Mini Essays: A Tool for Learning

Introduction

Mini essays are an effective and underrated tool for learning.
They offer a fun and thoughtful way to understand and retain ideas without complex note-taking systems or lengthy writing.
The speaker has written 800 mini essays over the past two years, and the benefits are genuine.

Short pieces of writing focusing on one distinct idea that interests you.
Can be written based on books, articles, movies, or personal thoughts.
Aim to articulate ideas as if teaching someone else, following Richard Feynman's technique.

Understanding and Retention: Writing mini essays helps in understanding topics better and identifying gaps in knowledge.
Reflection and Depth: Allows for reflection on new ideas and deeper comprehension, despite being a slow process.
Time Efficient: Requires only 5-20 minutes a day. Consistent practice leads to a comprehensive library of knowledge.
Novelty and Engagement: Keeps learning engaging and dynamic by covering diverse and exciting topics.

Rule 1: Cover one distinct idea per essay to maintain focus and clarity.
Rule 2: Keep them short, ideally 200-500 words, to remain concise and efficient.
Rule 3: Organize your essays for easy retrieval and future reference.

The speaker uses Obsidian for note organization, enabling linking and database creation.
Encourages personal choice in tools and methods; the system should make sense to the individual.

Mention of Skillshare for further learning on various topics, including critical reading and writing.
Encouragement to explore different formats and styles for personal growth and engagement.

Mini essays serve as a reader's equivalent to an artist's sketch, allowing for creative exploration and learning.
For more ideas, the speaker offers a free newsletter discussing similar topics and providing additional content not featured on the channel.