complexity

Complexity has its value?

If you want to be taken very, very seriously then you write a very, very complex book! Several things then happens:

1. If you really have nothing to say, it is better to make it as complex as possible otherwise people will see that! NOTHING IS BEING SAID!

2. Critics will love the book because they will feel specifically privileged that ONLY THEY CAN UNDERSTAND!

3. Critics will find that there is A LOT TO WRITE about the book - which is never the case with a simple book!

4. Academics will love the book because obviously the book needs the special skill of the academics for its INTERPRETATION TO ORDINARY PEOPLE!

5. NO ONE WILL DARE CRITICIZE the book because they are never quite sure that they understood it!

6. Any philosopher is free to read into the book anything he or she wants because the complexity ENCOURAGES ANY INTERPRETATION!

7. People will buy the book to SHOW THEIR CULTURAL SUPERIORITY but will not actually read it!

8. A cult will develop around the mystique of the book!

9. It will be naturally be assumed that the author is very profound thinker struggling to immensely complex thoughts!

10. Any number of SELF-APPOINTED INTELLECTUALS will have a very good time enjoying the complexity!

- by Edward de Bono, SIMPLICITY. Penguin Books