Life Lessons from 2,000 Obituaries

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Who was Joseph Keller?
3. The Curiosity of Joseph Keller
4. The Importance of Obituaries
5. Rearview Mirror Analysis
6. Natural Language Processing
7. The Significance of Words
8. The Age of Achievement
9. Famous vs. Non-Famous
10. Lessons from Lives Well-Led
11. Conclusion

The Importance of Obituaries

Have You ever wondered why we Read obituaries? For many, it may seem like a morbid way to start the day. However, obituaries can provide valuable insights into the lives of those who have passed away. In fact, obituaries can be a source of inspiration for the living. This is the premise of a study conducted by a company that focuses on future insights derived from past data.

Who was Joseph Keller?

Joseph Keller was a mathematician who was struck by the swinging ponytails of women jogging around the Stanford campus. He set out to understand why this phenomenon occurred. This curiosity led him to investigate other mysteries of the world, such as why teapots dribble or how earthworms wriggle. Although Keller was not famous, his curiosity and dedication to understanding the world around him made him an inspiration to many.

The Curiosity of Joseph Keller

Keller's curiosity is a trait that is often associated with successful people. In fact, the study found that the most significant words in obituaries were related to film, theatre, music, dance, and art. These are all fields that require a certain level of curiosity and creativity. This begs the question, why do we insist that our children pursue fields such as engineering, medicine, business, or law to be considered successful?

The Importance of Rearview Mirror Analysis

The study conducted by the company focused on rearview mirror analysis. This is a Type of analysis that looks at past data to gain insights into the future. In this case, the company looked at obituaries from the New York Times over a 20-month period between 2015 and 2016. The study analyzed 2,000 editorial, non-paid obituaries to determine what lessons could be learned from the lives of those who had passed away.

Natural Language Processing

The study used natural language processing to analyze the obituaries. This involved feeding the obituary descriptors into a program that removed superfluous words such as "the" and "and." This left the most significant words, which were then analyzed to determine what lessons could be learned from the lives of those who had passed away.

The Significance of Words

The study found that the most significant words in obituaries were related to film, theatre, music, dance, and art. These fields accounted for over 40% of the significant words in obituaries. This suggests that pursuing creative fields can lead to a significant achievement that is remembered long after one's passing.

The Age of Achievement

The study also found that the average age at which significant achievements were made was 37. This means that one must wait 37 years before their first significant achievement that they will be remembered for. On average, significant achievements are remembered 44 years later when one passes away at the age of 81. This suggests that patience is a virtue when it comes to achieving significant accomplishments.

Famous vs. Non-Famous

The study analyzed obituaries from both famous and non-famous individuals. The study found that the overwhelming majority of obituaries featured people who had made a positive impact on society. These individuals had helped others and made a positive dent in the Fabric of life. This suggests that living a life dedicated to helping others is the most significant achievement one can make.

Lessons from Lives Well-Led

The study found that the most significant lessons could be learned from the lives of those who had made a positive impact on society. These individuals had pursued creative fields, had patience when it came to achieving significant accomplishments, and had dedicated their lives to helping others. These are all traits that can be emulated by the living.

Conclusion

In conclusion, obituaries can provide valuable insights into the lives of those who have passed away. By analyzing obituaries, we can learn valuable lessons about how to live our lives. Pursuing creative fields, having patience when it comes to achieving significant accomplishments, and dedicating our lives to helping others are all traits that can lead to a life well-lived.