How PhD Students Learn CRAZY Fast (And You Can Too)

Key Concepts

• Outcome-driven learning
• Nonlinear learning
• Curiosity log
• Information hoarding
• Researcher stalking
• Knowledge application
• Daily learning
• Mode switching
• Energy management
• Friction reduction

1. Motivation and Goal Setting

• Main Point: Having a clear outcome or goal significantly improves focus and perseverance during the learning process.
• Specific Details: The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding why you want to learn something.
• Examples:
  • Learning Persian to communicate with visiting friends.
  • Learning to make t-shirts.
  • The speaker's initial motivation for doing a PhD was for external validation, but a clear motivation is key to overcoming hurdles.
• Key Argument: Clear motivation helps overcome learning obstacles.

2. Finding a Learning Guide or Map

• Main Point: Instead of relying solely on individual teachers, use comprehensive resources as guides or maps to structure your learning journey.
• Specific Details: The speaker suggests using resources like MIT OpenCourseware, Harvard Online, and Google Scholar to identify key topics and learning paths.
• Examples:
  • MIT OpenCourseware for academic subjects: Use lecture notes to understand the topics experts deem important.
  • Harvard Online: Utilize self-guided courses to understand the steps needed to master a subject.
  • Google Scholar: Search for review articles to get a comprehensive overview of a research field.
• Step-by-step process:
  1. Identify the subject you want to learn.
  2. Search for relevant open courseware or online courses.
  3. Examine the syllabus, lecture notes, or course structure to understand the key topics.
  4. For academic topics, search for review articles on Google Scholar.
• Technical Terms:
  • OpenCourseware: Freely available course materials from universities.
  • Review Article: A comprehensive summary of existing research on a specific topic.
• Key Argument: Using guides and maps streamlines learning and saves time.

3. Embracing Nonlinear Learning and Curiosity

• Main Point: Learn in a nonlinear way by following your curiosity and exploring topics that interest you, even if they are not in a logical order.
• Specific Details: The speaker advocates for starting with intriguing questions and working backward to build foundational knowledge.
• Methodology:
  1. Start a curiosity log to record questions about the research field.
  2. Follow your curiosity when exploring learning resources.
  3. If you encounter something you don't understand, take a step back to learn the necessary foundations.
• Key Argument: Curiosity-driven learning enhances motivation and makes it easier to grasp foundational concepts.

4. Information Hoarding and Synthesis

• Main Point: Collect information from various sources, including Wikipedia, research experts, and popular science books, and synthesize it to gain a comprehensive understanding.
• Specific Details: The speaker recommends "stalking" researchers whose work you find interesting to discover more relevant publications.
• Tools:
  • Google Scholar: To find researchers and their publications.
  • Consensus: To identify top contributors to a research area and find papers that answer specific questions.
• Process:
  1. Use Google Scholar to find researchers in your area of interest.
  2. Explore their publications and identify relevant articles.
  3. Use tools like Consensus to find experts and answers to specific questions.
  4. Collect books, especially popular science books, for accessible explanations.
• Key Argument: Gathering information from diverse sources and synthesizing it is crucial for deep learning.

5. Applying Knowledge Early and Often

• Main Point: Apply what you learn immediately and frequently to solidify your understanding and identify gaps in your knowledge.
• Specific Details: The speaker suggests reproducing paragraphs, creating diagrams, and explaining concepts to others.
• Methodology:
  1. After learning something new, try to reproduce it from memory.
  2. Create diagrams or schematics to visualize the concept.
  3. Explain the concept to someone else, even if they are not experts.
• Key Argument: Active application of knowledge is essential for true understanding and retention.

6. Consistent Daily Learning

• Main Point: Dedicate a small amount of time each day to learning, rather than cramming for long periods.
• Specific Details: The speaker emphasizes the importance of consistent exposure to the material, even if it's just for a few minutes.
• Examples:
  • Using an Anki deck for language learning every day.
  • Sketching a diagram or reading a short article.
• Key Argument: Consistent daily learning leads to deeper understanding and long-term retention.

7. Managing Boredom and Frustration

• Main Point: When you encounter boredom or frustration, switch modes of learning rather than switching to a different topic.
• Specific Details: The speaker suggests changing from reading to doing, such as teaching someone or creating a diagram.
• Key Argument: Mode switching helps maintain focus and prevents overwhelm.

8. Working with Your Energy and Reducing Friction

• Main Point: Schedule learning activities for times when you have the most energy and create an environment that is conducive to learning.
• Specific Details: The speaker advises identifying your peak energy times and engineering your environment to minimize distractions.
• Key Argument: Optimizing your energy and environment enhances learning efficiency.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The video outlines a PhD-style approach to self-learning, emphasizing the importance of clear motivation, strategic resource utilization, nonlinear exploration driven by curiosity, active application of knowledge, consistent daily engagement, and effective management of energy and learning environment. By adopting these strategies, individuals can accelerate their learning process and achieve expertise in any field. The key is to move beyond passive consumption of information and actively engage with the material in a way that aligns with your individual learning style and energy levels.