Making Pizzas – (the before)

>> January 24, 2020

>> Blog Post #17

Today is Friday. On Fridays’ we have pizza for dinner. It has become some sort of a tradition at home to sit back and relax on Friday evenings with the family. No cooking, no dishes, just some time together. So, it’s pretty fitting that I’m going to be reading and thinking about pizza in this post.

As part of the educational plan that I have for my kids and that I started describing yesterday, I want to bring one new item to think about or learn every month. I have somewhere around a dozen ideas already in stock, so I know finding topics definitely won’t be difficult.

What I don’t know, is how I’m going to do, how well I’ll be able to carry this out. I want to present my kids with things that they wouldn’t learn at school, to complement what they are already learning with qualified professionals. I’m not saying their teachers are bad, I actually do not believe them to be, but I want to make sure that they get more than just that typical public or private school curriculum that I find appallingly indigent.

I therefore need to touch on topics that are poorly taught, not taught early enough, or not taught at all. I also really want to make sure that the teaching is more practical and hands on and includes areas that are often overlooked. Why wouldn’t my kids learn how to grow things, or weld, or understand combustion?

However, this complementary education will be a little bit of a novelty both for me and the kids if I start giving them lectures. I must therefore introduce all of this slowly and gradually, both for them and myself.

My first activity will be something we do very frequently. We’ll read a book. Nothing very new here. The only difference is that I will try to discuss more than we usually do. It isn’t rare that after a specific read we discuss it for a couple minutes to share thoughts or questions. But this time is different as I want them to work a little more, think a little more. I want the topics to be explored in a little more depth and give room to their discovery of these topics. I will obviously introduce my bias in there, whether I want to or not, but I will try to minimize it as much as possible for their sake. The only way to do it, will be to be honest with them about my shortcomings: I don’t know much, and I can be wrong, and make sure that they understand that the same holds true for everyone else they know.

The book I chose is “Nobody knows how to make a pizza” by Julie Borowski. A friend told me he had just bought it to read with his daughter. After I’m done with my little experiment here, I’ll check with him if he ever got around to read it with her and if they discussed it at all. And we’ll probably end up exchanging feedback.

Nobody Knows How To Make a Pizza

The back cover of the edition I have of this book says the goal is to teach economic principles to kids in a fun and engaging way.

The author also indicates on the inside of the front cover that she was inspired by the “I, Pencil” essay by Leonard Edward Read. I had never heard of this essay before but had already watched Milton Friedman talk about its underlying concept in his “Free To Choose” videos from the 1980s. The argument he makes, is the same as the pizza argument in Borowski’s book. We often do not realize just how many people have a role, contribute, in making the most ordinary objects in our lives.

You need base materials who are transformed several times by a lot of different people, who do not know each other, sometimes at the other end of the world, before eventually, refined products or ingredients are assembled in a finished product.

I read “Nobody Knows How to Make a Pizza” in less than 10 minutes. It is extremely short and very simple.

One of my kids is having a friend sleepover tonight, so the house will be even more full than usually. I’ll try to spark a discussion at the dinner table about how pizzas are made. I want them to try and list ingredients, determine where they come from, who made them etc. I will not tell them about the book and my only role will be to act as some sort of moderator during the dinner discussion. If we can spend 5 to 10 minutes discussing this lightly, I think it will be enough. That will be the exploration or discovery process. Hopefully I will see if that is useful, fun and engaging.

Then on Saturday, I’ll read them the story before bedtime and once the book is done will revisit both the book and the Friday discussion to see what their thoughts are.

One element that I am particularly interested in touching upon is the reason why so many people contribute to the pizza or the pencil. The way it is described is a major difference in my opinion between the pizza book and the pencil story.

While Julie Borowski and Milton Friedman both agree on the fact that all of this happens without central planning, the underlying force is not described in the same way.

Julie Borowski explains that the one element that makes all of this possible is money. The illustration of that page in the book is Mr. Cheese Pizza flashing a handful of greenbacks. I must say that I cringed when I read that. I don’t like the imagery that comes with it, or how sometimes I feel like money is given too much importance in our everyday lives.

My personal opinion is that money is a tool. You could describe money as a language or a protocol that enables exchange to happen. Money in itself is not what you seek or what you should seek. What you want is what money offers you, a fancy car, bragging rights, whatever…

Now I do understand that this is a kids’ book. It is therefore much easier to use money as the one factor enabling the making of a pizza than the “magic of the price system”, which is the way Milton Friedman characterizes it in Free to Choose.

However, this is exactly why I want to participate more actively in my kids’ education. If I stop at money tomorrow night, I will have considered it a failure on my part. Or actually let me rephrase this. Eventually, I want them to move behind the concept of “money the goal” to the concept of money as a tool of exercising freedom and human action. I believe that to be what human activity is all about. That is not taught in school, at least not the ones I went to or my kids go to. It is suggested in the “Nobody Knows How to Make a Pizza”, but only if you are able to discern it. My kids could read it for the next 10 years and fail to see it as it is not obvious and probably requires the reader to possess knowledge they can’t be expected to have as a child.

What I will try to get out of this can therefore be resumed as this:

  1. I want to stimulate my kids’ curiosity and let them explore how we are surrounded with things that are incredibly complex and interesting yet often overlooked. Kids seem to be much more sensitive to that naturally and I think it should be encouraged. I think adults seem to lose that curiosity out of laziness and boredom.
  2. I want to be able at some point to have them see the economy through the lens of human action. Maybe they will like it, maybe they won’t. Maybe they’ll subscribe to this school of thought or move on to another instead. It will be their choice, not mine. But at least they’ll have been introduced to the concept.

I’m sure I’ll enjoy discussing and reading the Julie Borowski’s book with my children. I’ll report back on how much they got from it and if I was right or wrong in believing that it falls short of explaining what is really at play here.

In any case, I believe you should check the book out for yourself, or if you would rather hear what I find is a much better presentation of the argument, watch Milton Friedman explain it in just two minutes. Definitely not as kid friendly, no question. But once I make enough progress with the children, I’ll let them watch it to.

9,266 thoughts on “Making Pizzas – (the before)”

  1. Pingback: What Has Government Done To Our Money – Notes – Part 1 – Satoshi Index
  2. Pingback: Making Pizzas – After (session 1) – Satoshi Index

  3. Hello, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback?
    If so how do you protect against it, any plugin or
    anything you can recommend? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any help is very much appreciated.

    P.S. If you have a minute, would love your feedback on my new website re-design. You can find it by searching for “royal cbd” – no sweat if you can’t.

    Keep up the good work!

    Reply

    1. I took a look at your site, looks nice!
      I actually don’t get that much spam. might be a keyword issue with CBD 🙂

      Reply
  4. Pingback: tab cialis 20mg
  5. Pingback: order viagra online india
  6. Pingback: cialis coupons
  7. Pingback: viagra over the counter
  34. Pingback: viagra gel for sale uk

  103. Hey There. I found your blog the usage of msn. This is a very well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to learn extra of your useful information. Thank you for the post. I will definitely return.|

    Reply

  192. I was recommended this website by means of my cousin. I’m not sure whether this put up is written by him as no one else realize such distinct about my problem. You are incredible! Thanks!|

    Reply

  215. obviously like your web site but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the reality nevertheless I will certainly come again again.|

    Reply
  265. Pingback: cialis 80 mg dosage

  288. I relish, cause I discovered exactly what I was taking a look for. You’ve ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye

    Reply

  310. Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is trulyinformative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue thisin future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing.Cheers!

    Reply

  315. I’d have to verify with you here. Which isn’t one thing I often do! I enjoy studying a submit that can make people think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to remark!

    Reply
  342. Pingback: sildenafil de 100 mg

  344. This is a good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere. Simple but very precise info… Thank you for sharing this one. A must read post!

    Reply

  358. Nice post. I was checking continuously this weblog and I am inspired! Extremely useful information specifically the last phase 🙂 I handle such information a lot. I used to be looking for this particular info for a very long time. Thanks and good luck. |

    Reply

  377. It is really a nice and helpful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  387. At this time it seems like Movable Type is the best blogging platform available right now.(from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?

    Reply

  417. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after browsing through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely pleased I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often!|

    Reply

  448. It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read even more things about it!|

    Reply

  460. When I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now whenever a comment is added I receive four emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is a way you are able to remove me from that service? Many thanks!

    Reply

  464. An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been doing a little research on this. And he in fact ordered me dinner because I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this issue here on your internet site.

    Reply

  468. Hello there! I just wish to offer you a big thumbs up for the great info you’ve got here on this post. I am coming back to your web site for more soon.

    Reply

  499. Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve visited your blog before but after looking at many of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!

    Reply

  523. I got this web site from my buddy who shared with me regarding this web page and at the moment this time I am browsing this website and reading very informative articles here.|

    Reply

  530. Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up and also the rest of the website is also really good.

    Reply

  535. I wanted to thank you for this fantastic read!! I absolutely enjoyed every bit of it. I have you saved as a favorite to look at new things you post…

    Reply

  545. Hi! Quick question that’s completely off topic.
    Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
    My web site looks weird when browsing from my iphone4.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to correct this
    issue. If you have any recommendations, please share.
    Many thanks!

    Reply

  548. Hi, I do believe this is a great web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may revisit yet again since I book marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

    Reply

  560. I’ve been browsing on-line greater than three hours today, but I never discovered any attention-grabbing article like
    yours. It’s beautiful value enough for
    me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made
    excellent content as you probably did, the net will be much more helpful
    than ever before.

    Reply

  563. I blog often and I truly appreciate your information. Your article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to take a note of your website and keep checking for new details about once per week. I opted in for your Feed as well.

    Reply

  567. I like what you guys tend to be up too. This
    type of clever work and exposure! Keep up the great
    works guys I’ve included you guys to our blogroll.

    Reply

  573. Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However I am having difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know why I can’t join it. Is there anybody getting similar RSS problems? Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx!!

    Reply

  580. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after going through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m certainly happy I came across it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!

    Reply

  583. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been conducting a little research on this. And he actually ordered me lunch due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this topic here on your internet site.

    Reply

  588. Excellent post but I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Cheers!

    Reply

  593. When I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on each time a comment is added I receive four emails with the exact same comment. There has to be a means you can remove me from that service? Thanks a lot!

    Reply

  601. Excellent site you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours nowadays. I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

    Reply

  634. After going over a handful of the blog articles on your web site, I seriously appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my website too and tell me what you think.

    Reply

  647. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve visited this website before but after looking at some of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m definitely happy I discovered it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back regularly!

    Reply
  650. Pingback: child porn
  651. Pingback: child porn
  660. Pingback: meritking