Why does Naval emphasize that 'Writing is a form of thinking'?
Okay, let's talk about this fascinating perspective from Naval Ravikant.
Why Does Naval Say "Writing is Thinking"? It’s Simpler Than It Sounds
Hi there! I'm glad you're curious about Naval's point here. Honestly, the first time I heard "writing is a form of thinking," it sounded a bit mysterious too. But when I started writing more myself, I found he was absolutely right.
Here's a simple metaphor to understand it:
The thoughts in your mind are like a messy room cluttered with all sorts of things.
You know roughly what's in that room: clothes, books, unfinished cans of soda, and yesterday's socks. These ideas “exist” in your head, but they’re chaotic, vague, and tangled together. You only vaguely “feel” their presence.
Writing is the process of taking each item out of that room, cleaning it up, and deciding whether to put it in the living room, the bedroom, or throw it away.
Specifically, writing helps you “think” mainly for these reasons:
1. Forces You to Slow Down and Clarify the "Fuzzy"
Our brains move incredibly fast, processing countless fragmented, often emotional thoughts every second.
- For example, you might think: "I feel really annoyed today."
That's a very vague feeling. But if you try to write it down, you're forced to ask yourself: "Why exactly am I annoyed?"
- Was it because the boss criticized me in the morning meeting?
- Am I stuck on my current task?
- Or because a friend canceled plans last minute?
When you start writing, you have to break down that vague word "annoyed" into specific, clear events. This process of "deconstruction" is itself a high-quality form of thinking. You're not just recording your thoughts; you're examining and defining them.
2. Helps You Uncover "Logical Gaps" in Your Thinking
Many ideas seem brilliant and flawless when you just think about them—pure genius. But when you try to write them down or explain them to someone, you quickly realize they don't hold up.
- For example, you have a business idea: "I'll build an app to help people overcome decision fatigue!"
Sounds great. But when you start drafting a business plan, problems arise:
- How specifically? Algorithmic recommendations? Community voting?
- Why would users choose your app over established platforms like Xiaohongshu or Zhihu?
- What's your revenue model?
Writing acts like a strict logic inspector. It forces you to connect the jumping, assumptive leaps in your mind to form a complete logical chain. In this process, you can easily spot: "Oh, I was wrong here," or "This premise doesn't hold." These gaps often hide well until you commit them to writing.
3. Creates a Version of "Yourself" to Have a Conversation With
When you put your thoughts onto paper or screen, they transform from being a "part" of your internal mind into an "object" standing before you.
At this moment, something magical happens: You can examine your own viewpoint as if it belonged to someone else.
- Reading what you wrote, you might think: "Hmm... is this phrasing too absolute?" or "Can others understand this? Maybe I should use a simpler example."
This is like creating a rational, calmly observant "you" to have a dialogue with the emotional, thought-filled "you." This kind of self-examination and iteration is one of the most effective ways to deepen your thinking.
Summarizing Naval's Core Message
Naval emphasizes writing so much because he believes clear thinking is one of the most crucial abilities for making sound decisions, achieving success, and finding happiness. And writing is the best gymnasium for training this "clear thinking" muscle.
- For personal growth: Journaling or writing summaries helps untangle thoughts and understand yourself better.
- For career: Writing emails, reports, and proposals forces you to think through situations more thoroughly and communicate more persuasively.
- For knowledge building: Writing reading notes or blog posts helps internalize learned knowledge and even build personal influence (what Naval calls "leverage").
So, you don't need to become a professional writer. Even just for your own sake, spending 15 minutes daily jotting down your thoughts, confusions, or plans is an excellent mental workout.
Next time you feel mentally fuzzy, like your mind is a tangled mess, try picking up a pen or opening a document and start "thinking" by writing. You’ll be amazed by its magic.