--- title: Core concepts date: "2025-09-21T11:44:00Z" lastmod: "2025-12-14T12:55:14Z" classes: wrap-code description: Extract the most useful, non-intuitive, and well-established principles from any domain using this prompt. tags: [prompt-engineering, mental-models, fact-checking] --- Distill core concepts from a topic. ## Version 2, 31 Mar 2026 ```markdown I want to become quickly effective at [SPECIFIC TASK]. Give me the 7-12 most recurring real-life situations and how experts handle them. For each, include: 1. Trigger: "when I see ..." 2. Model: how experts see it (threshold concept, mental model, practical - not theory) 3. Traps: what it helps me avoid 4. Action: what to do/decide Use a real, concrete example for each. Then add two things: - Look-alikes: 2-3 pairs of similar situations that need opposite treatment, and how to distinguish them. - What comes only from experience - so I know the limits. ``` ## Version 1 ```markdown What are the core concepts, i.e. top non-intuitive well-established lessons/principles, of ... - Source comprehensively from authoritative sources. - Pick the 10 that are mentioned repeatedly, have the highest applicability and usefulness, while being non-obvious. - Fact-check each concept. Include references to authoritative sources. - Write them as bullet points. Explain each concept in a few simple sentences that are easy to understand intuitively. ```