Learning is a skill you can improve
Most people treat learning as passive consumption — read something, hope it sticks. But cognitive science research over the past 50 years has identified specific techniques that dramatically accelerate learning. The difference between a fast learner and a slow one is usually technique, not talent.
Spaced repetition beats cramming
The spacing effect is one of the most robust findings in cognitive psychology. Reviewing material at increasing intervals — after 1 day, then 3 days, then 7 days, then 30 days — produces far stronger long-term retention than massed practice (cramming). Tools like Anki automate this process.
Active recall over passive review
Testing yourself is one of the most effective learning techniques. Rather than re-reading your notes, close them and try to recall the material from memory. This retrieval practice strengthens neural pathways and reveals gaps in your understanding that passive review hides.
The Feynman technique for deep understanding
Richard Feynman's approach to learning: try to explain the concept in simple language as if teaching it to someone else. When you get stuck, that's where your understanding breaks down. Go back to the source material, fill the gap, and try again. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
Deliberate practice: learn at the edge of your ability
Anders Ericsson's research on expertise shows that improvement comes from practising at the boundary of your current ability — not mindlessly repeating what you already know. Identify your specific weaknesses, design practice sessions that target them, and get immediate feedback on your performance.