For most of my life, I never considered myself someone who enjoyed reading fiction. It always felt distant from the real-world challenges and problems I wanted to solve. But recently, through our summer reading of Dune, that perspective has been shifting. As I dove into "Dune" for our book club reading that is hosted by one of my favorite youtube philosopher and theologian, Parker Settacase (highly recommend!) the more intrigued I became. "Dune" isn't just a brilliant book but it's profoundly philosophical. What made the experience truly enriching was discussing these deeper philosophical elements with others who shared my newfound interest. In those conversations, I found like-minded people who weren’t reading for escape but they were reading to awaken new dimensions of thought.

Stoking curiosity is essential to effective communication. Recently, I took Neil deGrasse Tyson's Masterclass on Scientific thinking and communication. Several insights reminded me of how powerful curiosity can be as a communication tool. Curiosity invites us to question deeply, explore new ideas, and expand our understanding beyond conventional boundaries.

This week, alongside my reading, I've also been exploring first principles thinking, optimizing my very neurospicy brain with my mentorship with Ali who has a Phd in Astrophysics, works at NASA and Space X and who happens to be neurodivergent like me. I have been mind blown this week because all along I could’ve been thinking, learning and executing faster. We discussed about systemizing and optimizing the way I was thinking, breaking down concepts to their fundamental truths, critically examining the root causes of why things are the way they are.

The Unsung Renegade | C.F. Su is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

First principles strip away assumptions and demand that we arrive at the root causes. This is the essence of any challenge. When combined with reading fiction, a fascinating synergy emerges. Because fiction, when done well is more than a narrative. It’s a rehearsal for possibility. It’s a mental simulation of worlds, identities, and circumstances that our nervous system can explore without consequence. This methodology is essential when you're trying to shift your perception or overcome mental barriers. Creative thinking becomes necessary here. This is where fiction becomes a tool for self-development. It stretches the boundaries of our mind. It helps us break through the cognitive filters that keep us trapped in rigid, linear thought. Creativity, I’m realizing, isn’t optional but it’s necessary. It’s how we pierce through the limitations of the present and glimpse new possibilities.

Think of the most disruptive entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of NVIDIA (Jensen Huang). What they have in common isn’t just ambition but it’s how they think. Many of them have backgrounds in physics or engineering. These disciplines wire the mind to identify constraints, analyze bottlenecks, and reverse-engineer solutions fast. Their thinking is agile, non-linear, and deeply creative exactly the qualities needed to solve complex problems.

Reading fiction, especially speculative genres like science fiction, operates along similar lines. It forces the mind to entertain scenarios beyond current evidence. It trains us to be comfortable with the unknown. This is essential not just for entrepreneurs, but for anyone who seeks to create meaningful change.

Everything around us, from the device you’re reading this on, to the frameworks guiding business and society began as a thought. As an idea. As pure imagination. Fiction sharpens that imaginative muscle. It helps us live in the realm of “what if” a realm that precedes every scientific breakthrough, every business innovation, every cultural shift.

In fact, I’d argue that many coaches, startups, and even visionary projects fail not because the ideas lack potential, but because the people behind them haven’t learned how to help others think differently. They focus on outcomes, but neglect the root which is shifting perception, expanding mental models, inviting others to see the world through a new lens.

This realization deepened for me recently while taking Neil deGrasse Tyson's MasterClass. He explains that true discovery only arises when you stand at the very edge of knowledge, peering into the unknown and you don't even know what questions to ask yet. The frontier of discovery is messy, like standing in a dense forest, uncertain where the edge lies. And when you finally reach the edge, you stare out into the void, realizing that what you once thought was whole now has cracks.

As our knowledge grows, so too does the perimeter of our ignorance. Every new insight breaks apart old assumptions, revealing more unknowns. It's thrilling, terrifying, and humbling all at once. Tyson's examples from William Herschel's discovery of Uranus, to the limitations of Newton's laws, to Einstein's breakthrough with general relativity; all illustrate how scientific progress isn't linear. It's fueled by curiosity, mistakes, and the courage to ask better questions.

Science is more than just gathering data. It's the ability to predict, to understand patterns so deeply that you can foresee what hasn't happened yet. Hypotheses become theories, theories become blueprints for how we navigate reality. But even the most trusted frameworks eventually meet their limits, as seen with Newton's laws breaking down under the gravitational pull of the sun, or Einstein's theories unexpectedly explaining Mercury's orbit.

The pursuit of knowledge, whether through science or fiction requires standing at the edge, reaching into the dark, and embracing both the mystery and the mistakes. Fiction trains the mind to do this gently. Scientific thinking pushes the mind to do this rigorously. Together, they build a mental framework that is both expansive and precise.

Reading fiction, practicing first principles, embracing curiosity are essential tools in building minds that can meet the complexity of modern challenges. For me, Dune, Ali and Tyson's insights have been unexpected catalysts for this evolution of thought.

The more we stretch our minds, through story, science, or inquiry; the more prepared we become to create, to question, to lead. And the world desperately needs more of that.

If you're ready to embark on this transformative journey, book a consultation at blockmage and begin your initiation into the fire series at whop.com/blockmage.

I would love if you support my work by buying me matcha and join me in exploring the boundless frontier of human potential!

Lots of love,

Celinne xx

Buy me matcha 🍵

For most of my life, I never considered myself someone who enjoyed reading fiction. It always felt distant from the real-world challenges and problems I wanted to solve. But recently, through our summer reading of Dune, that perspective has been shifting. As I dove into "Dune" for our book club reading that is hosted by one of my favorite youtube philosopher and theologian, Parker Settacase (highly recommend!) the more intrigued I became. "Dune" isn't just a brilliant book but it's profoundly philosophical. What made the experience truly enriching was discussing these deeper philosophical elements with others who shared my newfound interest. In those conversations, I found like-minded people who weren’t reading for escape but they were reading to awaken new dimensions of thought.

Stoking curiosity is essential to effective communication. Recently, I took Neil deGrasse Tyson's Masterclass on Scientific thinking and communication. Several insights reminded me of how powerful curiosity can be as a communication tool. Curiosity invites us to question deeply, explore new ideas, and expand our understanding beyond conventional boundaries.

This week, alongside my reading, I've also been exploring first principles thinking, optimizing my very neurospicy brain with my mentorship with Ali who has a Phd in Astrophysics, works at NASA and Space X and who happens to be neurodivergent like me. I have been mind blown this week because all along I could’ve been thinking, learning and executing faster. We discussed about systemizing and optimizing the way I was thinking, breaking down concepts to their fundamental truths, critically examining the root causes of why things are the way they are.

The Unsung Renegade | C.F. Su is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

First principles strip away assumptions and demand that we arrive at the root causes. This is the essence of any challenge. When combined with reading fiction, a fascinating synergy emerges. Because fiction, when done well is more than a narrative. It’s a rehearsal for possibility. It’s a mental simulation of worlds, identities, and circumstances that our nervous system can explore without consequence. This methodology is essential when you're trying to shift your perception or overcome mental barriers. Creative thinking becomes necessary here. This is where fiction becomes a tool for self-development. It stretches the boundaries of our mind. It helps us break through the cognitive filters that keep us trapped in rigid, linear thought. Creativity, I’m realizing, isn’t optional but it’s necessary. It’s how we pierce through the limitations of the present and glimpse new possibilities.

Think of the most disruptive entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of NVIDIA (Jensen Huang). What they have in common isn’t just ambition but it’s how they think. Many of them have backgrounds in physics or engineering. These disciplines wire the mind to identify constraints, analyze bottlenecks, and reverse-engineer solutions fast. Their thinking is agile, non-linear, and deeply creative exactly the qualities needed to solve complex problems.

Reading fiction, especially speculative genres like science fiction, operates along similar lines. It forces the mind to entertain scenarios beyond current evidence. It trains us to be comfortable with the unknown. This is essential not just for entrepreneurs, but for anyone who seeks to create meaningful change.

Everything around us, from the device you’re reading this on, to the frameworks guiding business and society began as a thought. As an idea. As pure imagination. Fiction sharpens that imaginative muscle. It helps us live in the realm of “what if” a realm that precedes every scientific breakthrough, every business innovation, every cultural shift.

In fact, I’d argue that many coaches, startups, and even visionary projects fail not because the ideas lack potential, but because the people behind them haven’t learned how to help others think differently. They focus on outcomes, but neglect the root which is shifting perception, expanding mental models, inviting others to see the world through a new lens.

This realization deepened for me recently while taking Neil deGrasse Tyson's MasterClass. He explains that true discovery only arises when you stand at the very edge of knowledge, peering into the unknown and you don't even know what questions to ask yet. The frontier of discovery is messy, like standing in a dense forest, uncertain where the edge lies. And when you finally reach the edge, you stare out into the void, realizing that what you once thought was whole now has cracks.

As our knowledge grows, so too does the perimeter of our ignorance. Every new insight breaks apart old assumptions, revealing more unknowns. It's thrilling, terrifying, and humbling all at once. Tyson's examples from William Herschel's discovery of Uranus, to the limitations of Newton's laws, to Einstein's breakthrough with general relativity; all illustrate how scientific progress isn't linear. It's fueled by curiosity, mistakes, and the courage to ask better questions.

Science is more than just gathering data. It's the ability to predict, to understand patterns so deeply that you can foresee what hasn't happened yet. Hypotheses become theories, theories become blueprints for how we navigate reality. But even the most trusted frameworks eventually meet their limits, as seen with Newton's laws breaking down under the gravitational pull of the sun, or Einstein's theories unexpectedly explaining Mercury's orbit.

The pursuit of knowledge, whether through science or fiction requires standing at the edge, reaching into the dark, and embracing both the mystery and the mistakes. Fiction trains the mind to do this gently. Scientific thinking pushes the mind to do this rigorously. Together, they build a mental framework that is both expansive and precise.

Reading fiction, practicing first principles, embracing curiosity are essential tools in building minds that can meet the complexity of modern challenges. For me, Dune, Ali and Tyson's insights have been unexpected catalysts for this evolution of thought.

The more we stretch our minds, through story, science, or inquiry; the more prepared we become to create, to question, to lead. And the world desperately needs more of that.

If you're ready to embark on this transformative journey, book a consultation at blockmage and begin your initiation into the fire series at whop.com/blockmage.

I would love if you support my work by buying me matcha and join me in exploring the boundless frontier of human potential!

Lots of love,

Celinne xx

Buy me matcha 🍵