Abstract:

We pretty much have StrongLifts recommended here as a the de facto standard of beginning to build up your body. Well, time to begin building up your mind. So, here's a StrongLift-like schedule to build your mind.

Corpus:

I'm several months into StrongLifts now, and I've learned a lot from this sub about how to get started, advice, links to external resources, etc. I finally feel as confident in my body as I do in my mind. Time to give back, and give a regimen for a few months that should help anyone whose balance was the opposite: confidence in body, but not in mind.

I've seen a few generic posts about mental lifting, but I don't think I've seen any links to external resources that would be helpful to start, nor any specific goals. There is no equivalent of StrongLifts 5x5 for your mind. This post is not going to defend mental lifting, or tell you why you should. Much like lifting, nothing will convince you that you should if you let your fear and naivety get in the way. If you don't think it's worth your time, then don't do it. I can tell you that confidence in any situation requires knowledge, and practicing that knowledge so when it comes time to use it, it's there. So, without further ado, here's something to get you started. 4 courses in varying fields, with specific applications to TRP.

This is meant to be about 4 or 5 months of work: about a semester (4 three-hour courses = 12 hours = full semester). Like StrongLifts, this is "every other day", with two things per day (instead of three). This is meant to be done in the off days of StrongLifts (and you get one day with neither mental nor physical lifting). You should spend 2 hours every day, split evenly between the two topics. Each day has a "soft" and a "hard" course (literature and philosophy vs. econ and and calculus) so that you get a balanced thing every day. I'm giving you a good smattering of topics so that at least one will appeal to you, and help keep you motivated for the others. These are also all topics that most people do not learn much of unless they attend college.

Unlike strong lifts, this is also meant to be able to be taken piece-wise. If this is too much drop one of the days, and concentrate on just two courses (but keep one hard and one soft... balance in all things ;). Still do your studies every other day, just do the same studies every time.

Day A

Humanities

Classical Literature. Read The Iliad, the original war epic and foundational work of Western literature. What could be a more appropriate tome for TRP? Use guides and other resources to help you get the most out of it. Pay particular attention to standard tropes you see still in use today (hint: TVtropes might be useful).

Hint: this was meant to be recited. It's poetry. If you can, try reading it out loud, to get a sense of the epic meter and flow.

Extra credit: Write short essays on what interests you. Here are some ideas:

  • How does the solider/warrior ethos in Homer's time compare to ours?
  • What alpha/beta characteristics can you find in Paris vs. Hector? Who do you think is the best male role model in this epic?
  • Compare the traditional gender roles of the time as revealed through the characters. How are they the same or different today?

Online Course (Colgate)

STEM

We're going to start with elementary calculus. If you never did college, you probably never had this at all, and is the next step after algebra. If you did do calculus in high school or college, take this as a review to work on your skills. Calculus is important to solving any problem beyond simple accounting, and is crucial for understanding related rates of change in the world.

Extra Credit: Derive the SUVAT equations of physics (i.e. Newton's equations) using derivatives and first principles. Use real-world gun and ammunition information to derive the arc length, flight time, and range of the bullet's trajectory. For fun, work out the trajectory needed to launch something over your fence and destroy your neighbors' yippy dog (little fucker).

Online Course (MIT)

Day B

Social Sciences

Microeconomics. TRP talks about the sexual marketplace, and the economics thereof. Well, time to learn the theoretical underpinning of that framework with a course in microeconomics. If you want to start a small business or be self-employed, another common TRP mantra, microeconomics is going to be crucial to helping you price yourself in whatever market you find yourself in. This will also help you understand at a more granular level what TRP means when we talk about supply and demand, and even help you think beyond the standard mantras. This is also required to understand macroeconomics, which is necessary for understand financial news and markets and how it relates to investing.

Extra Credit: Write short essays on the following questions:

  • Is the SMP (sexual market place) a free market? Why or why not?
  • What is the analogue of demand/supply inflexibility in the SMP?
  • What forces are at play that alter the competitiveness of the SMP for both men and women?

Online Course (MIT)

Philosophy

Read Seneca. Also, take the introductory survey course in philosophy linked below. You can skip some of the readings of the MIT course to concentrate on Seneca.

Write some short personal essays:

  • What area of your life could benefit from following Seneca's philosophy?
  • What are some potential downsides to accepting Seneca's philosophy in your life?
  • Do you think that the environment of today vs. antiquity makes Seneca more or less relevant? Why?
  • What ways of thinking or philosophical points of view do you take for granted? Which philosopher(s) helped develop that way of thinking?

Online Course (MIT)

Edit: format Edit: Added essays to Humanities course.