The Curiosity Gap

‘Sir, are we bottom set?’

What children really learn in a system built on high-stakes testing

Apr 8 • Chris Reid

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March 2026

Can you really ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ at school?

I took PISA data on 140,000 students and compared the 'rich and lazy' to the 'poor and hardworking.' The results make for uncomfortable reading.

Mar 30 • Chris Reid

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Do schools kill curiosity? It’s more complicated than you think

The OECD asked 60,000 children about their curiosity: how a small difference in two survey questions tells a big story about learning at school.

Mar 23 • Chris Reid

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What type of curious are you?

Psychologist Todd Kashdan and colleagues identified five dimensions of curiosity — and four distinct curiosity types. Take the quiz to find yours.

Mar 16 • Chris Reid

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The Call to Adventure

The Call to Adventure: A Guide for Thrill Seekers, Respectable Ladies and Reluctant Travellers

Mar 9 • Chris Reid

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February 2026

Over 140,000 kids from around the world were tested to see which is most important for success: grit or growth mindset.

Schools spend millions on grit and growth mindset programmes. But an analysis of 140,000 students from PISA 2022 suggests neither is the most important…

Feb 25 • Chris Reid

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January 2026

Likes, Swipes and Clickbait

How our Attention is Hijacked by ‘Shallow Curiosity’

Jan 12 • Chris Reid

Zest for Life

How PJ Harvey rediscovered her zest, and why adopting a ‘beginner’s mind’ can help you beat the 10,000 hour rule.

Jan 5 • Chris Reid

December 2025

Educate Yourself

Ada Lovelace and Jimi Hendrix’s 8-step programme

Dec 29, 2025 • Chris Reid

Get curious about yourself

Lessons from Frida Kahlo and Montaigne

Dec 22, 2025 • Chris Reid

Take Nobody’s Word For It

Things weren’t easy for Isaac Newton growing up.

Dec 15, 2025 • Chris Reid

The Psychology of the Cliffhanger

How to sell a hundred million books (and counting)

Dec 8, 2025 • Chris Reid