I think a lot of what you've said is true with me. I also think there is a "use it or lose it" particularity with IQ, as well. A close friend of mine, who, like

I think a lot of what you've said is true with me. I also think there is a "use it or lose it" particularity with IQ, as well. A close friend of mine, who, like me, also has an advanced degree and, like me, also doesn't use it or even know how to get into a job/career situation that would allow for it, also shares the feeling I have of being super freaking mentally stuck, socially isolated, demotivated, left behind, and prematurely burned out. So I'm not saying I blame our parents' generation for instilling arbitrary self-esteem in us, when cultivating discipline would have been far more helpful, and I'm not saying that it's their fault for instilling in us obsolete values and expectations for the future, for a world they never could have predicted, but perhaps I'll look into that e-book. Thank you for your comment.