The best way to learn is to first understand how the process of learning works. Super-efficient learning doesn’t need to be a trick to work well. It simply means recognizing what is actually going on when you reach a new level of insight and finding approaches to help you reach those stages consistently. It is possible to vastly enhance most learning. The old belief that one can be too old to learn, or a new skill requires years to learn, is toxic thinking. While it is true that mastery (top 1%) takes time and practice, it is likely that one can learn and become excellent at a lot of things in a matter of months (not years!), by applying proper learning strategies. This book will help you become a super-efficient learner. It presents 10 powerful learning principles that will super-charge your learning. You will find many helpful tips and actionable items in this book. Even only applying a handful of them to your learning will help you become more efficient. I promise!
If you participated in the "Learning how to learn" MOOC provided by Coursera, you'll be very familiar with many of the concepts covered in this book, which highlights and explains some of the most effective learning and memorization techniques that anyone can use to boost their learning, retention, and recall.
Methods covered include focused and diffuse modes of thinking, active recall, chunking, memory palace, spaced review, pomodoro technique (focusing on schedule over goals), 2 minute rule and how to "eat your frogs" first thing in the morning to avoid procrastination, creative problem solving process (CPSP), the importance of sleep, as well as bad learning habits to avoid.
This little book is a fantastic resource which can literally be applied to anything you wish to learn and memorize, whether its a new language or the periodic table. Even better yet, it's available (or it was at the time I received it) for free through the Amazon marketplace for kindle. Highly recommended, along with Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It by Gabriel Wyner, and Learning How To Learn MOOC on coursera.org
I hope to use some of the strategies in this book and see if I have improved my learning efficiency. I don't really feel right reviewing without following the book first but I could forget.
The 10 principles that help you learn better just about anything.
1. Structure your learning e.g. know what you want to learn and apply the 80/20 rule. Focus on the 20% that yields 80% of the result. 2. Use problem-oriented learning. Keep in mind what problem you are trying to solve. If you can relate, the learning experience become much more interesting and stick. 3. Employ both focus and diffusion mode of learning. Diffusion promotes creativity. 4. Use active recall. Able to explain what you've learned in a simple way that a 5 year-old understands. 5. Use "Chunking" or Memory Palace (Method of Loci) techniques to store in the long-term memory 6. Spaced Review. Do not cram, but space out your learning. 7. Purposeful/Deliberate Practice. Try your hardest. Use "Plan-Do-Review" technique to break down complex topics into smaller piece, then focus and try to perfecting it. 8. Focus on schedule rather than goal. Use Pomodoro to help you focus and use 2 Min-rule (David Allen's GTD) to stop procrastination. 9. Use different problem solving techniques. Looking at problem at different angles. Don't be rigid but be adaptive. 10. Get enough sleep. Take 15-min power nap through out the day.
On the higher end of a 2⭐️ rating because this just wasn’t written for me. There’s good content and recommendations but it happened to be things I already know so there was nothing super interesting or new for me to gain from it. I appreciated quotes and book recs within the text, but I would not recommend this for someone that’s gone through graduate school and has a career; might be helpful for high school or in college aged people.
Short to the point book, the read was not too tiring. The summary recap at the end is very good. At first while reading this, I was going to mark a three stars because I thought it is just a summation of the books like it. It is not. I discovered some new aspects not mentioned clearly in other books. It has to be a five because it is direct and clear, does not beat around the bush like how other authors would.
Jennifer April's book "Super-efficient Learning" gives pointers on how to learn stuff. If not for this slender volume you might have had to wade through multiple ponderous tomes to garner so many valuable nuggets of information. If it is your cup of tea, then April delivers it on a China saucer with two cubes of sugar.
The author give great example and tips to use to make leaning more efficient. She gave exercises to use to help. Wonderful piece of work. Would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn more or is a student.
Easy to read and digest. I liked the simple terms and vocabulary used. Even if you think you already know it all, there are some great tips and.well researched insights that everyone should apply to learning. Well done
If you're looking for detailed explanations on effective learning, this book isn't for you. However, it is a summary of insightful information that can help you boost your learning process if you have an upcoming test. Worth giving it a chance!
Worth reading ! I am putting some of the new ideas into practice today. There were new ideas here and I am one who loves to learn about learning. I wish there were footnotes but I am digging deeper on my ow
A good resource for people who want to begin journey to becoming successful in the realm of academia and memory. April gives good useful information in an evening or two's read with easy to find in-text sources to go find more in-depth information.
Recommended !! Truly good short book. I'm really enjoy read it in chunks each night. The book contains a guide to improve your learning techniques, your focus and your mental health.
This book turn my perception about learning. To be honest some of the recommendations I’m doing unconsciously. Regardless of that it is worth to read this book several times.
For a free book worth the time. I found this book had many helpful ideas delivered in lighthearted approach. Not boring at all but fun like I was back in middle school .
Liked this book. Had some good practical solutions that made sense - wished I had read it 50 years ago and maybe I would have retained more! Easy to read too.