What is Tim Urban's approach to writing?

Tim Urban's approach to writing involves a blend of simplicity, curiosity, and engagement. Here are some key aspects of his method:

1. Writing for Himself: Tim assumes his audience is like a stadium full of himself, making it easier to write posts that he would personally find thrilling. He believes many others share his "weird taste" and finds writing for this imagined audience straightforward 1.

2. Curiosity-Driven Research: When tackling topics, he begins with a low level of expertise and allows his curiosity to drive his research. He spends as long as it takes—sometimes days, sometimes months—to understand a topic until he reaches a satisfactory level of knowledge, usually around a 5 or 6 out of 10 1.

3. Dealing with Procrastination: Urban uses a humorous metaphor involving a "rational decision maker" and an "instant gratification monkey" to explain his procrastination. He acknowledges that the latter often wins, pulling him into what he calls the "dark playground," where he isn't working but knows he should be 2.

4. Zooming Out for Clarity: Urban starts explaining topics by "zooming out" to provide a broad context before diving into specifics. This helps his readers understand how individual parts fit into the bigger picture. He believes that making complex subjects relatable and fun enhances comprehension 3.

   
   1
   Writing for the Audience
   00:29:32
   
   2
   Writing and Procrastination
   01:28:35
   
   3
   Teaching with Perspective
   00:38:57
   
   4
   Gratitude Over Negativity
   01:00:25

5. Visual and Metaphorical Learning: Urban prefers using lots of visuals and funny, memorable metaphors. For example, he might describe procrastination using the "instant gratification monkey" rather than delving into the scientific details of the limbic system. This makes daunting topics more entertaining and accessible 4.

By focusing on relatability, thorough research, and engaging storytelling, Urban crafts content that resonates widely and simplifies complex ideas for a broader audience.