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The author, Miles Mathis, critiques the prevalent focus on Return on Investment (ROI) as a metric for evaluating education and life choices. He argues that basing decisions on financial returns, as suggested by an article by Mike Shedlock on Zerohedge (which cites Preston Cooper from Freopp.com), leads to a narrow and unfulfilling life. Mathis contends that humanities degrees, while often showing a negative ROI, are not necessarily “worthless.” He highlights that even “gilded degrees” offer only a modest financial advantage, and the lost income during years of study further diminishes the ROI.

Mathis also points out that statistics often fail to account for the advantages of wealth and connections, which significantly impact career outcomes. He criticizes modern universities as “propaganda factories” that have become overpriced and corrupted, particularly in their humanities departments, which he believes are largely defunct and infused with “modern social theory.”

His central thesis is that life is not an investment but rather a gift from the gods, intended for individuals to use their innate abilities in the most interesting and important ways. He advocates for pursuing one’s “Muse” and innate calling, rather than succumbing to societal pressure for financial success. Mathis shares his own life path, which included a negative ROI on his education but led to a rich and fulfilling existence as an artist and researcher. He criticizes certain forms of meditation that advocate for an “empty mind,” arguing for a “full mind” approach where one explores interesting thoughts and ideas.

He also dismisses “lucid dreaming” as an attempt at control, suggesting instead to let one’s “Muses” guide dreams. Mathis believes that true value lies in creating lasting artifacts (art) or theories (science), independent of market forces or careers. He argues that the modern obsession with trade and markets has corrupted all aspects of life, from art to science.

Mathis urges readers to re-align their lives away from judging by ROI and towards following their “Muse,” emphasizing that it is never too late to change course. He sees the current materialistic obsession as leading to “End Times,” driven by “Phoenician rulers” who have hoarded wealth and corrupted societal values. He believes that by discarding these influences and listening to one’s inner guidance, a more equitable and fulfilling future is possible, even after a period of upheaval. He contrasts his approach with that of his friend, who pursued wealth and ROI, while Mathis found a different kind of gold. He concludes by suggesting that his counsel to follow one’s Muse is generalizable, even in practical pursuits like home-making and child-rearing, and that a societal shift away from financial metrics is necessary for redemption. He references his previous writings, including one on Anders Breivik, to illustrate the concept of wealth skimming. He envisions a future where wealth hoarded by the “Phoenicians” is redistributed, allowing people to pursue their passions. He concludes with a stark warning about the consequences of ignoring this path.

Summary with marked items:

The author, Miles Mathis, critiques the modern obsession with Return on Investment (ROI) as a metric for life and education, as highlighted by an article by Mike Shedlock on Zerohedge, referencing Preston Cooper from Freopp.com. Mathis argues that focusing solely on financial returns leads to an unfulfilling existence, even suggesting that humanities degrees, despite a negative ROI, are not “worthless.” He points out the limited financial gain from “gilded degrees” and the opportunity cost of years spent in study. Mathis also criticizes modern universities as overpriced “propaganda factories” with corrupted humanities departments, influenced by “modern social theory.” His core belief is that life is not an investment but a gift to be lived by pursuing one’s “Muse” and innate abilities, rather than financial success. He shares his own life experience, which, despite a negative ROI, led to a rich existence. He advocates for a “full mind” approach to introspection over “empty mind” meditation and dismisses “lucid dreaming.” Mathis asserts that true value lies in creating artifacts and theories, independent of market forces, and that the modern focus on trade has corrupted all aspects of life. He urges readers to abandon judging by ROI and follow their inner guidance, warning that a materialistic society is heading towards “End Times” orchestrated by “Phoenician rulers.” He believes a shift towards valuing intrinsic pursuits and individual “Muses” can lead to a better future, even after societal collapse, referencing his work on Anders Breivik to illustrate wealth extraction. He suggests that the hoarded wealth of the “Phoenicians” could lead to widespread prosperity if redistributed.

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