 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' is a semi-autobiographical novel that traces the intellectual and emotional development of Stephen Dedalus.
The novel follows Stephen's journey from his childhood to his eventual self-imposed exile from Ireland.
It explores themes of identity, nationalism, religion, and the role of the artist in society.
Stephen's struggle to break free from the constraints of his family, church, and country forms the core of the narrative.
The novel is a profound exploration of artistic consciousness and the quest for personal and creative freedom.
#382
• Mentioned in 49 episodes
The WEIRDest People in the World
Joseph Patrick Henrich
Korey Jackson
Joseph Henrich
In this book, Joseph Henrich explores how Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations developed their unique psychological profiles.
He argues that changes in family structures, marriage, and religion, particularly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, led to the emergence of WEIRD psychology.
This psychology is characterized by individualism, self-obsession, control-orientation, nonconformity, and analytical thinking, which contrast with the more group-focused and shame-driven cultures of non-Western societies.
Henrich uses research from anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology to explain how these psychological differences contributed to the industrial revolution and the global expansion of Europe.
#953
• Mentioned in 25 episodes
What works on Wall Street
The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time
James P. O'Shaughnessy
In 'What Works on Wall Street', James P. O'Shaughnessy provides an in-depth analysis of over 90 years of stock market data to identify the most effective investment strategies.
The book examines various factors such as price-to-earnings ratios, price-to-sales, price-to-book value, dividend yields, and more.
It challenges conventional wisdom and offers multifactor strategies that have historically generated the best returns.
The book is designed to help investors of all levels, from conservative to aggressive, in selecting the best strategies for their investment objectives.
#815
• Mentioned in 28 episodes
Finnegans Wake
David Hayman
James Joyce
Finnegans Wake is James Joyce's final and most complex work, written over a period of seventeen years.
The novel is set in a dream world where the protagonist, Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker (HCE), and his family—wife Anna Livia Plurabelle (ALP) and their children Shem, Shaun, and Issy—undergo various transformations and identities.
The book is known for its innovative use of language, combining elements from multiple languages and creating new words through portmanteaus and puns.
It explores themes of identity, history, and the cyclical nature of life, drawing on Irish mythology, biblical narratives, and personal experiences.
The novel's structure is circular, ending with the sentence that begins the book, creating a continuous loop.
#16883
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Arrival
Ted Chiang
#1605
• Mentioned in 17 episodes
A pattern language
Towns, Buildings, Construction
Nax Jacobsohn
Murray Silverstein
Ingrid Fiksdahl-King
Shlomo Angel
Max Jacobson
Sara Ishikawa
Christopher Alexander
This book, written by Christopher Alexander and his colleagues, introduces the concept of a 'pattern language' consisting of 253 patterns that address various design problems in architecture, urban planning, and community design.
Each pattern describes a recurring problem and its solution, allowing readers to adapt these solutions to their specific needs and local conditions.
The book is structured to help ordinary people, as well as professionals, design and improve their homes, streets, and communities.
It has had significant influence on fields beyond architecture, including software engineering and urban planning.
Michael Dean — architect-turned-writer, O’Shaughnessy Fellow, and creator of Essay Architecture — joins the show to explore the hidden structures beneath nonfiction and why essays, like buildings, can be designed with patterns rather than left to inspiration.
We discuss the origins of Essay Architecture, Michael’s 27-pattern framework that maps essays across Idea, Form, and Voice, and how to make craft teachable and AI feedback useful without replacing the writer. Along the way, we dive into architecture school critiques, why publishable doesn’t mean perfect, how editing rewires thinking, and the cultural risks if we keep treating writing as vibes instead of patterns.
I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack.
Important Links:
Show Notes:
- The Architecture of Essays: from Design School to Writing Frameworks
- The Pattern Language: Idea, Form, and Voice
- Local Nuance vs Global Stylekits
- Fundamentals before Breaking Rules: Joyce, Picasso, the Beatles
- Quality Without a Name
- Leveling the College Playing Field
- The Two Sandboxes of Fundamentals and Amplification
- Gamification, Play and Motivation
- Beyond the Five-paragraph Essay: Emerson and AI in Education
- Scoring Great Essays: Why David Foster Wallace takes Three Top Spots
- How Writing Colonized the brain
- Editing as Belief-rewiring: Why Writers Avoid It and Why Math Helps
- The King of Biases: Confirmation Bias
- Michael as Emperor of the World
Books Mentioned:
- Works on Wall Street; Jim O’Shaughnessy
- Essay Architecture (in progress) ; by Michael Dean
- A Pattern Language; by Christopher Alexander
- The Best American Essays 2024 Anthology; by Wesley Morris and Kim Dana Kupperman
- Consider the Lobster; by David Foster Wallace
- The White Album; by Joan Didion
- Shooting an Elephant; by George Orwell
- Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man; by James Joyce
- Finnegan’s Wake; by James Joyce
- Towards a Golden Age; Paul Graham
- The Limits of Scientific Reasoning; by David Faust
- The WEIRDest People in the World; by Joseph Henrich