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How to Teach Anything: Break Down Complex Topics and Explain with Clarity, While Keeping Engagement and Motivation
Science-based methods for the most comprehension and retention. Teach more in less time.
There is a reason that education, teaching, and pedagogy are all areas of intense research and study. They are complicated! But just because you don’t have the fanciest PhDs or certifications doesn’t mean that you can’t teach just as effectively. Learn how in this book.
For teachers, parents, professors, tutors, and even just friends.
How to Teach Anything takes what academics know about education and pedagogy and translates it all into real-world skills and techniques. The learning brain works in very predictable ways, and we can use this to our advantage. Whether you are a student, tutor, professor, teacher, or even TA, understand how information takes hold and becomes useful.
Learn how to teach, and you also learn how to learn.
How to instill a mindset of curiosity, critical thinking, and discovery.
Peter Hollins has studied psychology and peak human performance for over a dozen years, and is a best-selling author. He is one of the foremost authors on self-education and learning. He has worked with a multitude of individuals to unlock their potential and path toward success. His writing draws on his academic, coaching, and research experience.
Ensure academic success, and keep students motivated and coming back for more.
What the science of education has taught us about teaching How a simple progression of thinking activities will cement learning How Greek philosophers thought, and why it matters in teaching Keeping motivation and engagement, even through the tough times How to deliver feedback effectively and gently How to create an environment of safety and taking risks Teaching is the ability to affect lives. Increase your teaching skills, increase your personal impact.
Teaching is a skill used in all walks of life. It’s actually the ability to clearly communicate and disseminate information. And if you want to help anyone, that is what you will be family members, spouses, coworkers, bosses, children, and more.
There is a reason that education, teaching, and pedagogy are all areas of intense research and study. They are complicated! But just because you don’t have the fanciest PhDs or certifications doesn’t mean that you can’t teach just as effectively. Learn how in this book.
For teachers, parents, professors, tutors, and even just friends.
How to Teach Anything takes what academics know about education and pedagogy and translates it all into real-world skills and techniques. The learning brain works in very predictable ways, and we can use this to our advantage. Whether you are a student, tutor, professor, teacher, or even TA, understand how information takes hold and becomes useful.
Learn how to teach, and you also learn how to learn.
How to instill a mindset of curiosity, critical thinking, and discovery.
Peter Hollins has studied psychology and peak human performance for over a dozen years, and is a best-selling author. He is one of the foremost authors on self-education and learning. He has worked with a multitude of individuals to unlock their potential and path toward success. His writing draws on his academic, coaching, and research experience.
Ensure academic success, and keep students motivated and coming back for more.
What the science of education has taught us about teaching How a simple progression of thinking activities will cement learning How Greek philosophers thought, and why it matters in teaching Keeping motivation and engagement, even through the tough times How to deliver feedback effectively and gently How to create an environment of safety and taking risks Teaching is the ability to affect lives. Increase your teaching skills, increase your personal impact.
Teaching is a skill used in all walks of life. It’s actually the ability to clearly communicate and disseminate information. And if you want to help anyone, that is what you will be family members, spouses, coworkers, bosses, children, and more.
Audible Audio
Published February 3, 2021
358 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Peter Hollins
154 books371 followersPeter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a student of the human condition. He possesses a BS in psychology and a graduate degree.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 8, 2021
I had low expectations of this book, and they weren't met. Hollins churns out extended undergraduate essays in self-help book form on a variety of pop psychology topics. But this wasn't worth even the couple of quid that I forked out for the Kindle version. One problem is that the title is misleading: it's more about how to study than how to teach (although I suppose that Hollins would argue that the role of a teacher is to help students study). More problematic is that the book is divorced from any practical experience. If you really want to Break Down Complex Topics and Explain with Clarity, While Keeping Engagement and Motivation, then I recommend the first three chapters of Pinker's Sense of Style - ostensibly about writing, Pinker is really helping you to explain things.
August 8, 2024
High level strategies to teaching, can be applied to managerial roles.
Author includes questionable studies to support a point which was a little concerning
Best takeaways were
1) importance of instilling academic buoyancy and emphasizing a growth mindset
2) feedback is not advice, be specific. I would challenge the authors “sandwich” method as this comes off as more inauthentic… especially in corporate setting
3) utilize Socratic method in feedback
Author includes questionable studies to support a point which was a little concerning
Best takeaways were
1) importance of instilling academic buoyancy and emphasizing a growth mindset
2) feedback is not advice, be specific. I would challenge the authors “sandwich” method as this comes off as more inauthentic… especially in corporate setting
3) utilize Socratic method in feedback
August 17, 2023
The advice for teaching is general (e.g., breaking down complex concepts, applying learning, testing, and repeating testing over time).
October 16, 2025
This is a quick (first) read, and I'll have to come back to make notes (I listened to the audiobook).
It is not full of earth-shattering information, if you're looking for that, it is not the book to go. It is, indeed, more focused on how to learn yourself, rather than "how to teach". The teaching examples seem to be focused on "one student" (which is never the case in a classroom!). This being said, the ideas are good to follow and there are reminders in there for the novice teacher or even for the one who has learned how to teach eons ago.
P.S. For those who complain the book repeats ideas/notions: that *is* one of the main ideas in the book (and in learning in general): repetition IS the mother of learning, as our Latin ancestors knew well. Repeat the notions, paraphrase them, make analogies, the more you (the teacher or the student) repeat it, the more it commits to memory.
It is not full of earth-shattering information, if you're looking for that, it is not the book to go. It is, indeed, more focused on how to learn yourself, rather than "how to teach". The teaching examples seem to be focused on "one student" (which is never the case in a classroom!). This being said, the ideas are good to follow and there are reminders in there for the novice teacher or even for the one who has learned how to teach eons ago.
P.S. For those who complain the book repeats ideas/notions: that *is* one of the main ideas in the book (and in learning in general): repetition IS the mother of learning, as our Latin ancestors knew well. Repeat the notions, paraphrase them, make analogies, the more you (the teacher or the student) repeat it, the more it commits to memory.
September 12, 2021
Pragmatic but also Philosophical
I have been on a journey as a Psychology Professor to make learning “experiential.” This book helped me do just that. It helped “correct” my mindset, but also provided practical ways to make that happen! This is a must read for those seeking to be an excellent teacher! This is a book for a “status-quo” educator.
I have been on a journey as a Psychology Professor to make learning “experiential.” This book helped me do just that. It helped “correct” my mindset, but also provided practical ways to make that happen! This is a must read for those seeking to be an excellent teacher! This is a book for a “status-quo” educator.
March 11, 2021
Great Book! Quick Read
It's very concise guide for Effective teaching method and learning strategies. I found it very useful. I am able to apply some the methods in my teaching presentations.
It's very concise guide for Effective teaching method and learning strategies. I found it very useful. I am able to apply some the methods in my teaching presentations.
April 10, 2021
Great insights and methods
In a comfortable way, the book describes learning methods, challenges, and insights that can immediately be put to use. Highly recommend this, and I typically hate process books.
In a comfortable way, the book describes learning methods, challenges, and insights that can immediately be put to use. Highly recommend this, and I typically hate process books.
August 5, 2023
The topics in this book are well presented and easy to follow, with a list of teaching techniques and tools. Even if you are an experienced teacher or trainer, there are things it contains that you will find useful.
January 29, 2022
Boring
Read
June 13, 2022Extremely Useful
This book breaks down in an easily understood way diverse elements of teaching, that any course developer will benefit from.
This book breaks down in an easily understood way diverse elements of teaching, that any course developer will benefit from.
May 6, 2023
Well explained and organized, gave me a lot of ideas for the work that I'm currently doing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews