Tech blogs and venture capitalists dominate the entrepreneurship conversation and espouse advice like "only focus on $1 billion+ markets" and "ideas aren't worth pursuing if they aren't highly unique and revolutionary".
The volume of materials hasn't necessarily made for more clarity: Different books and tutoring programs often espouse contradictory advice, like using the phonics or whole-language approaches -- or neither -- to help children learn to read.
Anyone who has tried to embark on a professional or personal challenge is familiar with the voice of the inner critic that says things like "you're not good enough," "this is a stupid idea," "nothing will ever work out". Most self-development advice espouses the need to overcome self-doubt and banish negative thoughts.
But I draw the line at the rigid practice of that advice espoused, if not by Pollan himself, at least by some of his high-profile adherents with whom I have interacted directly.
They talk about personnel and schemes, and philosophies espoused by Don Shula, and advice suggested by Jimmy Johnson.
Email management advice like this is commonly espoused by work and career experts who warn that the inbox is the ultimate productivity-killer.
Pavini gleaned a lot of her best advice from her father, who espoused the envelope system, never bought anything unless he had a coupon for it, lived modestly and was all about saving.
But if Hasan, 39, sought spiritual guidance, advice or aid from al-Aulaqi or others known to espouse violent extremist ideas, officials will have to determine whether the army and law enforcement officials missed warning signs.
In other words, that old countermeasure to flesh-and-blood busybodies espoused by Hester Prynne in "The Scarlet Letter," a sensation of 1850, remains good advice even in an era of Big Data.
