I think most comments here are missing Jeff's point, or maybe I interpreted it in a different way. Most skills are somehow useful in the real world: programming

I think most comments here are missing Jeff's point, or maybe I interpreted it in a different way. Most skills are somehow useful in the real world: programming, plumbing, economics, chemistry, logic, critical thinking, philosophy etc. Most people don't have the time and/or the will to learn most/all of these things. I agree a basic understanding of these would help but you have to make a compromise, you can't learn everything. We think programming is really important because we are programmers but it's not more important than most other areas. You should spend your time learning things you like/find really usefull.