How to Become Smart

Misconceptions About Education

• Traditional education model: 12 years of school, 4 years of college, 6 years of graduate school.
• Despite extensive education, many still end up struggling to find jobs.
• Importance of practical knowledge over formal education.

Real Definition of Becoming Smart

• Learning useful skills, ideally that make money.
• Being good at solving problems.
• Excelling in difficult subjects to boost earning potential and social standing.
• Sounding intelligent in conversations without being obnoxious.

Ineffectiveness of Common Advice

• Common advice: blueberries, black coffee, exercise, sleep, IQ tests, classical music.
• Real issue: practical application of knowledge.

Effective Ways to Get Smarter

Reading

• Fiction: Improves reading speed, vocabulary, and social empathy through dialogue.
• Non-fiction: Provides interesting facts to enhance conversations.
  • Example of polite correction in conversations.

Practical Learning

• Practice skills to retain knowledge.
  1. Your brain needs practice to retain skills.
  2. The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle).

Learning Curve

• Initial practice yields quick gains.
• Example: Tying a tie.
• Application: Read and then practice the knowledge.

Imaginative Practice

• For skills you can't immediately practice, use visualization techniques.
  • Example: Jump-starting a car.

School System and Practice

• School uses tests to simulate practical application.
• Importance of practice questions over passive study methods (repetition, mind mapping).

Importance of Textbooks

• Textbooks provide concentrated information and practical questions.
• Recommended to challenge oneself with textbook learning.

Conclusion

• Learning involves making knowledge useful through practice and imagination.
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