Here’s an interesting article on the effectiveness of various study techniques—and in particular—which ones have evidence supporting them. Some of my thoughts on the key findings: Self-Explanation and Reading Elaborative learning and self-explanation were found to be moderately effective. This is similar to the Feynman technique, but I’d argue the use of the method was […]
Archives for March 2013
Catch-22s and Bootstrapping Your Life
Catch-22s are problems which have circular or paradoxical solutions. Named after Joseph Heller’s famous book by the same name, about a soldier who can avoid dangerous combat if he is insane (but applying for the provision is proof of sanity). Many situations in life are close to Catch-22s, problems by which the method of solution […]
What Matters More: Your Network or Skills?
I love questions like this one because they’re the kind people get upset about for no reason. When you try to say that your network of professional friends is important to your career, you get tons of angry socially maladroit engineer-types ranting about it. Technical competence, and points on an IQ test are what matters […]
Why You Should Read Textbooks
Okay, file this piece of advice in the pile that nobody is going to follow (even though they probably should): you should read more textbooks. Let’s assume for a second that you’re one of the few people who does read to learn more about the world. Let’s also assume that you’re interested in topics that […]