How to turn problems into a curiosity engine

a true philomath — a lover of learning. 

he loved problems. Instead of avoiding them or trying to solve them as fast as possible, he would seek interesting problems, keep them in mind, let them simmer, and constantly try to connect his everyday experiences to these big questions.

You have to keep a dozen of your favorite problems constantly present in your mind, although by and large they will lay in a dormant state. Every time you hear or read a new trick or a new result, test it against each of your twelve problems to see whether it helps.

Questions are the engines of intellect — cerebral machines that convert curiosity into controlled inquiry.

your favorite problems become a curiosity engine.

Creating a list of favorite problems offers many benefits:

Turn stressful situations into intriguing problems to explore

Filter information based on whether it relates to one of your favorite problems

Connect with fellow curious minds who are interested in similar problems

Focus your attention on ideas that arouse your curiosity

Notice relevant patterns and potential solutions across seemingly unrelated topics