Watch More Documentaries: Keep Your Brain Sharp and Learn About New Worlds

As long as you’re alive, learning never ends.

Education doesn’t end just because you’ve graduated. In many ways, what you study after you graduate is just as (if not more) important.

There are always plenty of opportunities out there to continue your education after school, including reading books and articles, watching videos and lectures, listening to podcasts, or taking online courses to expand your knowledge and understanding of the world.

Knowledge is valuable – and learning new things can be a rewarding source of happiness that isn’t tied to people or material things.

When you learn something new, you keep it for a lifetime – no one can take away your knowledge, experience, or perspective – and that’s a powerful thing.

Of course, not all information is created equal. In today’s information age especially, the world is filled with low quality information, misinformation, and even outright lies and deception.

We have to be mindful of the information we are consuming on a daily basis, because it’s influencing us whether we realize it or not.

This is one reason I created the information pyramid as a simple guideline on how we can focus on better quality information that has higher educational value. For example, “non-fiction books” and “scientific studies” generally rank higher on the information pyramid than “social media” or “television shows.”

One source of learning that also ranks high is watching documentaries. Over the past year, I’ve made a conscious effort to explore the documentary genre more and discovered a lot of excellent gems of knowledge, wisdom, and insight.

The Benefits of Watching Documentaries

First let me explain the many benefits of watching documentaries. Then I’ll share a list of the best documentaries to check out, including my personal favorites.

• Expand your depth and breadth of knowledge – Documentaries are a great way to dive into a new subject and learn more about it, especially for topics you have no prior knowledge on. Want to learn more about a scientific subject, or a historical event, or a famous person, or a political/social cause? There’s likely a documentary out there to check out. Documentaries are one way of expanding your map of reality and becoming a more well-rounded person in how you view the world. They can also help cultivate more interdisciplinary thinking by introducing you to topics you normally never think about, which can improve creativity and problem-solving skills. Want to stretch your mind in a new direction? Check out a documentary that’s about something you know literally nothing about.
• Introduce yourself to new cultures, hobbies, and lifestyles – Documentaries can give you knowledge and insight into different cultures, hobbies, and lifestyles that you’d otherwise have very limited experience with. It could range anywhere from the quiet lifestyle of a Christian monk (such as in the documentary Into Great Silence), to the grind of aspiring basketball players (as depicted in Hoop Players), to the chaotic freedom behind the 60s hippie culture (Woodstock), to the daily routine of a lonesome honey collector (Honeyland). Of course, no documentary can replace experiencing something firsthand, but it can often be the next best thing to open your eyes to different types of people and different ways of living.
• Discover inspiring role models to look up to – One of my favorite aspects of documentaries is finding new role models to learn from and be inspired by. I’m a big believer in the “standing on the shoulders of giants” philosophy, so a lot of documentaries I watch focus on exceptional case studies of human achievement, such as learning more about the inquisitive mind of the pioneering computer scientist Claude Shannon in the documentary The Bit Player, being awed by the subtle genius of world-class chef Jiro Ono in Jiro Dreams of Sushi, or being swept up by the passion and commitment of Timothy Treadwell in The Grizzly Man.
• New conversation fodder – Documentaries provide you with new things to talk about and share with others. By expanding your knowledge and becoming a more balanced person overall, it’ll be easier to enter into new conversations and have something to add to it (or at least not be completely lost), especially if the topic is brought up naturally or through conversation threading. Ultimately, the more you know about the world, the easier it will be to make connections and have interesting conversations with others. But of course don’t just rattle off facts until people’s ears fall off – be a good listener too.
• It’s a fun way to keep your brain active – Documentaries keep your brain active by giving your mind new information to absorb and think about. Without active learning and engaging yourself, our minds often stagnate and become stuck in the same patterns of thinking. This is something to be particularly mindful of as we get older and cognitive functions can begin to deteriorate due to lack of use. Documentaries are also simply fun and entertaining to watch. They are one of the easiest ways to learn new information due to our natural attraction to visuals, music, and story-telling. Many people are more likely to pay attention to a documentary than reading a book or listening to a lecture from a teacher.

These are the key benefits behind watching documentaries, now let me share my personal list of favorites.

Top Documentaries to Check Out

Here are the best documentaries to add to your list, do any of them sound interesting to you?

Grizzly Man

One of my personal favorite documentaries from the legendary Werner Herzog. It follows the adventurous and eccentric life of Timothy Treadwell, an animal activist and lover of grizzly bears who decides to live with them for multiple seasons (before something tragic happens). While it definitely feels like Treadwell has a couple screws loose, you can’t deny the absolute passion he has for what he does. Much of the footage in this documentary is recorded by Treadwell himself (mixed with Herzog’s poetic insights and observations), giving you a very intimate look into his way of life and dedication.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Another great case study in passion and commitment, this documentary is about 85-year-old master sushi chef Jiro Ono. It explores his day-to-day operations running his famous (yet modest) restaurant located in a Tokyo subway station, which only seats 10 people (although it requires a reservation months in advance and each seat starts at a minimum $270). While I’m not a huge fan of sushi, I can’t help but be awed by Jiro Ono’s sense of subtle perfection and attention-to-detail. Every stage of the food preparation is studied with great care (including where they get the best quality ingredients, the hours that go into preparation, and how it is served to customers), leading to what many food critics say is the best sushi experience in the entire world.

Man on Wire

An award-winning film about French high-wire artist Philippe Petit. It documents his “wire-walking” at the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in 1971, the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1973, as well as his famous wire-walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City in 1974 – what many call “the artistic crime of the century.” The logistics of the feat alone are incredible, but the documentary is also filled with many inspiring and existentialist quotes from Petit, even though he comes off a bit stubborn and disagreeable at times (as many artists can be).

Free Solo

Another daring documentary about professional rock climber Alex Honnold, who attempts to conquer the first free solo climb of famed El Capitan’s 900-metre vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park. To climb “free solo” means climbing with no equipment, so even a single mistake can be deadly. This is another great depiction of an ambitious person singularly focused on their goal, and the meticulous preparation that goes into achieving it.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

A warm and inspiring documentary about the life and philosophy of Fred Rogers and his famous children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Mr. Rogers believed in using the power of television to help children feel accepted, loved, and understood in a way that was very rare at the time (and still rare today). He would consult with numerous child psychologists and experts to learn the best ways to communicate with children and teach them how to believe in themselves. He was probably one of the kindest and gentlest souls to exist in a long time, and his philosophy on life is very refreshing, uplifting, and unique. This is definitely a good documentary to watch if you want to feel good.

The Bit Player

A fascinating look into the mind of Claude Shannon, a pioneering mathematician and computer scientist who is known as “the father of information theory.” He created the concept of the “bit” (1’s and 0’s) which is the foundation of all digital technology. The best part of this documentary is not only learning about Shannon’s amazing achievements (such as an electric mouse learning to run a maze, an early example of artificial intelligence), but seeing his playful and inquisitive mind work in real-time. He had a natural curiosity about life that seemed to spread to anything he touched. I didn’t know much about him before watching this, but I immediately added him to my list of role models afterwards.

My Octopus Teacher

This award-winning documentary follows the unlikely companionship between filmmaker and diver Craig Foster and a wild octopus located in a kelp forest in South Africa. The story reveals an intimate and emotional bond created between them, including revisiting the octopus multiple times (who recognizes him) and observing the quirky behaviors and huge personalities that these octopi can exhibit. After watching the documentary I was motivated to check out the book Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness by Peter Godfrey-Smith to learn more about these fascinating creatures, who in many ways are just as conscious and intelligent as we are.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

An interesting documentary by the elusive street artist Banksy. It follows the story of videographer Thierry Guetta as he explores the rebellious nature of graffiti and its mostly secretive community. Some still question how legitimate the documentary is (or if it’s a “mockumentary”) which only adds more to its mysterious appeal. The underlying dialogue within the documentary is a question on the real purpose and function of art in general, and its role in changing society.

The Rescue

An incredible documentary about the Herculean efforts to save a group of 12 children who got trapped in a cave in Thailand for over two weeks without food, water, or communication with the outside world. This whole documentary is an amazing case study in group problem-solving and the humanitarian instinct. Ultimately the rescue effort involved more than 10,000 people, including expert cave divers who were recruited from all over the world to help.

Planet Earth

A classic nature documentary series with beautiful and timeless footage of various animals and habitats on earth, including mountains, fresh water, caves, deserts, ice worlds, great plains, jungles, forests, arctic conditions, and the deep ocean. I’ll also include all of its sequels (Planet Earth II, Blue Planet, and Blue Planet II) as part of the entire “Planet Earth” series. Nature documentaries are one of the best types of documentaries you can watch in general, especially from a mental health perspective – studies show nature documentaries can boost a variety of positive emotions and reduce stress and anxiety.

Cosmos: A Personal Voyage

Here’s another classic 13 episode documentary series with legendary scientist Carl Sagan. It’s an excellent breakdown of various scientific subjects including biology and the origins of life, evolution and natural selection, as well as exploring space, the big bang, and astronomy. This series was originally published in 1980, but many of the scientific facts still hold up today, along with a lot of mesmerizing footage. The newer Cosmos series with Neil Degrasse Tyson (“A Spacetime Odyssey,” which aired in 2014) is also worth checking out.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Here’s another Werner Herzog documentary about ancient art discovered in the Chauvet Cave in Southern France. Anthropologists claim it is the oldest human-painted images ever discovered – dating back to over 32,000 years ago. This documentary provides a very close and detailed view of the various paintings discovered throughout the cave, as well as interviews with scientists and historians. It inspires us to reflect on the universality of art, creativity, and the human spirit.

The Act of Killing

In this extremely dark and disturbing documentary, individuals who participated in the Indonesian mass killings of 1965-66 are asked to reflect on their past atrocities, as well as enact them in anyway they’d like. It starts off with many of the main perpetrators relishing in their past violence and showing no remorse, but as the film goes on these “gangsters” start to realize the sins of their past (and begin to even show signs of mental breakdown). This one is not recommended for the faint of heart.

March of the Penguins

This heart-warming nature documentary follows the life and yearly mating rituals of emperor penguins in Antartica, narrated by the soothing voice of Morgan Freeman. The film depicts the arduous task each penguin must go through to find the right partner and provide food for their newborn offspring. Funny, entertaining, and ultimately a great “feel good” movie for people of all ages.

Woodstock

A classic documentary that chronicles the entire three day legendary music festival known as Woodstock in 1969. It covers everything from the unique preparations and planning behind the festival (on someone’s dairy farm in upstate New York), to historical music performances by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin, Santana, and Jefferson Airplane, to iconic events throughout the festival (including having to fly band members and attendees via helicopter due to the massive crowds, an impromptu rain dance on the second day, and participants swimming naked in the local lake to wash themselves). This documentary is the perfect time capsule of the counter-culture movement, and it’s worth checking out even for purely historical reasons.

The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness

This documentary provides an in-depth look at the Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, including following critically acclaimed filmmakers Hayao Miyazaki (best known for Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke) and Isao Takahata (best known for Grave of the Fireflies). The film is a great study into the creative environment surrounding the studio and its daily operations, as well as providing many excellent quotes and witticisms by the endearingly pessimistic and self-critical Hayao Miyazaki.

Koyaanisqatsi

An “experimental documentary” that is a montage of beautiful time-lapsed footage (of cities, traffic, people, sunsets, etc.) synced with a beautiful score composed by minimalist Philip Glass. There is no dialogue or narrative, it’s just visual-auditory stimulation to sit back and enjoy.

Into Great Silence

A quiet documentary following the everyday lives of Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse, a monastery high in the French Alps that has existed since 1084. There is no soundtrack and very little dialogue (most of which is in French or Latin). It’s long and slow-paced – much like the lives of the monks – but it’s a refreshing case study into a very different way of life compared to most other lives today which are noisy, busy, and fast-paced. Watching this documentary could be considered a type of meditation: turn the lights off, set some candles, sit back, and learn to enjoy the simplicity of their daily rituals.

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That’s the end of my documentary suggestions. Of course, there are many great documentaries out there so the possibilities are really endless.

The first step is to ask yourself…“What type of documentaries would interest me the most?” Nature? Science? Biographical? Historical? Social Causes? Anything Weird or Interesting?

A lot of the documentaries I’ve been watching can be found on most streaming services or YouTube, though availability can always change so I won’t provide any specific links. You may need to do a little digging for some of them.

I also highly recommend checking out your local library. You’d be surprised by how extensive their movie and multimedia collections can be these days. They are a huge free resource that most people don’t take enough advantage of.

Documentaries are a great resource for learning new things, but you should also keep in mind that not everything you learn in a documentary is automatically true.

Always be a skeptical thinker. Try your best to think critically about everything you learn, expose yourself to different viewpoints, and don’t take anything for granted. Don’t be afraid to do your own research if you find yourself questioning something you hear in a documentary.

Overall, I challenge you to watch more documentaries in general – they can be an excellent tool for self-improvement and self-growth.

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