The deliberate accumulation of a multidisciplinary latticework represents the most sophisticated form of intellectual compounding.
By prioritizing mental models that exhibit the Lindy Effect, one develops a profound immunity to the ephemeral noise of modern specialization. This synthesis of timeless wisdom remains the only reliable framework for navigating a system of increasing complexity.
Well written MC! This is definitely the pillar everyone should know. There are many students that still aren't aware of active recall and the forgetting curve, and if only they understood this they'd be able to work a lot smarter. This also goes for us, especially in this industry, where there is so much continuous learning to do.
Thanks for your feedback, Paul! I actually think learning shares the same “simple but not easy” character as investing (at least in certain respects), and it’s the “not easy” part that I think most people (students especially) fall short on.
If you reduce the learning system to practice testing through recall + spaced repetition, you end up with something that’s simple, but not easy:
- Create items for each new unit of information (choosing the right format, the right feedback, etc.)
- Do recall at each scheduled interval, refining based on feedback (spacing out/lengthening the time intervals)
- Keep the process going over time for every new unit of information.
No complexity comes from choosing the right “mode” for the right type of material, or from avoiding the opportunity cost of time with certain techniques, etc. It’s just questions and answers.
It really only comes down to discipline and rigor, and in my view that’s what a lot of students and people in general are missing (me included).
This post feels like watching a guy trying to talk to women while wearing a bad toupee. Your tryharding seems comical at surface level, but the more I think about it, it is just a sad attempt to garner attention.
Thanks for the feedback, but I’m taking it with a grain of salt: your second sentence suggests you didn’t read the start of Part 1, where I explicitly say there’s no perfect method and that it depends on many variables (the person, prior knowledge, learning materials, etc.).
I simply shared a system developed by researchers who reviewed hundreds of studies and tried to propose an approach that works best in the majority of cases.
You may want to read the researchers’ paper., you’ll get more insight into how the method was built (and especially the results it’s based on). The method itself won’t change, though.
I’m a bit disappointed your feedback was mostly a general feeling rather than specific points. It almost comes across as if the goal was just to inject negativity. Even one or two extra sentences with concrete examples would’ve helped me improve, but I’ll work with what I have.
The deliberate accumulation of a multidisciplinary latticework represents the most sophisticated form of intellectual compounding.
By prioritizing mental models that exhibit the Lindy Effect, one develops a profound immunity to the ephemeral noise of modern specialization. This synthesis of timeless wisdom remains the only reliable framework for navigating a system of increasing complexity.
Well written MC! This is definitely the pillar everyone should know. There are many students that still aren't aware of active recall and the forgetting curve, and if only they understood this they'd be able to work a lot smarter. This also goes for us, especially in this industry, where there is so much continuous learning to do.
Thanks for your feedback, Paul! I actually think learning shares the same “simple but not easy” character as investing (at least in certain respects), and it’s the “not easy” part that I think most people (students especially) fall short on.
If you reduce the learning system to practice testing through recall + spaced repetition, you end up with something that’s simple, but not easy:
- Create items for each new unit of information (choosing the right format, the right feedback, etc.)
- Do recall at each scheduled interval, refining based on feedback (spacing out/lengthening the time intervals)
- Keep the process going over time for every new unit of information.
No complexity comes from choosing the right “mode” for the right type of material, or from avoiding the opportunity cost of time with certain techniques, etc. It’s just questions and answers.
It really only comes down to discipline and rigor, and in my view that’s what a lot of students and people in general are missing (me included).
Totally agree, the first step is at least being aware of this!
This article comes at the perfect time, meta-learning is a superpower.
This post feels like watching a guy trying to talk to women while wearing a bad toupee. Your tryharding seems comical at surface level, but the more I think about it, it is just a sad attempt to garner attention.
There is no hidden technique.
Thanks for the feedback, but I’m taking it with a grain of salt: your second sentence suggests you didn’t read the start of Part 1, where I explicitly say there’s no perfect method and that it depends on many variables (the person, prior knowledge, learning materials, etc.).
I simply shared a system developed by researchers who reviewed hundreds of studies and tried to propose an approach that works best in the majority of cases.
You may want to read the researchers’ paper., you’ll get more insight into how the method was built (and especially the results it’s based on). The method itself won’t change, though.
I’m a bit disappointed your feedback was mostly a general feeling rather than specific points. It almost comes across as if the goal was just to inject negativity. Even one or two extra sentences with concrete examples would’ve helped me improve, but I’ll work with what I have.
At least I made you laugh, that’s something.
Take care.
Wtf is tryharding.
Having a term like that sounds like an attempt to shame people who aren’t lazy or who want things to improve.