Help me learn new skills! – the Recap

I like learning new things. I think it’s important. It keeps me fresh. It makes me a better person. I decided, last year, that I wanted to dedicate a significant amount of time this year to learning six new skills. I asked for your help in picking them, and in suggesting things I should read or watch. Each month, I wrote up what I learned, and reviewed the materials.

Meditation and knitting were home runs. So was cooking. I’ve continued that better than any other. I’m even sous viding (is that a verb?) hamburgers tonight. Wish me luck. Drawing was a win in that I learned a lot, but I don’t think I will continue it. Hebrew was a good effort, but there’s still a lot of work to do.

I only missed one block (Electronics), which isn’t that bad considering I still had a full-time job, wrote 30 or so columns for the NYT, made a hundred videos for Healthcare Triage, wrote a handful of times for the JAMA Forum, and published a book.

The individual posts are still available from both The Schedule and here. I wanted to collect all of the recommended materials I used in one place, though. As with last year, I’m pretty happy I managed to pull most of this off.

January/February – Meditation.

Read Dan Harris’s book 10% Happier, if you’re inclined.
Headspace is really helpful. 


March/April – Knitting.

Videos like those from ExpressionFiberArts are invaluable.
A nice resource to have is Stitch ‘n Bitch.
Tools you need include: Bamboo needles, Rounded needles (I bought the 5″ set and a 16″ wire), Knitting markers, crochet needles, sewing needles, counters, double pointed needles, and caps for your needles.


May/June – Drawing.

A drawing set
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Workbook


July/August – Hebrew.

Rosetta Stone


September/October – Cooking.

The best book by far is Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. 
The Flavor Bible can be a helpful reference.
And buy my book!


November/December – Electronics.

A good Arduino kit

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. I think I might go back to reading/learning in 2018. More on that to come.

@aaronecarroll