You're Not Slow: Become a Speed Learner in 20 Minutes

Summary

The speaker shares her unique learning process, emphasizing the importance of 'safety netting' and focusing on core basics to optimize learning speed. She categorizes information into admin and 'good for you', uses speed reading to filter content, and advocates for non-linear learning driven by curiosity. Resources like Curiosity Stream and Nebula are recommended for effective learning.

Takeaways

• 🧠 **Understanding Learning**: The speaker emphasizes that learning how to learn is a vital life skill that is often overlooked, and that the ability to learn quickly is not necessarily a measure of intelligence.
• 🤔 **Reevaluating Self-Perception**: The script suggests that if one has only experienced poor teaching, it's unfair to label oneself as a bad or slow learner since they haven't been given a fair chance to learn effectively.
• 🎯 **Safety Netting**: The first step in the speaker's learning process is 'safety netting,' which involves understanding the basics, importance, and connections of the subject matter without diving into specifics.
• 🔍 **Importance of Context**: The script highlights the importance of context in learning, drawing parallels to how doctors quickly educate patients about medical conditions, emphasizing the need to understand the core and its relevance.
• 🚀 **Core Basics**: The second key step is focusing on 'core basics,' which are fundamental principles or rules that are often overlooked but are essential for building a strong foundation in any subject.
• 📚 **Categorization**: The speaker categorizes information into 'safety net,' 'core basics,' 'admin,' and 'good for you,' allowing for a structured approach to learning and prioritizing what to focus on first.
• 📈 **Non-Linear Learning**: The concept of 'jumpy learning' and 'strategic drowning' is introduced, advocating for learning in an order that aligns with one's interests and motivation rather than strictly following a prescribed sequence.
• 🤝 **Establishing Connections**: The script stresses the importance of understanding the limitations and connections of what one is learning, which helps in conceptualizing and integrating new information with existing knowledge.
• 🎓 **Expert Insight**: The speaker often seeks out experts to understand the 'bread and butter' of a field, which are the fundamental aspects that are used regularly and are key to mastering the subject.
• 🔬 **Advanced Material for Basic Understanding**: As a learning hack, the speaker recommends engaging with advanced material to reinforce core basics, as it challenges and solidifies foundational knowledge.
• 🌐 **Utilizing Resources**: The script promotes the use of platforms like Curiosity Stream and Nebula for ad-free, focused learning environments that can support the learning process.

Q & A

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of learning how to learn?

The speaker believes that learning how to learn is a core life skill that is often overlooked in education, and it is crucial for anyone looking to optimize their learning speed and efficiency.

What does the speaker refer to as 'safety netting' in the learning process?

'Safety netting' is the first step in the speaker's learning process, where they focus on understanding the basic concepts, emotions, limits, implications, and connections of the subject to be learned, creating a mental space for further information.

How does the speaker describe the effectiveness of doctors in teaching patients about medical conditions?

The speaker describes doctors as being incredibly effective teachers, able to quickly provide patients with a comprehensive understanding of their medical conditions, including implications, treatments, and further actions, within a short time frame.

What is the second step in the speaker's learning process after 'safety netting'?

The second step is focusing on the 'core basics', which are the fundamental and simple rules or principles that underpin the subject and are essential for building a strong foundation of understanding.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of understanding limitations and connections when learning something new?

Understanding limitations and connections helps the speaker to conceptualize how the new information fits into their existing knowledge, allowing for better integration and faster learning by drawing upon pre-existing thoughts and established concepts.

How does the speaker approach learning new words and numbers that they find challenging?

The speaker categorizes these as 'admin' tasks, which they acknowledge as necessary but not a priority during the initial learning stages. They plan to learn these later when they are more relevant or important.

What is the 'good for you' category in the speaker's learning process, and how do they treat it?

The 'good for you' category consists of information that is not important or relevant to the speaker's learning objectives. They acknowledge these areas but do not prioritize learning them, focusing instead on more essential aspects of the subject.

What strategy does the speaker use to find and establish core basics in a new subject?

The speaker often looks at very advanced materials that assume knowledge of core basics, which helps to establish and reinforce their understanding of fundamental concepts through exposure to their application at a higher level.

How does the speaker approach learning in a non-linear way, and why is this beneficial?

The speaker practices 'jumpy learning' and 'strategic drowning', learning in the order of their interest rather than the order presented. This method preserves motivation and attention, allowing for continuous learning until fatigue, rather than stopping when motivation wanes.

What role does the speaker believe curiosity plays in the learning process, especially when using resources like CuriosityStream?

Curiosity is essential for the speaker, as it drives the learning process and helps establish core basics. CuriosityStream, with its wide range of documentaries, provides a platform for the speaker to explore and solidify their understanding of fundamental concepts in various fields.