{"id":15111,"date":"2023-05-10T20:41:23","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T04:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/?p=15111"},"modified":"2023-08-11T01:50:29","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T09:50:29","slug":"10-best-learning-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/10\/10-best-learning-books\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten Great Books on How to Learn Better"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What are the best books to read to become a better learner? (Aside from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/ultralearning\/\">my book<\/a>, of course.) I get asked this question a lot, though most of my recent reading lists have been more academic and somewhat removed from immediate applications.<\/p>\n<p>Today, I\u2019d like to change that and share a list of some of my favorite approachable and actionable books on learning. Here\u2019s ten I highly recommend.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-Become-Straight-Student-Unconventional\/dp\/0767922719\">How to Become a Straight-A Student<\/a> by Cal Newport<\/h2>\n<div class=\"inline-podcast\">\n<small>Listen to this article<\/small><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"20\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/1589207687&#038;color=%23219895&#038;inverse=false&#038;auto_play=false&#038;show_user=true\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-Become-Straight-Student-Unconventional\/dp\/0767922719\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/711nrnopRL-664x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15116\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/711nrnopRL-664x1024.jpg 664w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/711nrnopRL-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/711nrnopRL-768x1185.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/711nrnopRL-996x1536.jpg 996w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/711nrnopRL-1328x2048.jpg 1328w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/711nrnopRL.jpg 1556w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Although famous for <em>Deep Work<\/em>, Cal\u2019s early books were aimed at students (that\u2019s how we met). <em>Straight-A<\/em> is easily the best of Cal\u2019s student-oriented trilogy. Cal derived the content and strategies he recommends from his interviews with relaxed, high-achieving students. He offers concrete, practical advice for getting through college without burning out.<\/p>\n<p>Other great books by Cal Newport:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-Win-College-Surprising-Countrys\/dp\/0767917871\">How to Win at College<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-High-School-Superstar-Revolutionary\/dp\/0767932587\">How to Become a High School Superstar<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted\/dp\/0349413681\">Deep Work<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra\/dp\/039916524X\">A Mind for Numbers<\/a> by Barbara Oakley<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra\/dp\/039916524X\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81mVZQLTTlL-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15117\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81mVZQLTTlL-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81mVZQLTTlL-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81mVZQLTTlL-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81mVZQLTTlL-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81mVZQLTTlL-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81mVZQLTTlL.jpg 1706w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Barbara Oakley has a number of excellent books on learning. Her free course, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coursera.org\/learn\/learning-how-to-learn\">Learning How to Learn<\/a>, co-instructed with pioneering cognitive scientist <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Terry_Sejnowski\">Terrence Sejnowksi<\/a>, is an excellent resource.<\/p>\n<p>In <em>A Mind for Numbers<\/em>, Oakley shares how to tackle difficult quantitative subjects\u2014even if you\u2019ve struggled with math in the past. Oakley speaks from experience, having gone from a self-described \u201clanguage person\u201d to getting a PhD in engineering.<\/p>\n<p>Other great books by Barbara Oakley:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Learning-How-Learn-Spending-Studying\/dp\/0143132547\">Learning How to Learn<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Uncommon-Sense-Teaching-Practical-Insights\/dp\/0593329732\">Uncommon Sense Teaching<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-We-Learn-Brains-Machine\/dp\/0525559906\">How We Learn<\/a> by Stanislas Dehaene<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-We-Learn-Brains-Machine\/dp\/0525559906\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/819tBgObpL-668x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15118\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/819tBgObpL-668x1024.jpg 668w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/819tBgObpL-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/819tBgObpL-768x1178.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/819tBgObpL-1001x1536.jpg 1001w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/819tBgObpL-1335x2048.jpg 1335w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/819tBgObpL.jpg 1650w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>This book is an engaging tour through the science of learning led by one of the world\u2019s leading cognitive neuroscientists. Dehaene elegantly links research on how we learn to the science of how the brain works.<\/p>\n<p>Other great books by Stanislas Dehaene:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Reading-Brain-New-Science-Read\/dp\/0143118056\">Reading in the Brain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Consciousness-Brain-Deciphering-Codes-Thoughts\/dp\/0143126261\">Consciousness and the Brain<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Why-Dont-Students-Like-School\/dp\/1119715660\">Why Don\u2019t Students Like School?<\/a> by Daniel Willingham<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Why-Dont-Students-Like-School\/dp\/1119715660\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81dc6sFLBIL-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15119\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81dc6sFLBIL-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81dc6sFLBIL-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81dc6sFLBIL-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81dc6sFLBIL-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81dc6sFLBIL-1366x2048.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/81dc6sFLBIL.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Daniel Willingham is one of my favorite educational psychologists who writes for a mass audience. This book argues for the importance of background knowledge, the crucial role attention plays in memory, and how cognition changes as we become more proficient.<\/p>\n<p>Other great books by Daniel Willingham:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Outsmart-Your-Brain-Learning-Hard\/dp\/1982167173\">Outsmart Your Brain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Reading-Mind-Cognitive-Approach-Understanding\/dp\/1119301378\">The Reading Mind<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Make-Stick-Science-Successful-Learning\/dp\/0674729013\">Make it Stick<\/a> by Peter Brown, Henry Roediger and Mark McDaniel<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Make-Stick-Science-Successful-Learning\/dp\/0674729013\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/51lagMtiKaL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15120\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/51lagMtiKaL.jpg 658w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/51lagMtiKaL-197x300.jpg 197w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 658px) 100vw, 658px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>I confess I haven\u2019t read this book in its entirety. But I have few qualms about recommending it because I\u2019ve greatly benefited from Roediger\u2019s academic work.<\/p>\n<p>Retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving and other interventions improve learning, but\u2014and this is key\u2014we tend to be unaware of it. There is value in understanding and deploying these studying strategies precisely because they defy our intuitions.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Explicit-Teaching-Direct-Instruction-Corwin\/dp\/1529731607\">The Power of Explicit Teaching and Direct Instruction<\/a> by Greg Ashman<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Explicit-Teaching-Direct-Instruction-Corwin\/dp\/1529731607\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71b2R8cF6eL-712x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15121\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71b2R8cF6eL-712x1024.jpg 712w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71b2R8cF6eL-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71b2R8cF6eL-768x1104.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71b2R8cF6eL.jpg 946w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>I\u2019ve shared John Sweller\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/04\/cognitive-load-theory\/\">Cognitive Load Theory<\/a> on this blog before. Ashman, a disciple of Sweller\u2019s, has written a powerful book explaining why cognitive load is central to learning how to learn.<\/p>\n<p>Although the primary audience for this book is teachers, I found it very interesting as a learner. While Ashman\u2019s advice\u2014that teachers should fully and thoroughly teach their subjects\u2014don\u2019t sound surprising, it\u2019s an important message because of the alternative theories it rejects. This book is a must-read if you\u2019ve ever struggled with teaching or learning.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Peak-Secrets-New-Science-Expertise\/dp\/0544947223\">Peak<\/a> by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Peak-Secrets-New-Science-Expertise\/dp\/0544947223\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61cc4suOpAL-680x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15122\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61cc4suOpAL-680x1024.jpg 680w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61cc4suOpAL-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61cc4suOpAL-768x1156.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61cc4suOpAL-1020x1536.jpg 1020w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61cc4suOpAL-1360x2048.jpg 1360w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61cc4suOpAL.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Anders Ericsson\u2019s work is perhaps best known from Malcolm Gladwell\u2019s book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell\/dp\/0316017930\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2EEKKWJ7I6H76&amp;keywords=outliers&amp;qid=1683819481&amp;sprefix=outliers%2Caps%2C157&amp;sr=8-1\">Outliers<\/a>, or Geoffrey Colvin\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Talent-Overrated-Separates-World-Class-Performers\/dp\/1591842948\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UDNNFOGARFER&amp;keywords=talent+is+overrated&amp;qid=1683819492&amp;sprefix=talent+is+overrate%2Caps%2C162&amp;sr=8-1\">Talent is Overrated<\/a>. Deliberate practice has become a buzzword in many circles, but this buzz has also created considerable misconceptions.<\/p>\n<p>In this book, Ericsson works to set the record straight, arguing both for what deliberate practice is and what it isn\u2019t. Ericsson argues that much of the prowess we see in elite performers is due to huge quantities of this specific kind of practice rather than talent alone.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-We-Learn-Move-Revolution\/dp\/B09KDSQD9Q\">How We Learn to Move<\/a> by Rob Gray<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-We-Learn-Move-Revolution\/dp\/B09KDSQD9Q\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/51Bs22c3hfL-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15123\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/51Bs22c3hfL-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/51Bs22c3hfL-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/51Bs22c3hfL-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/51Bs22c3hfL.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Movement skills have been a gap in my writing on learning. Gray\u2019s book is a highly-readable summary that highlights some interesting research on how we might learn motor skills better. <\/p>\n<p>Gray argues that a staple of training&#8211;repetitive practice in highly constrained conditions to get the &#8220;right&#8221; movement is not only frequently unhelpful, it isn&#8217;t even possible to train a perfectly repetitive movement. Gray argues against the orange training pylon approach to movement skills, instead arguing we can induce new motor patterns better through adjusting constraints that allow for dynamic skills.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-Take-Smart-Notes-Technique\/dp\/3982438802\">How to Take Smart Notes<\/a> by S\u00c3\u00b6nke Ahrens<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/How-Take-Smart-Notes-Technique\/dp\/3982438802\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61lo0RTsDL-672x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15124\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61lo0RTsDL-672x1024.jpg 672w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61lo0RTsDL-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61lo0RTsDL-768x1170.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/61lo0RTsDL.jpg 893w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Zettelkasten systems, which allow you to organize notes for your studies, research or creative work, are all the rage these days. I\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/14\/building-a-second-brain\/\">interviewed Tiago Forte for his book<\/a>, which covers a similar topic.<\/p>\n<p>Ahrens\u2019s book is a helpful guide to zettelkasten as it\u2019s a bit more nitty-gritty in the implementation details. If you want to know how to organize the things you learn, this book is a great place to start.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Moonwalking-Einstein-Science-Remembering-Everything\/dp\/0143120530\">Moonwalking with Einstein<\/a> by Joshua Foer<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Moonwalking-Einstein-Science-Remembering-Everything\/dp\/0143120530\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71Bro5JxeGL-667x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15125\" width=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71Bro5JxeGL-667x1024.jpg 667w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71Bro5JxeGL-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71Bro5JxeGL-768x1179.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71Bro5JxeGL-1001x1536.jpg 1001w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71Bro5JxeGL-1334x2048.jpg 1334w, https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/71Bro5JxeGL.jpg 1649w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Joshua Foer dives into the strange world of super-memorizers. Using mnemonic systems, these people can memorize decks of cards, random digits or entire poems perfectly in around the same time it takes you or I to read them. Foer\u2019s mixture of psychological science and first-person experience was a major inspiration when I wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/ultralearning\/\">Ultralearning<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>I tend to find mnemonics less helpful for studying than they are often hyped to be. From a practical perspective, I\u2019d recommend <em>Straight-A<\/em> or <em>Make it Stick<\/em> above this book. But for a well-written tale to get you inspired to learn better, few books do it better.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Books for Learning Specific Subjects<\/h2>\n<p>In addition to these more general learning how to learn books, there are a few specific ones I\u2019ve found helpful:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Drawing-Right-Side-Brain-Definitive\/dp\/1585429201\">Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain<\/a> by Betty Edwards. Setting aside the dubious neuroscience, this book will change how you think about drawing. Highly recommended if you struggle with more than stick figures.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Fluent-Forever-Learn-Language-Forget\/dp\/0385348118\">Fluent Forever<\/a> by Gabriel Wyner and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Fluent-Months-Anyone-Language-Anywhere\/dp\/0062282697\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=N70U0KOQ5178&amp;keywords=fluent+in+three+months&amp;qid=1683819598&amp;sprefix=fluent+in+three+month%2Caps%2C161&amp;sr=8-1\">Fluent in 3 Months<\/a> by Benny Lewis offer two perspectives on language learning. I\u2019ve long been friends with Benny Lewis, and his efforts inspired my own language-learning journeys. Wyner\u2019s approach is also great.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/Learning-Medicine-Evidence-Based-Dr-Peter\/dp\/0996153306\">Learning Medicine: An Evidence-Based Guide<\/a>. My go-to recommendation for med students.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/Math-Better-Explained-Unlock-Intuition-ebook\/dp\/B006J5L3VU\">Math, Better Explained<\/a>. My good friend, Kalid Azad, offers a guide to thinking about math in ways that make better sense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Of course, you can also check out my book, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/ultralearning\/\">Ultralearning<\/a>, for my thoughts on the subject!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My pick for the best ten books on learning how to learn better!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-15111","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-personal-development","7":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - 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