How To Research

Via Cal Newport’s recent post, I chanced on Scott Young’s post on how to learn new things fast. His approach can be summed up in three simple steps:

1. Pick a concept to learn, i.e torque.

2. Explain in simple terms and with illustrations on a piece of paper as if you were teaching it to someone. Use analogies where appropriate.

3. Rinse and repeat.

Scott also advocates holistic learning, which is summarized as:

Visceralize (construct a model) , Metaphor (connect to established concepts) and Explore (test and study)

In fact, Cal himself advocates a similar method called the “Textbook Method“, a method so named because it is in essence compiling your own text book, with any desired level of detail that suits one’s needs. The method is best summarized as:

“describing and organizing information in your own words.”

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