You’re a slow thinker. Now what?

Fast vs. slow thinking and what’s being discussed

• Several comments relate the piece to Kahneman’s System 1 / System 2, but others argue the essay is about processing speed within System 2, not preference for analytic vs intuitive modes.
• Some note the replication issues around Kahneman-style results and warn that these frameworks are seductive but not always empirically solid.

Is the author really “slow”?

• Multiple commenters question the “slow” label given the author’s elite academic and finance background; they suspect he’s above average and comparing himself to an unusually fast peer group.
• Some frame him as a “patient” or “deliberate” thinker who overestimates others’ speed—like an NBA benchwarmer feeling unathletic despite being far above normal.
• Others argue that late-arriving insights vs throughput is the real distinction; calling it “slow” may be misleading or self-limiting.

Depth vs speed, and domain specificity

• Many self-identified slow thinkers say they’re initially slower but end up with deeper models and better long‑term performance once they’ve internalized a domain.
• Quickness is often linked to cached knowledge, pattern recognition, and practiced heuristics (“mental cache” or precomputed anecdotes), not raw cognitive speed.
• Several stress that “fast thinkers” may just accept shallow understanding, jump to first patterns, or talk continuously to fill silence.

Interviews, hiring, and tests

• Stories about high-pressure mental‑math or trading-style interviews prompt both ridicule and acceptance: some would walk out; others note these skills are genuinely job-relevant in certain roles.
• Many say modern coding interviews and timed cognitive tests systematically penalize slow/deep thinkers, even though such people can be outstanding engineers and strategists.
• Advice recurs: interviews are two‑way; candidates should ask substantive questions and push for more asynchronous, written evaluation where possible.

Neurodivergence, diagnosis, and medication

• Several see strong overlap with inattentive ADHD or autism profiles (big gaps between verbal/perceptual ability and processing speed, masking, burnout).
• Debate arises over whether to treat this as normal variation vs a disorder; some strongly defend ADHD meds as life-changing, others worry about pathologizing and overmedicating.

Social interaction and coping strategies

• Many describe struggling in fast group conversations, being seen as boring or awkward, and preferring writing or 1‑on‑1s.
• Suggested tactics: practice stock stories and metaphors, improv/comedy training, explicit “I need to think about that” pauses, and managers deliberately slowing the room to include quieter, slower processors.