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A review by sterlock
How We Learn: The Surprising Truth about When, Where, and Why It Happens by Benedict Carey
5.0
This is the first review that I've written for a book. That it happens to be a book in a genre that I've generally shied away from (Nonfiction/Self Help/Education) is probably a big indicator of why I feel I need to write about it.
In short: How We Learn by Benedict Carey is about as close to "essential reading" as any book I have read.
Carey speaks to the ideas we have systemically adopted as to how best to study and learn. From a young age, we are offered advice from teachers, parents and peers as to how best to use our time in and out of class to get the most out of our education. Carey's review of the literature of the psychology of learning demonstrates how many of these tips, ideas and schedules have been upended in recent studies, and how to use the findings of those studies in everyday learning, from the classroom to the office desk to the home.
The language is very easy to relate to, and the applications described seem like common sense by the end of each chapter. In the end, the revelations Carey presents on how best to learn a subject or a skill do not feel as "surprising" or "revolutionary" as they do comfortable and snug. It feels like I have just fit a frayed thread through the particularly narrow eye of a needle, or brushed off a smudge from a jigsaw puzzle piece and finally saw how the whole picture came together. There's a sense of accomplishment and triumph that comes from understanding these concepts.
As I read, I constantly found myself adapting my studying of the book using the tools that Carey described. It's very easy to get into the rhythm. I started noticing how I was applying the concepts to my everyday life (which, in itself, is a phenomena Carey explores in detail). And I'm now reeling with how I plan to apply these concepts and practices toward the future.
Do yourself a favor: run, don't walk, to your nearest library or bookstore (or, I suppose, quickly click on your favorite bookmarked book-selling website, or download to your Kindle, or what have you) and get your hands on a copy of How We Learn. It is well worth your time, and will leave you wanting to learn so much more.
In short: How We Learn by Benedict Carey is about as close to "essential reading" as any book I have read.
Carey speaks to the ideas we have systemically adopted as to how best to study and learn. From a young age, we are offered advice from teachers, parents and peers as to how best to use our time in and out of class to get the most out of our education. Carey's review of the literature of the psychology of learning demonstrates how many of these tips, ideas and schedules have been upended in recent studies, and how to use the findings of those studies in everyday learning, from the classroom to the office desk to the home.
The language is very easy to relate to, and the applications described seem like common sense by the end of each chapter. In the end, the revelations Carey presents on how best to learn a subject or a skill do not feel as "surprising" or "revolutionary" as they do comfortable and snug. It feels like I have just fit a frayed thread through the particularly narrow eye of a needle, or brushed off a smudge from a jigsaw puzzle piece and finally saw how the whole picture came together. There's a sense of accomplishment and triumph that comes from understanding these concepts.
As I read, I constantly found myself adapting my studying of the book using the tools that Carey described. It's very easy to get into the rhythm. I started noticing how I was applying the concepts to my everyday life (which, in itself, is a phenomena Carey explores in detail). And I'm now reeling with how I plan to apply these concepts and practices toward the future.
Do yourself a favor: run, don't walk, to your nearest library or bookstore (or, I suppose, quickly click on your favorite bookmarked book-selling website, or download to your Kindle, or what have you) and get your hands on a copy of How We Learn. It is well worth your time, and will leave you wanting to learn so much more.