Even though I knew it was coming, it hit me harder than expected to hear of Scott Adams' death today.
If the name doesn't ring a bell, Adams was best known for creating Dilbert, the comic strip famous for mocking corporate cubicle life.
In recent years, though, he had taken on additional roles - as an author, a political and cultural commentator, and an "internet dad". He was also a trained hypnotist and a world class pot-stirrer.
Among secular writers, there is no contemporary non-fiction author who has had a bigger impact on shaping my own understanding of human nature.
It was Adams who opened my eyes to perhaps the single greatest insight of my adult life.
I can't locate it tonight, but in one of his books, Adams pointed out that we tend to think of human beings as being 90% rational and about 10% illogical.
But according to Adams, the truth is the exact opposite: We (yes, even you and me!) are 90% emotional/illogical and MAYBE 10% rational. And we are only rational about stuff that doesn't touch our emotions directly.
When I read those words, I knew in my gut that Adams was right.
I was completely unnerved, but I also felt like I had just been handed the key to one of life's greatest mysteries.
Five years later, I am still unpacking all the ramifications.
Tonight I feel the urge to reread a couple of Scott Adams books.
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