The Battle of Waterloo was significant not only because it marked Napoleon’s defeat, but also because it showed for the first time that in the world of finance, victory doesn’t belong to the one with the biggest army, but to the one with the fastest information. Thanks to his own network of couriers, Nathan Rothschild learned of Napoleon’s defeat before the British government did, giving him a crucial informational advantage. At a time when news travelled at the speed of a horse, this was a decisive edge that made it clear: whoever controls information controls the market.
Whoever controls information controls the world
Much has changed since then. Today we live in the age of the internet, exposed to a constant flood of information—full of half‑truths and outright lies. When something happens on the other side of the world, Europe knows within seconds. But with that comes a wave of noise, emotion, and manipulation. In such an environment, the winner is no longer the one who gets the information first, but the one who can interpret it correctly and separate it from the clutter. Information advantage today doesn’t come from speed, but from the ability to navigate chaos and recognise what truly matters. And that’s not always easy.
How not to fall for manipulation and bubbles
In this environment, it’s essential not only to receive information but to verify it. Not everything that looks credible actually is. Social‑media algorithms feed us what triggers emotion, not what is true. It’s easy to fall into a trap of half‑truths, manipulation, and opinion bubbles.
High‑quality sources—scientific institutions, reputable media, and expert publications—are more important than ever. Not because they’re infallible, but because they follow clear rules, transparent methodology, and bear responsibility for what they publish. In a world where anyone can write anything and have it spread globally within minutes, critical thinking and source evaluation have become essential skills.
Why mainstream media still deserve trust
Mainstream media and major news agencies are often questioned by self‑proclaimed experts, yet they still operate according to journalistic standards. They verify information from multiple sources, have editorial oversight, and carry social responsibility for what they publish. Many of them have decades or even centuries of tradition, which binds them to maintain high standards and credibility.
This is fundamentally different from influencers or self‑styled “journalists” who spread unverified claims, falsehoods, or conspiracy nonsense without any accountability. A typical example is Alex Jones and his InfoWars—built on disinformation and fear, which also happens to make him fabulously wealthy.
Quality sources like Reuters, AP, BBC, The Guardian, CNN, or in the Czech Republic Deník N rely on transparent methods, verifiable facts, and a clear separation between reporting and commentary. Alongside them are projects like Bellingcat, an international investigative group that uses open‑source data, satellite imagery, and video analysis to expose disinformation, war crimes, and state propaganda. If you want to understand ongoing conflicts, you should definitely have them bookmarked.
When politicians like Trump, Farage, Babiš, Fico, or Orbán loudly attack or discredit certain media, it’s usually a sign those outlets are doing their job well.
Self‑education as the greatest gift of the digital age
The internet has also opened the door to something unimaginable in Rothschild’s era: accessible, high‑quality self‑education. What once required access to libraries, universities, or expensive schools reserved for the privileged is now often available for free, just a few clicks away. You can sit at home in your pyjamas and study the same material as students on the other side of the planet. In an age overwhelmed by (dis)information, the ability to seek out targeted, high‑quality knowledge is one of the greatest gifts of the digital era.
From little green men to Harvard
Years ago, I was deeply interested in extraterrestrial civilisations. I read Däniken, Dr Steven Greer, and many others. A friend who knows me well once sent me a link to a free online astrobiology course offered by Harvard University. I didn’t hesitate for a second and signed up. It took me about three months, studying roughly 6–8 hours a week. It was absolutely fantastic.
No theories about little green men building the pyramids and flying away. Pure science—facts and scientific knowledge. Biology, astronomy, chemistry, geology, physics. I learned how scientists detect a tiny planet orbiting a barely visible star millions of light‑years away, how they calculate its size, distance from the star, whether it has an atmosphere, and how they determine its chemical composition. And most importantly, how they estimate the probability of life on that planet. That was exactly what I wanted to know.
What online courses gave me
Later I took several more courses in other fields—some that helped my professional career, others simply because they interested me. Right now, I’m studying “The Indian and Tibetan River of Buddhism” taught by Professor Thurman from Columbia University—Uma Thurman’s father and one of the leading experts on Indo‑Tibetan Buddhism.
I’d love to study AI as well, but like many technically oriented fields, it requires a certain level of mathematical knowledge, which as a lifelong enemy of mathematics unfortunately disqualifies me. For the same reason, I had to give up on introductory astrophysics, which I would otherwise love. If my high‑school teacher Mr Janeček had explained what differential equations or integrals are actually good for, maybe I would have learned them back then.
How not to get lost in digital smog
Today we have incredible tools at our disposal—things people in the past couldn’t even dream of. But we also need to learn how not to drown in the endless informational chaos and digital smog pouring at us from all sides. I don’t need to know where some influencer flashed her tits or which MP caught gonorrhoea. Nor do I care about the geopolitical ‘analysis’ of a guy who was a plumber yesterday and now broadcasts from his garage.
I’m looking for information that opens my mind, not clogs it.
Where to study online