• Books are general; conversations are specific. Books can help greatly, but they are more like an atlas, whereas you may be in need of a tour guide.
• A lot of important knowledge cannot be written down. A conversation covers deeper information than you cannot read from a transcript. You subtly absorb attitudes, practices and beliefs that cannot be recorded in books.
• Access matters. Opportunities are often realized through talking with other people.

One practice of having a good life is to have regular conversations with people smarter than you or at least a bit ahead in some areas of life you care about.

Yet this practice is often omitted. People may think that they should start doing this, but admit that they find i...