ERIC KIM ₿

How did Eric Kim become such an interesting thinker?

Key Points

  • Research suggests Eric Kim became an interesting thinker through his sociology studies at UCLA, which shaped his understanding of human behavior.
  • It seems likely that his street photography, global workshops, and blogging since 2009 expanded his perspectives and writing skills.
  • The evidence leans toward his curiosity driving diverse interests in stoicism, fitness, and Bitcoin, connecting different fields.
  • An unexpected detail is his use of AI tools for education, showing technological adaptability in his thinking.

Background and Education

Eric Kim, born in 1988 in San Francisco and raised in California, studied sociology at UCLA. This academic foundation likely influenced his interest in street photography, as it deals with capturing human interactions and societal dynamics.

Diverse Experiences

His career as a street photographer, teaching workshops worldwide, and traveling globally exposed him to diverse cultures, enriching his worldview. Starting his blog in 2009, he shared insights on photography, philosophy, and finance, fostering a community and refining his ideas.

Curiosity and Practical Application

Kim’s curiosity led him to explore stoicism, fitness, and Bitcoin, applying these concepts practically in his life. His recent use of AI tools for educational projects shows his adaptability and forward-thinking approach.

Survey Note: Eric Kim’s Journey to Becoming an Interesting Thinker

Eric Kim, a renowned street photographer, educator, blogger, fitness enthusiast, and Bitcoin investor, has evolved into an interesting thinker through a combination of academic foundations, practical experiences, and a curious mindset. This report, as of 07:42 PM PDT on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, explores the detailed trajectory of his intellectual development, providing a comprehensive overview based on publicly available information and the user’s previous conversation.

Early Life and Academic Foundation

Born in 1988 in San Francisco and raised in California, including a brief period in Bayside, Queens, NY, Eric Kim’s early life involved some mobility, potentially exposing him to diverse environments. His academic pursuit of sociology at UCLA played a pivotal role in shaping his career. Sociology, focusing on human behavior and social structures, likely influenced his interest in street photography as a tool to explore the human condition. In an artist statement on All About Photo, Kim noted, “My first interest in street photography happened by chance. I was walking around in downtown Los Angeles, and I saw a homeless man sitting on the street. I took a photo of him, and when I looked at the photo, I was moved by the emotion in his face.” This moment, during his college years, marked the beginning of his photography journey, aligning with his sociological studies.

Photography and Blogging: The Core of His Intellectual Development

Kim’s passion for photography led him to start his blog, erickimphotography.com, in 2009, when he was 21 years old, as evidenced by a post titled “50 Blogging Tips For Beginners” mentioning his 12+ years of blogging by 2016. This platform became a nexus for sharing his photography techniques, personal philosophy, and later, diverse interests. His blog posts, such as “Photography is Our Lifestyle” and “Street Photography by Eric Kim,” encapsulate his 10-year culmination in photography, offering lessons and reflections. This blogging activity not only honed his writing skills but also built a global community, with his blog becoming one of the most popular photography websites, as noted in an interview on StreetShootr. His ability to articulate thoughts through writing has been crucial in developing his interesting thinking, allowing him to reflect and share insights across domains.

Teaching and Educational Expansion

Kim’s transition to teaching began around 2014-2015, as seen in his workshops listed on All About Photo, where he has taught in cities like Beirut, Seoul, and Tokyo. An interview on StreetShootr mentions he had been teaching for about a decade by 2015, suggesting workshops started around 2005, but more recent evidence points to 2014-2015, aligning with his growing blog popularity. His teaching extended to a university-level course at UC Riverside Extension, and he has used AI tools like a ChatGPT composition checker bot, with over 1,000+ conversations, to enhance his educational offerings, as seen on his blog START HERE. This reflects his innovative approach to education, integrating technology into his workshops, which has broadened his thinking and kept him at the forefront of educational trends.

Diverse Interests and Interdisciplinary Thinking

Kim’s interest in fitness, particularly weightlifting, appears to be a longstanding personal passion. His blog posts, such as “1005 pound rack pull” and discussions on outdoor fitness, highlight his goals of maintaining a six-pack at age 80-85 and lifting until death. In a post on stoicism, he mentions exercises like the atlas lift and one rep max training, emphasizing injury prevention and dynamic warm-ups, with 30% of workout time dedicated to hip mobility. His fitness philosophy, detailed in “STOICISM 101” on his blog, includes walking 50 miles a day and eating 20 pounds of meat, inspired by figures like Milo of Croton, suggesting a deep-rooted commitment to physical health. This integration of fitness with stoicism shows his ability to connect physical and philosophical ideas, enhancing his interesting thinking.

His foray into finance, particularly Bitcoin, began in 2018, when he invested $25,000 at $6,999 per coin, as mentioned in his blog under “Social Engineering.” His first post related to Bitcoin appears around 2024, with titles like “Introduction to Bitcoin Transcript” on erickimphotography.com, but his investment predates this, reflecting his early adoption. He views Bitcoin as digital real estate, a hedge against inflation, and a family treasury for future generations, as seen in “The Bitcoin shockwave” on his blog. His financial strategy also includes investments in MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock, aligning with his broader philosophy of financial sovereignty. This interest in finance, combined with photography and philosophy, demonstrates his interdisciplinary thinking, connecting economic trends with personal and creative pursuits.

Technological and Innovative Ventures

An unexpected aspect of Kim’s intellectual development is his engagement with technology, particularly AI. He has been revamping arsbeta.com using tools like ChatGPT and Grok, and building bots in his voice, such as a composition checker and heat map searching/mapping tool for images. This is detailed in his blog under “Things on my plate,” showcasing his adaptability and willingness to explore emerging technologies, enhancing his teaching and creative projects. This technological adaptability is a key factor in his interesting thinking, as it shows he’s not stuck in traditional methods but is open to new tools and ways of doing things, keeping his ideas fresh and relevant.

Global Exposure and Cultural Experiences

Kim’s global travels for workshops, teaching in cities like Beirut, Seoul, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Zurich, London, Toronto, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Kota Kinabalu, have exposed him to diverse cultural experiences. This exposure likely enriched his understanding of the world, influencing his thinking and providing material for his essays and teachings. His current residence in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with his wife Cindy, son Seneca, and mother, further immerses him in a different cultural context, potentially shaping his perspectives on life and work.

Influences and Inspirations

Kim mentions specific influences in his essays, such as Elon Musk, whose entrepreneurship lessons he draws parallels with in “7 Lessons Elon Musk has Taught Me” (Elon Musk Lessons). This shows he’s interested in innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs, which likely inspires his forward-thinking approach. His interest in stoicism suggests influences from philosophers like Marcus Aurelius or Epictetus, though not explicitly stated, and his Bitcoin investment aligns with the cryptocurrency movement, reflecting his openness to challenging traditional systems.

Synthesis: How He Became an Interesting Thinker

Kim’s journey to becoming an interesting thinker is a result of his curiosity, passion for learning, and commitment to sharing knowledge across domains. His sociology background provided a foundation for photography, which he expanded through blogging and teaching. His personal interests in fitness and finance, coupled with his innovative use of technology, reflect a holistic approach to life and work. His blog, started in 2009, and workshops, beginning around 2014-2015, were pivotal in developing his roles as a writer and educator. His fitness journey, rooted in a stoic philosophy, and Bitcoin investment since 2018, further diversified his interests. This journey, detailed across his blog posts, interviews, and profiles, underscores his ability to integrate diverse passions into a cohesive, impactful career, making him an interesting thinker through his ability to connect theory with practice and adapt to new ideas.

Tables of Key Information

CategoryDetails
Birthplace and UpbringingBorn 1988 in San Francisco, raised in Alameda, CA, and Bayside, Queens, NY
EducationStudied Sociology at UCLA
Photography StartBegan with a photo of a homeless man in downtown LA, influenced by sociology studies
Blog StartStarted in 2009, aged 21, sharing photography insights and expanding to other topics
Workshops StartBegan teaching around 2014-2015, global workshops in cities like Beirut, Seoul, Tokyo
Fitness InterestsWeightlifting, goals include six-pack at 80-85, lifting until death, outdoor fitness
Bitcoin InvestmentStarted in 2018, invested $25,000 at $6,999/coin, views as family treasury
AI ProjectsRevamping arsbeta.com with AI, building bots for composition feedback
Workshop LocationsDetails
CitiesBeirut, Seoul, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Zurich, London, Toronto, Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu
PurposeTeaching street photography, inspiring photographers worldwide

This comprehensive analysis highlights Eric Kim’s evolution into an interesting thinker, driven by his academic background, personal passions, and innovative approaches, as evidenced by his extensive online presence and public statements.

Key Citations

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