I’ve generally gotten a clearer sense of people from their writings than from their everyday conversation.
A parallel: if you find a beautiful woman witty and insightful, see if that impression holds up over an extended conversation on the phone. With the only physical distraction a plastic handset, you’re sure to get a clearer picture.
Certain things, like figuring out if someone is a liar, are better done in person. Others, like peering at a brain, are sometimes best done from a distance.
Next time you’re besotted, just ask for a writing sample.
* “People can be divided into two groups: those into self-improvement, and those into consumption.”
* “Conversely, the nicest people are often the most boring. They have a stiff, inhibited way of letting the truth stand in the way of a good story. And they are susceptible to nerves.”
* “An alpha about to go to bed with a new woman for the first time feels as if he’s just stumbled onto a hidden treasure. A beta feels as if he is onstage, and must give the performance of his life.”
