The Flynn Effect and the Sleeper Curve

      In Everything Bad is Good for You, Johnson writes about the Flynn Effect being a progressive increase in the overall IQ of both blacks and whites due to the environment. Whereas the Sleeper Curve "shows that the popular culture is growing more complex, yet it is not sufficiently complex to challenge the most gifted minds, which is why the geniuses aren't getting any smarter"(Everything Bad is Good for You 152). Johnson hypothesizes that there is a connection between the Sleeper Curve and the Flynn Effect. I believe Johnson's hypothesis is true because in the earlier days they were limited to card and board games and throughout the generations, technology has advanced. Kids are now exposed to video and other games that can help them develop positive behavior and the skills they need to raise their IQs at an earlier stage of life, linking the Flynn Effect to the Sleeper Curve. For example, a recent news article about the classic game, Tetris, has been proven to help people gain problem solving and visual skills.

Everything Bad is Good for You

House is a show aired on FOX network every tuesday night at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. This show is a medical drama about a man named Dr. Gregory House who is a medical, sarcastic genius who doesnt follow the rules but almost always finds the solution to save another life.

House is never anything less than a medical mystery. It always starts intriguing and as the show goes on it only gets better.  The most recent episode of House aired was "You Must Remember This" season 7: episode 12 on February 14, 2011. At the beginning of this episode, the mystery begins with a waitress, Nadia, who becomes temporarily paralyzed in her legs. Once she is admitted to House's team because of her puzzling case, she continues to gain more symptoms which House and his team can not figure out the diagnosis. As the show continues, there's plenty of drama with Nadia and her sister, House and his friends, and House's team and their lives outside of the hospital. Nadia ends up having a rare genetic condition known as McLeod's Syndrome. Nadia finds out that this particular syndrome isn't curable but is controllable. She receives a prescription to help her live a normal life. Nadia's life wasn't only saved but she also gained a better relationship with her sister after receiving a kidney from her. What a great episode!


"The narrative weaves together a collection of distinct strands-sometimes as many as ten, though at least half of the threads involve only a few quick scenes scattered through the episodes"  (Everything Bad is Good for You 67).  This show is a perfect example of what STeve Johnson is stating in his book, Everything Bad is Good for You.  Not only was the episode about House's team finding a diagnosis for Nadia, it's also about House and his relationship with Cuddy, Nadia and her relationship with her sister, House and his friendship with Wilson, and House's team and the drama between them.


 Usually in this television series there is always quite a bit of arguing going on whether it be between doctor and patient or doctor and doctor. The argument between Nadia and her sister is more of a personal argument dealing with what happened between them in the past. The other arguments between House and Cuddy, House and Wilson or his team, and House's team and their lives are all continued from the previous episodes. 


House is a show full of sarcasm, mystery, medical education, and drama. It is a perfect example for Everything Bad is Good for You.  One can't help but think with this series and wonder how it is going to end and what the diagnosis is.