Choose to be Curious Ep. #287: The dr. T projecT & Things Worth Knowing, with Shawkat Toorawa
Jul 10, 2025
Shawkat Toorawa, a Professor of Arabic language and literature at Yale, brings a wealth of curiosity to the discussion. He shares insights from his Dr. T Project, which highlights 'three things worth knowing' weekly. The conversation navigates the critical divide between 'should know' and 'worth knowing,' promoting a voluntary approach to learning. Toorawa emphasizes the role of cultural references in evoking nostalgia and the joy of connecting diverse interests. With playful analogies, he invites listeners to explore curiosity in their own lives.
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Origin Story of Dr. T Project
- Shawkat Toorawa started "Three Things Worth Knowing" as a response to students unfamiliar with cultural references in his literature class.
- It evolved into a weekly drop-in session with tea and shortbread, independent of official courses.
Should Know vs. Worth Knowing
- "Should know" implies a top-down, canonical body of knowledge while "worth knowing" is voluntary and non-canonical.
- The format encourages shared learning where even the presenter discovers new information.
Breaking Down High vs. Low Culture
- High culture and low culture are artificial distinctions; both can have meaningful value.
- Folk phenomena like football chants may be spontaneous musical expression and deserve recognition.