21 hours ago
- Cities send distinct messages about ambition: New York emphasizes wealth, Cambridge (Boston) emphasizes intelligence, and Silicon Valley emphasizes power and impact.
- Environmental influence is powerful; even the most determined individuals can be shaped by the dominant ambitions of the city they live in, as seen in historical clusters of great people.
- For fields like art, writing, and technology, being in a city that supports your ambition is crucial for finding peers and encouragement, and young people should experiment with different cities.
- The list of city messages includes wealth, style, hipness, physical attractiveness, fame, political power, economic power, intelligence, social class, and quality of life, with some values shifting over time.