Why Only Some of Us Think in Pictures

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An ode to Temple Grandin.
0:00 Intro
1:29 Support for The Spirited Man
2:49 Where object visualizers excel
3:30 San Miguel de Allende in pictures
4:20 What is an object visualizer?
9:57 Do you have an object visualizer brain?
11:24 A difficulty of object visualizers
12:34 A moment of revelation
15:41 A flaw in our education system
19:09 This week on the Patreon
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A pioneer in digital filmmaking, Van Neistat made his first internet video, The Holland Tunnel, in 2000. He went on to collaborate with New York City artist Tom Sachs, directing a series of short films shown at the Guggenheim Museum in Berlin. Van has since directed dozens more films for the Tom Sachs Studio. In 2010 HBO aired The Neistat Brothers, an 8-episode series of short videos made entirely by Van and his brother Casey Neistat. Van Neistat’s directorial debut feature, A SPACE PROGRAM, co-written by Tom Sachs, premiered at the 2015 South by Southwest Film Festival and opened in theaters nation-wide in spring, 2016. In 2018 Neistat Directed the short film Paradox Bullets, co-written with Tom Sachs, narrated by Werner Herzog, and starring Ed Rushca. Neistat has written and directed commercial projects for Nike, Hurley, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, J. Crew, Twitter, Sleepy Jones and Frances Valentine. His work has been exhibited in museums throughout the world. He lives in Topanga, California.
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[@vanneistat]

Thanks to our sponsor betterhelp.com/VanNeistat for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy.

[@BaileyMagikz]

Van go ask your brother about the betterhelp scam on youtube back in the day i'm sure casey remembers cause you just promoted a scam company buddy

[@JB7-]

Wait a minute. In all seriousness. I thought everyone thinks in images. Honestly that’s the only way ?

[@BricksofHappiness]

Trying to explain to others how I think is like trying to tell people magic is real haha. Can't wait to read this. Thanks Van! You and your brother are huge inspiration for myself and our channels.

[@christopher59]

@@BaileyMagikz incorrect Casper

[@geoffreygetts6934]

Van, watching this breaks my heart because I am a high school English teacher desperate to help my students discover their talents to guide them towards real success. Im floundering to teach 40% of my students because I am a sequential words guy myself. THIS IS IT! And it just might save my students! I LOVE to get your input on how to change my teaching philosophy and develop an education system that gives you all a better chance at real success!

[@davidx7491]

Perspective from a mexican here: I was born in Mexico and have always lived here. I see what you're talking about with the window boards. There is something about our people with things like this: I like to call it DIY attitude, I don't know how else to call it. But that example of the window boards encapsulates what it is. Van, you mentioned something about the education system in the US that may be weakening or killing these kinds of "behaviors" in americans. But here's my point: In Mexico we also have a very verbally-based education system (which is changing, and that makes me feel very glad for my kids), so I don't think it could be attributed to our education system. However, (and I might be wrong about this) I think it can be attributed to our culture, our environment and (I'll say this carefully) lack of resources. Our culture is not of prevention, but rather of resolving and fixing problems that have already happened. We often live in environments and situations that require for us to be always in survival mode: climate, family, neighborhoods, poverty, etc. And the lack of resources makes us use our head instead of our pockets. In Mexico you often hear about fixing problems easily and temporarily the "mexican way".

[@silvestreperezg]

Cómo mexicano pienso exactamente lo mismo y creo que lo explicaste muy bien. As a Mexican I think exactly the same and I think your explanation was pretty accurate. In summary, these are "Mexicanadas".

[@davidx7491]

@@silvestreperezg exactly

[@SJA962]

That is true on most Latin American countries

[@canadude6401]

I agree with this whole heartedly. Much of culture around the glove is _reactive_ instead of _proactive_. I am in Canada, and even here a medical doctor will rarely do any guidance towards _prevention_ of diseases, but their focus is on _treating_ them. I suppose in some ways, they are trained in school and defined to _treat_ issues. The education system is reactive too. I have heard this statement at least 100 times this year so far" "there is a huge shortage of skilled workers". Most parents in my circle are putting their kids in University as a "mandatory path", but many of these kids would have better success in Community college , not only that they would end up with a career right out of school instead of working at Starbucks to pay off student debt. Van mentions Temple Grandin, she has a good Ted Talk "Educating Different Kinds of Minds" and I highly recommend watching it.

[@johnyoung1606]

I am,,,, simpatico :) :) :)

[@FindMeInSeattle]

I would like to acknowledge your recreation of those window boards 😮 just wow! Incredible attention to detail and commitment to your videos, thank you

[@wilma.espiritucrowley]

When I was little I used to look at my aunt’s astronomy books and was super fascinated by the pictures of the different celestial bodies. I would go to her house almost everyday just to do that, not necessarily read the text. Same thing with encyclopedia, I just looked at the images. Another thing, when I bought my husband his computer desk that we had to assemble (not from IKEA) I was super excited to start assembling it and enjoyed the process very much. This might be the very reason why I enjoy being at a lower level jobs because I like doing stuff and not necessarily telling people what to do.

[@G.Photogirl]

This is a revelation. I see in pictures, I need lists, I need visual ques to learn. I failed miserably in most subjects in school except for art and english. My passion is music and photography. This explains so much.

[@rmhfpv9225]

everyone is a visual learner. The idea that only some are visual learners isn't how the brain works according to modern research. We may picture different things in our brains, but we are all visual learners and audio learners. A lot of this episode is describing pseudo science. Passions are more about what you enjoy putting effort into, but you are still capable of learning other things very well. it's really laziness versus entertaining.

[@woroGaming]

​@@rmhfpv9225Clearly modern research is lacking

[@stephenhookings1985]

​@@rmhfpv9225any citations for your figure please? A cursory Internet search suggest 65% of population favour visual. 30% auditory. What Van discusses here is far less pseudo science than you suggest.

[@matviyk3066]

You’re telling me someone with a bigger frontal cortex in relation to his other brain parts isn’t going to have certain strengths? Do you live under a rock? Why is it that two brothers brought up in the same house similar environments. One ends up being a drug addict and one a successful entrepreneur? Oh right laziness, what am I. There is never ever a simple correct answer to something as complex as human thought.

[@shaynesimmonstattoo]

So, so much

[@SokolHazizi]

This is so wholesome! I remember in high school I would try explain my points of view, about any argument with a pencil and a paper, making these abstract shapes which I thought represented the different elements of the discussion, and I was often ridiculed about it. Thank you Van for the wonderful video.

[@SpataWorks]

My dad would often say my instructions only made sense to me. I'd take away as many words as possible and make acronyms, abbreviations, and pictures

[@girlsgonepaper6891]

After watching the movie based on her, my sister reached out & made me watch it she said "this is you". Watching it/her stunned me and gave me peace at the same time. ❤ I felt seen.

[@Nothingstutube]

Same ❤

[@Nothingstutube]

This bought me to tears. 100% me and i understand you. Im 41 years old and struggling with employment, dyslexia no education and rejected myself much. I actually understand. Its like a power has now been unvailed in me. Thank you.

[@patricialynn6280]

I have never wanted to undetstand my brain more than now seeing/hearing this video...if only i had seen this 20 yrs ago....this is powerful

[@isabellygrace]

It was a Johnson O'Conner Aptitude Test

[@GrowthGuided]

Thank you for clearing this up for us and keeping him rigorously honest (: Myers brigs says I’m an ESTJ

[@joylox]

There are still suggested jobs for people based on MBTI, the Big-5 and other personality type tests, as well as if you have any diagnosed learning disabilities or differences. I have ADHD and dyslcalculia as well as being a very visual person, so things related to photography, media, front end website work, and various arts tend to come up. Which I love doing. We did a few different tests in high school, and photographer came up for all of the ones I did, so there is some overlap, just some are more in depth.

[@ckhicks]

Very helpful clarification, thank you!

[@nicolette1598]

Intj for me

[@GeorgeKimmelIV]

I’ve taken. Very informative and well worth the money and time.

[@chrisdistefano198]

You mention linear thinkers and I’ve often had to describe myself to them as me being a spherical thinker. Everything can connect and then reconnect in a different way without me reorganizing the contents. Thanks for this video, it’s a great explanation of how lots of folks think. ✌️

[@keenanmoore264]

I have a visceral, emotional, awe inspiring response to every Van upload. Even when there's a video title that doesn't necessarily speak to me, I click it anyways. Cause EVERY - and I mean every time - I watch a Van video I come out of it inspired, encourage, motivated, and pleased that there are people like this on earth. People with such a complex yet simple ability to create. Thank you for sharing your brain and talents with us, Van.

[@sicanady]

Here! Here!

[@AMPcreativemedia]

Wow, this hit me really hard. I've been going through some mental anguish lately, and this completely opened the floodgates to those emotions and had me crying for 10 minutes, before I watched it again to make sure it wasn't a dream. This could be the most important video I have ever seen. You just precisely explained ME to myself. Every single point, especially window boards. I've always known I was different - school didn't work for me at all, but I love learning. Tested and not dyslexic, or on the spectrum, I was just undefinably different. I could write an essay here but instead I think it's time to find a professional to talk to. Thank you Van, I really needed this. Good luck to you sir. Sim

[@martinwrightnz]

A reminder for anybody else that can't figure out what kind of thinker they are, that this idea that people can fall into neat little categories like the the myers-briggs or the kind of thinker you are is to help people that already fit into these categories. Humans are much more complex than even 1000 categories could differentiate.

[@tony-_-_-441]

Veritasium kind of debunked this type of thinking. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJnKqHyed5prhqM

[@stephenhookings1985]

True - but 85% of the population believe a generic cold reading script is unique to them. Having said all this - if a generalised framework has some resonance with someone and gives them confidence to be themselves then providing they are not causing harm to others I say great! These Myers tests have certainly been used by many companies I have worked for to determine mental fitness. Knowing how to apply them is useful for many people. People are not as individual or unique as they believe. Neither are they as similar as a test suggests. We are likely somewhere between the two.

[@liamstrain]

At 47, I just received my autism diagnosis and it answered SO many questions about my entire life, that I need to go back and reprocess so much of it. Your experience rings so true to my own experience. Thank you for sharing yours.

[@dastardlydave1455]

Wow Wow Wow!! Your video speaks volumes to me. I am a visual thinker for sure. I gotta watch this again. I remember another guy who was a visual thinker. He was a wizard at working on cars. At this radiator shop, he was an artist in my mind as far as taking a radiator apart and re-soldering the tanks on a new core. One day, he was put in charge when the boss was on vacation. With a customer at the counter, he called me in the office and admitted he couldn't make change. So I took care of the customer's money. And from then on, I took care of the drawer. (We acted like it was my job, not that he couldn't make change). The guy was a genius!! Just in his own way. Much respect for him.

[@matthewscunningham]

This video was so interesting. I was thinking about your art piece where you wrote out a whole book on one page. This was like your visual brain making something to look at rather than read. ... I also love Ikea instructions. Pictures definitely paint a thousand words. If not more

[@johngustafsonn]

Van this video has answered a lot of questions about myself. I am 20 years old, trying to figure out what the fuck to do with my life and the relief I have received from this video is unexplainable. I learned about Temple Grandin in an agriculture class in high school, now im off to go find that podcast you were listening too. You helped me realize how much I love packing, photography, and animals. This comment alone probably proves how disorganized I am lmao. Thank you Van.

[@rodrigogonzalez4550]

Hey John, going through the same struggle, it's nice when you ind people on the same boat as you. Hope you figure it out!! If you find the podcast LMK, I'll do my research as well haha.

[@cupbowlspoonforkknif]

​@@rodrigogonzalez4550I'm pretty sure it's an interview with Jordan Peterson just based of some excerpts and clips that came up on KZbin when I searched Temple Grandin. It's the same things Van mentioned in this video.

[@quirkworks4076]

Those tears at the end in the car, man, that got me. Right there with you (and I had no idea the rest of the world wasn't like us).

[@colinstu]

It was only a few years ago I discovered that there are people who cannot "see" something in their brain… look up Aphantasia. I'm not sure how common this was but after discussing with a number of friends I asked what they saw when talking about specific things… and they simply couldn't, they fell directly into that bucket. Yet it came to me easily. Knowing that this can be the case has definitely affected how I describe some things to folks - as some just cannot SEE things like I can.

[@jeremypritchett2740]

I am 47 as well and never knew or understood this about myself. That is me damnit! Thank you for bringing this to light and illustrating it so our types can understand it. You hit the nail on the head. I also stand strong with the need to bring back shop classes. I took a variety of shop classes all 4 years in high school and those classes were the only classes that I connected, felt most comfortable and wanted to LEARN in. Damn that was a great episode. Thank you Van

[@worldsworstfarmer2506]

I'll be 47 this year and sufferer from the same learning curve. I always say, I'm not book smart but puzzle smart, Now I create stuff, I pre -visualize it then somehow, create it.

[@hank1234567890]

This was an emotional watch for me. Thank you for this. My whole life I have struggled with my intelligence. I went to a great school, filled with brilliant students, and really struggled. When grades weren't up to scratch I went to all kinds of specialists who put me through all kinds of tests. IQ test, memory test, comprehension tests and I constantly tested in the top 1-5%. But somehow at the same time I struggled so much in school. Shakespeare was infuriating. I never understood how tests showed that I had this intelligence skillset, but I could never apply it. It always felt like someone was lying to me to make me feel better about being dumb. I could never comprehend Shakespeare (for example) but everyone around me found it easy. So I assumed everything I COULD comprehend was a breeze for everyone else because they were all smarter than me. It gave me this complex that I had no value and everything I understood was simple and basic. In my adult life I have naturally gravitated to mechanical things (bicycles, motorcycles, cars) photography and hands-on building. Things that people who I went to school with would look down upon. I can't tell you how validating this concept was for me. It made me feel like I'm not wasting away my life and I'm not a failure. I'll be diving into Temple's work now. Thank you again.

[@paulbateman858]

Can relate, total visual thinker here, been working as an artist my entire life. Can't remember numbers or information till it's put down on paper and I see it. My partner on the other hand is the exact opposite - she has no memory for faces, but remembers every number she encounters, not joking.

[@rappy007]

As someone who has coped and worked around trying my best to thrive in a world of verbal thinkers, this video has been eye opening and cathartic. I’m discovering this when I’m two weeks away of turning 42

[@Standbackforscience]

I feel super torn up inside watching this, you're putting words on things I've struggled to crystalize my whole life, I'm 48, I'm successful in life, programmer and artist, but god it's been a slog, and it still is, I'm still learning. When you talk about your studio being a mess, I only just learned to create structure and routine to help in my forever war on entropy. Thank you for doing this, I hope that people like us, especially younger ones, can use this to find the paths of lesser resistance.

[@33shoobs]

I find solace in your small carefully crafted world. Thanks for communicating about this. Fascinating and cathartic

[@mikeunlocked]

OMG that's crazy I had the same realization the same way, I remember one day watching her on a TED Talk, I was mind blown that everyone didn't visualize that way. I ran in to tell my wife and she said that she didn't visualize that way. I had chills from watching her after that realization. I just thought everyone did, it was actually a relief! Thanks for sharing with others!

[@mrcsrkcrz]

This is the kind of video I love from this channel. Diving deep into a simple thought and explaining it visually and verbally pleasing. If someone asked me before I’d know I’m a “visual thinker” or “right brained” and although I understood there are differences like this between us, it still gave me more insight, still made me emotional to his realization and most importantly it reminded myself to embrace the strength and work on the weaknesses of this way of living. And even inspired me as realizations like this makes us use our abilities with more awareness. Being able to be proud and using ones abilities rather than trying to fit in to be more “normal”. I learned for example on top of what I already knew that it’s probably my visual thinking that makes it even harder to write as he mentioned I think I need a lot of extra words to be able to fully describe something the way a picture could or using examples to show an equivalent to an idea instead of explaining something from scratch. Thank You!

[@CaseMorton]

My best friend sent me a video of Temple a week ago and I felt so comforted hearing someone describe how my brain works. I'm a self taught software designer because I can just see in my head what the application needs to look like. Loved this video!

[@leahm7743]

This is interesting. I think I'm definitely a type 1 visual thinker, but I also think mostly in words. I don't really 'see' pictures of things in my head, but I can 'see' motion. Like I can't visualize a tree in my head, the most I get is a flash outline of a tree if I think hard enough. But I can imagine a sapling sprouting and growing up into a tree. When I 'see' things, its almost the same sensation as closing your eyes after looking at something extremely bright, you see a brief flash outline of what was in front of you (colors inverted usually) before it fades away. Or like the feeling your eyes get when you've been driving straight on a road for miles, and after you stop your eyes still see the lines in the road moving. I do math as a hobby, and while I can't imagine equations on a blackboard in my head, I am able to sort of hold them as general algebraic forms, and I can 'see' the motion of algebraic manipulations.

[@xaisthoj]

Sounds like visual spatial thinking combined with verbal thinking. Same here.

[@keepongolfing]

I've never been moved so much by a KZbin video,I have Aspergers just like temple and now i know why I relate to you material much.If someone shows me how to do something visually I will repeat it perfectly but if read it from a book it would never sink in.Keep up the great work.

[@Em-mr6wu]

This describes my brother. Grade 6 education and has patents, has created machinery for companies. Just understands how things work right away. He's a genius. He gets easily frustrated by others' lack of understanding.

[@ideaseeds01]

This burst me to tears. I am a visual thinker, 42 years fighting to some how find my way in life. I guess i live on the border line. Because i am not the top artist thinker to the engineer. For me my mexico is Barcelona and Catalunya. Where I regularly get the feeling of home and visual stimulus. Where the people work with this simple substantial quality.

[@RachaelPadilla]

A beautifully executed movie about a wonderful thing to do, self-examination. Thank you for sharing your journey!

[@DannyLovesPolska]

So many great moments of you being yourself in this video. You seemed at ease and with so much joy! So fun to watch

[@louiegettings6848]

Thank you so much for sharing this Van. I relate so much to this and feel so seen through this video. I’m also so appreciative that you spoke on and showed the times when you can be disorganized. I’m quite disorganized myself and have felt a lot of embarrassment about it. It’s super helpful to see that you’re not just naturally organized and that I can become more organized myself.

[@MalinaCC]

So interesting to hear your perspective/way of thinking! I have no visual thinking or ability to imagine something in my mind at all (aphantasia). Everyone I know has visual thinking so I believe it’s more common than you think. I am absolutely horrendous at anything mathematical or mechanical but I’ve been told I’m good at art and photography. My guess is because I had to get good at translating images into drawings/painting/etc. since I can’t visualize things. Broken pixels jump out to me immediately as well though 😂

[@maureenshaw737]

Amazing Van. So glad you happened upon Temple Grandin - I assumed everyone thought in pictures, until I read her books. Helped me realise why stuff at school wasn’t going in, brain building or associating with internal pictures. Visual images just burn themselves on an inner film - I can still see in my mind’s eye my bare feet as I learned to walk, just a short moving image, but a chubby little foot stamping on a bee on a Dandelion. But all that abstract Algebra from school…forget it. I’m so glad you got the validation and relief of self-acceptance. Really enjoying your channel here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@diego_garcia_cacho]

Hey Van, im Diego from Mexico. I used to think space was limited to MIT PhD people, I was bad a math, never thought I would be allowed to work in space. I became a mechanical engineer, (failed differential equations 3 times but finally managed to pass), I moved to Berlin to study Space Engineering. Now I design and build satellite structures. I totally think in pictures and share the retreval super power. Ive seen analytical mathermatical driven engineers who are living excel sheets which mathematics is their muse. Then Ive seen and also belong to engineers that "feel" engineering, I can tell you what thickness we will need to build a structure depending on the weight, I feel the materials as I cut them in the lathe or I am welding a part. All of those skills I seek out because I must, I go from sewing to glass blowing to souffle baking because I must, my curiosity and hands demand this exploration. Love your content.

[@canadude6401]

Thank you so much Van! This video and Temple's work is a true wake up call for educators and a redeemer for all of us visual thinkers. As a child, I was labelled with a "minor learning disability" in grade school. It took many years and determination to find alternative ways to take in what was being taught. I day-dreamed all the time, and ADD or ADHD is very likely what I have but it wasn't known in the 70's and 80s. I was a low B-, C student I think I have some sort of weird hybrid ...gifted at some things, and below average at others. I am crazy good at some things involving building things and creative pursuits, improving/re-engineering new designs for products. I am not winning any awards for them, but it took decades to know how to learn my own way the school system had not taught. (visually, not verbally) I am really good at Arithmetic and Geometry . My struggle was mathematics like Algebra. I could never come close to taking a Trig, Calculus class as I failed Grade 9 Math. I am horrible at memorizing things. My memory bank is bankrupt and all over the place. I can remember nonsense and historical facts, but forget a lot of other things. A pen/notepad and phone calendar are my essential tools. As someone your age Van, I know my strengths and weaknesses. I have been around long enough to steer my ship where the sun shines, and careful not to run into hurricanes. I just wish I had the foresight when I was 10. Anyway, I highly recommend your subs check out Temple Grandin's Ted Talk...."Educating Different Kinds of Minds"

[@Eduardomagalhaess]

I'm photographer and my mind works 100% like this. I never read nothing about it. I'll search more. Thanks man.

[@FBGbarge]

You say you were 47 years old when you got this information??? ...I'm 65 in 8 weeks and I just got this information from you today. Thank-you. Thank-you so very, very much.

[@duncanferguson4705]

I'm 37 years old and this video has changed the way I now view life. OBJECT VISUALISER! 37 years to discover this! Thank you.

[@Adamsamericanlife]

At school I was at the bottom of my academic class, I was classed as a thicko! I'm 50 years old and I've accepted that I'm just not very intelligent until today. I'm a good photographer on an amazing Carpenter, I'm when I need to remember something like somebody's name I relate to an image. I was a recruit trainer in the Army and to remember names I would remember pictures about everybody and I've always done this all my life. I wasn't very good academically in the Army but I could strip a rifle in the dark and put it back together again. Thank you for sharing this video with me I wish I'd have known this 30 years ago

[@briandonahoe3619]

I resonate with the push to introduce this type of support back into public schools. Societies that thrive in sustainable ways are fueled by the cohorts who think this way. Ai driven worlds do not have it in the agenda for spaces like this. We need to continue this message until it's implemented again!

[@themedleys]

You summarized your entire channel in this video. Well done, and thank you. This helps me understand parts of my thinking processes that felt counter to the norm.

[@alice.lefthandedscissors]

I love this reflection Van! I am also an object thinker, and one thing I ran across in doing creative work with others (theatrical costume sewing) was that it took a lot of effort to put the images in my head, and the visual understanding of processes, into words to give others instructions. I can just see what it will look like at each step, and there are no words at any point in my brain. Great video!

[@wyatt.little]

I suspect there is also a connection between visual thinkers and Dyslexics. I was lucky enough to attend a public school that caught my Dyslexia early and encouraged my visual thinking via alternative programs. This was in '93!

[@DeLaSoul246]

Indeed! And dyscalculia as well.

[@avtoportret]

@@DeLaSoul246 Yeah all of that is just side traits of AuDHD

[@munrowheels]

Yes, I did a test when I was 17 and was diagnosed with dyslexia and at the same time I solved visual puzzles surprisingly fast

[@canadude6401]

There is progress with all things brain as each decade passes! Nice to hear! As a Gen X'r I very likely had ADHD as a child, but was simply labelled an umbrella term "learning disability" in the 80's when I was in grade school. The good news is that I have navigated the waters and have great self-awareness on my gifts and try to fit those into my life.

[@Robrt476]

I just started the video so I'm excited to see the rest, but this is exactly what I've been telling people for years. I don't think I words, I think in pictures. I'm glad I have a reference to put behind it, I'm going to do more research on this. Thank you

[@unearthedarmory3891]

I’m about to turn 50, and until I experienced your video, this video… I had trouble articulating to my loved ones how and why I am the way I am ( not for lack of trying ) it is too soon to tell if this will yield some favorable outcome to our communication, but if nothing else will add better understanding and new perspective to move forward with how I experience future creativity. Thank you for introducing me and us to these educational resources.

[@swervinirvin4574]

This opened my eyes Van. My friends even tell me I notice the smallest details in things that I feel she be in place or out of place. And I’m a also a photographer for a living. It all makes sence.

[@sam123rocks]

I am always impressed by your videos Van. Like most KZbin videos I watch, when I start yours there's a chance I may get distracted and turn on the next video that catches my eye on the side bar there. But I'm always so amazed with how sucked in I get to these videos. Once I start it I can't turn it off. Feels very therapeutic. I'll share this video with my father, I have a suspicion he will deeply resonate with you, thank you for your artistic demonstration of these concepts

[@jimobrien919]

Thanks Van! I realized this about myself a few years ago (I'm 56) when I talked in depth to a friend who helps people with dyslexia. I had thought this was true, but never had it confirmed until I talked to her and now again watching your video. The thing about the IKEA instructions...bam! Right on the mark! Thanks for a great video...again!

[@jesseleesamples]

I think I have many of these traits also. I’m definitely more visually stimulated and I understand mechanical things very easily and that’s where my career went. When someone loses something they often ask me and I can say exactly where it is just because I walked by it, and the only way I ever lose something is if it falls out of a pocket unknowingly or something like that. I never misplace something because if my eyes see where I put it, I can recall it’s location easily l. One of the only times in my life I ever actually felt stupid was in Algebra classes in high school. I got it eventually but it took several failures before I did, and I did pretty well in school otherwise besides foreign language which I just disliked. Geometry was the total opposite for me and just immediately made sense and I could visualize how it all works. I think visual thinkers do well in trades, and unfortunately our education system is terrible at pushing kids in that direction. It’s worse now, but even when I was in school 20 years ago there was little offerings to go learn a trade. Most kids who go into trades do it after feeling they failed to do what they should be doing in college, but they end up where they should’ve been in the first place. It just sucks that they have to feel like they failed at school first.

[@SusannahPerri]

OMG, I’m a visual #2 thinker (object visualizer)! This answers so much, including why I have so much visual art to convey it’s hard to organize it all until suddenly I can. Takes me forever, but once it’s in place it flows. Thank you!!!

[@MASBoston1]

Thanks so much for doing for us what Temple Grandpn did for you. Inspired to tears by this affirmation of how my brain works and the desire to be around and make beautiful things.

[@yunomong]

That short clip from the patreon video reminded me of one of the best and worst feelings in the world. Coming up with solutions to problems when you are falling asleep is amazing, because you just solved a problem you have had difficulty solving. it is also horrible, because I don't want to wait unti tomorrow to implement my new way of sorting my tools. I want to do it now!

[@Towkeeyoh]

Gosh, that example of the window boards was SO cool, i got it in like 5 secs too as you showed it, just before explaining it which confirmed my thinking. There was sufficient time to consider the reason and followed by a very thorough explanation!

[@TheKerrminator]

I just talked a little bit about this concept on my podcast too. I thought everyone thought in pictures and have a hard time wrapping my head around what a thought is to people who don’t visualize. I’m going to have to check out more of Temple’s talks and books - I believe it was her Ted Talk that I saw several years ago, but definitely want to check out more of her stuff. Thanks for sharing your experience! I also struggle with the writing/scripting part of video creation - feels like such a chore! 😅

[@et5373]

LOVE that you made this. Diagnosed ADHD myself and I’m visual object thinker: if I have a recipe in list form I’m forever going back to re-read it (my brain can’t hold on to words alone) so sometimes I just draw out a diagram of the cooking steps with icons for chop, sauté etc and it’s so much quicker to do. Fun tip - To find out how your family & friends think, ask what happens in their head when they read fiction. My dad and I basically see films but my mum just hears words…

[@GnomeSprinkles]

Absolutely awesome video, keep doing what you do! Love what such refreshing, unique, and real perspectives you bring to KZbin / patreon

[@DTMinimax]

I can’t believe you just completely summed up some of the complexities of my life! Thank you Van for making this emotionally charged, vulnerable video. I look forward to listening to this book. I connected so much with Shopclass as Soulcraft, I’ve listened to it 5 times, and I learned about it on your video. Thank You for these gifts!

[@ninjagoats3034]

Wow. I felt you were on the spectrum minutes into the first video I watched. I have been urging my son on the spectrum to watch your videos. And I just came across this one. Wow. You are an inspiration. Keep being yourself ❤

[@olliepaterson6665]

This puts a lot on perspective. Got little shivers down my spine at one point from this. Time to dig in further.

[@FrancisPainchaud]

You make me cry at 17.30, I feel exactlu the same. A lot of people in my family are visual thinkers. Thank you for sharing this. It is à relief for me.

[@dapiddiboy]

This is such an eye opener. As a kid I’d prefer drawing things and ideas and showing them to my parents verbally. I love mechanical things. And I’m pretty messy. I thought there was something wrong with me. That’s probably why I love your channel that much. Thank you so much for this video! Plus I’m great with dogs.

[@BrettFyfield]

Love you Van! I've learned so much about myself from watching your vlog! There are many people that share your mission to rescue education from the institutions. Keep up the good work!

[@BishopMaple]

So many things have just become clear to me! I struggled learning how to do anything growing up and having to read how to do something and having to read it 8 times to finally get it. College was a nightmare and I didn't last long. KZbin made everything so much better because I finally had a quick place to go and SEE how something is done. This connects some dots, that's for sure. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Rob_TheOne]

Discovered this 2 years ago at 38. You are most likely and empath as well. If you want to listen to some speaking close your eyes and focus on them. Possibly picking up background noises or over visually stimulated! My skills include, painting, sculpting, graphic design, screen printing, electronics, wiring, welding, carpentry, cnc, mechanical and electrical repair, cars, bicycles, appliances whatever. I understand engineering and the moving peices. I build things out of spare parts because it challenges me think outside of the box even more. I can read blue prints, it's like enjoying a price of art. I also find objects with ease but that's actually a spiritual gift. Ask for what you're looking for and literally follow the heart literally. Meditation Wim Hoff good luck

[@kmmk292929]

I understand this completely, and have known this for awhile, as I knew I wanted to be an artist from when I was a child, because I knew I liked doing visual things more than anything. I notice I have a hard time remembering words as well, or a hard time explaining things verbally, because I'm seeing them in my head and seeing them is how I speak that language of my brain. I can see it in my head, and it makes sense to me, so I get it internally, but when it outputs out of me into words, it turns into pointing and saying the word "thingy" a lot or making a lot of hand gestures, and disorganized sentences that don't come out right. Verbally, it pours out into a fumble bumble of nonsensical words and people are like "huh???", but if I just draw it, people are like "Ohhhhhh, I get it now". Then we speak the same language, if I visually make it for them to see. People just don't always get it. I never thought I was weird though, I just thought, I'm an artist, of course I think this way. I thought it was strange actually that other people didn't get it. I did notice however, how poor I was with verbal skills even from a young age. I had to go to special speech classes in school when I was younger and that did make me feel stupid, definitely. Especially because my dad was like the opposite of me, he's an incredible linear, verbal thinker, very talkative person, and I wasn't at all. I'm still this way, always finding it difficult for my brain to construct words compared to others. I'm also extremely sensitive to my visual environment as well, just like you Van. So, you're not alone man.

[@dodecadorseatron]

Van - I've been following your videos for a long time now - I don't get to all of them, though I wish I did. During the pandemic I lived not to far from you, riding my bike in the mountains behind where you live-ish. At that point you had at least a few hours of videos and I watched them all in no more than 2 or 3 sessions - much to my girlfriend's chagrin. I care about your writing, production, and outlook. I like your brother's too. Why I like your work especially is that in some ways I can detect from your videos that I am a younger version of you in many important ways. I am learning from you a much-needed and slowly-building confidence about who I am because I like the way you live and given I hadn't and don't see many people live in a way that I can relate to I have long felt like I don't fit in or don't have 'my people' and it's made me feel lonely and 'retarded'. I wish I learned it sooner, I hope you see this, and I hope you keep doing what you do.

[@JoeGator23]

Honestly I think clearly in all three examples you gave, and very well. My big problem is staying focused to completion... I have laser focus until I am either bored or distracted and lose interest. But even then, I can return at any time as if I never stopped. For me all three modes are easy, especially the visualizer mode. Follow-through and a messy desk, etcetera are typical here. Mostly I am my best asset and worst enemy all-in-one. It can get tiresome at times, but I'm a fierce competitor and love thinking outside the box in everything I do. It never ends. Cool video, thank you.

[@leonardo338]

I love the "Book Review" videos the most. 4th Turning, Shop Class as Soul Work, and now this...keep then coming Van.

[@EcaterinaSavu-tu4mb]

Van Neistat, you are part of 2 % of the population. You are part of the gifted commynity/ les surdoues. Tough life but so rich .. love your work!

[@WrightBrother83]

I found myself suddenly smarter outside the walls of high school after not being being restricted to a prescribed way of thinking. I always thought I was slower than others and relied on athleticism to excel to feed my self confidence. I always liked shop but my passion for fabrication took off in the military but that was inherently limiting for creative thinking. I’m slowly recognizing my frustrations source after discovering Temple. It’s helped with projects around the house when my wife and I butt heads when she can see what I’m describing, ha. Thank you for this video!

[@charliechimp6917]

Im very thankful you have brought this to my awareness, now I understood what I have been struggling with and how to work with it

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Mentioning Myers-Briggs...I have to say I have figured Van to be an ISTP for a while now. Also the part about how when he hears things, he forgets them, but writing them down puts them into a visual filing system that he can recall. I suspect there is another level of that too: Doing. " I HEAR, and Forget. I SEE, and I Remember. I DO, and I Understand." Or maybe even the hierarchy of Data/Knowledge/Wisdom

[@taratimmerman2853]

🤘. I'm an object visualizer software engineer. As soon as I can visualize the function or algorithm, I've got it. It's not easy but I love it. It's such a rush when I figure it out.

[@ionlight3000]

Thank you Van! This may be the most important video I have watched on YT.

[@scottupton8661]

I feel seen. I'm definitely a mix of both visual thinking modes, though. Calculus/programming and its abstractions make sense but day-to-day, it's all pictures. I had the honor of meeting Temple Grandin years ago on a photoshoot -- what a treasure of a human being. Thank you for sharing her insights (and yours) with the world, Van!

[@TheMrBrendo]

Thank you so much for this video Uncle Van, brought me to tears too. I will immediately buy her book because it sounds like I’m a object visualizer. A had a friend share recently that she does not see images when she closes her eyes. Like she cant picture an apple in her minds eye, but she knows one when she sees one…i on the other hand have a non linear and difficult time understanding things that are not easily pictured. I thought it was a something to do with my ADHD but i understand now that in the balance of my life i am weighted on the side of visualization and being able to help others visualize things that they are only able to put words to.

[@blackflycreations]

I now understand my brain. Thanks Van! Another excellent video👍

[@CITYBORNDESERTBRED]

That cut to the editing platform was masterful 👌🏾

[@philschn5990]

Wow, this video got me by surprise. Tanks Van!

[@anshrawat8196]

WOW! Thank you Van for creating this video. I loved it! I can relate to every part of this video.

[@Ecable16]

I’m a late diagnosed Mexican/American Autistic woman with object visualization. One example I can share is that I usually know if something will “work” before anyone does because of my ability to recognize patterns very quick. I wish I could say the amount of the misunderstandings I’ve had to deal with because visual thinking is an inconvenience in the education system here in the US. The workforce is a WHOLE other complex conversation as well. To keep it simple. My entire life, I struggled in school because I was “too smart for my own good but not smart enough.”

[@ferdelosmonteros]

That "visceral mechanical attitude" that you are saying, it's called: Ingenio Mexicano... So much to talk about this topic. Cheers Van! Love that you love México

[@ak4good]

Great video! Can relate to so much of it. At 48, I have figured out bits of this through intuition over the years but your video clarified a lot. I see a lot of these characteristics in my 14 yo daughter as well. I think this will help her too. Thank you for making this!

[@mccallatchison3492]

Van, You just blew my mind dude. Funny enough I am a welder. I’m 21 years old grew up and still live in the Deep South. I struggled in school so hard. I was a good student and forced myself to make good grades but it just killed my soul. My amazing mother realized this, and saw how my brain worked. She pulled me out of school, and homeschooled me and enabled me to pursue my passion for welding and trades. I graduated college with a degree in advanced manufacturing at 20 years old. I started working in industry at 17 welding for an aerospace company. It’s so cool to see that I’m not alone. When I thought nobody understood except my mom.

[@canadude6401]

You have a great Mom! My Mom also knew I had ambition and was smart..but in my own way, she was a aware that "some kids just learn things differently" I only hope the school system progresses further to help those that don't fit conventional teaching models. Congrats on the welding career. You will never have shortage of work opportunities in your field! All the best!

[@mccallatchison3492]

@@canadude6401 thanks man, I love my mom lol

[@MegaFajju]

I watched this video a lot of times .. again and again. Thank you Van

[@ArtfullyRogue]

Wow, thanks Van. I just added Grandin's book to my list of "must read" books. What you said made so much sense to me. At 56, It feels normal for me to think in pictures now but the younger me struggled for sure. And yep. I'm a metal artist and love IKEA instructions 😉

[@LukasHaydenOfficial]

This is exactly how I think. I notice that when I live somewhere long enough I can tell you exactly what part of what drawer an object is located. I've learned it is extremely useful to add probabilities on top of the thought process for more accuracy, ie: how often is said drawer used and how much time has passed since my most recent mind photo

[@rafbass]

1. We are very good drivers. 2. We see snow footsteps as a storytelling of what just happened. 3. We read people’s intentions in seconds.

[@calebcolledge]

Never felt more seen than in this video. Thanks Van, now I know why school was so hard but art and fixing things was so easy.

[@marcusrobinson1778]

I've noticed how poorly other people's spacial thinking is. From how little they actually see, to how unable they are to manipulate an object in 3d on their head. Amazing video.

[@CoreyWagnerChicago]

YES! Always excited for a new Van upload. By far the creator that inspires me the most to go out and make more. Thanks Van!

[@TheshBuilds]

I think you figured out why I relate so much to you Van. Thanks, made me feel a bit less "different".

[@JCRoShow]

shout out to the IKEA manual designers, those are our people! thanks as always Van!

[@zachary_roush]

thank you for sharing and documenting this! it’s so essential to figure out how we think. also i very much wish there was ship class in schools still. i would have loved that.

[@basmuda]

beautiful video man! Thanks enormously!!!