Yesterday I got my grades for my final classes. It makes me think about my time in university, and how lucky I’ve been to have had a great experience. During the last few years, I’ve been able to: Study abroad, in the south of France for 11 months. Compete internationally in academic competitions. Volunteer, helping […]
Why Self-Educated Learners Often Come Up Short
I have a pet peeve about certain people who attack formal education systems and claim to pursue self-education. Not because universities are spectacular learning environments (they usually aren’t). Or even because self-education isn’t a worthwhile goal (it’s probably one of the best). It’s because I’ve noticed many of the university-hating self-taught are the kind of […]
Escape the Bad Learning Habits You Picked Up at School
The formal education system teaches us poor learning habits. Instead of promoting deeper understanding, it forces students to memorize. Instead of creativity, it promotes rule-following. The skills of collaboration that are crucial in the outside world are labeled cheating or academic dishonesty. Unfortunately, I don’t feel universities will change much. But the advantage is that […]
How to Become a Holistic Learner
Over a year ago, I wrote an article about how I have managed to ace high-school and university exams with very little studying. The article became one of the most popular articles on the website, and I’ve since written two e-books continuing the core idea: holistic learning. Since writing the initial article, and the two […]
I'm a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, podcast host, computer programmer and an avid reader. Since 2006, I've published weekly essays on this website to help people like you learn and think better. My work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, TEDx, Pocket, Business Insider and more. I don't promise I have all the answers, just a place to start.