How to be a Knowledge Ninja: Study Smarter. Focus Better. Achieve More.

by Graham Allcott

In the world of smartphones, instant internet access and on-demand documentaries, studying should be easier than ever. Yet all this background noise can make us unfocused and inefficient learners. So how can you cut through the distractions and get back to productive, rewarding learning? Four little words: Think like a Ninja. Paralysed by procrastination? Harness some Ninja Focus to get things started. Overwhelmed by exam nerves? You need some Zen-like Calm to turn those butterflies into steely focus. Surrounded by too many scrappy notes and unfinished to-do lists? Get Weapon-savvy with the latest organizational technology. With nine Ninja techniques to learn, there is a solution here for everyone who wants to learn better - and they don't involve giving up the rest of your life. Written by one of the world's foremost productivity experts, How to be a Knowledge Ninja is a fun, accessible and practical guide on how to get the most out of your studying and love the quest for knowledge again.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Productivity, Personal Development

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2015

About the author

Graham is the founder of Think Productive

Reviews

[Alexandru · Rating 3 out of 5]

The same style from an author I know. In fact identical style and tips, but this time for college students. Not recommended for those that already passed the exam and lecturers phase in their life. But quite useful for young people, because the vast majority of advises were used by me when being a student 25 years ago. So quite useful if you are a student.

[Melissa Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book with great techniques to use for people who want to be more organised in their study lives (and personal lives as well!). It is a surprisingly easy read for a 'self-help' book - if you want to put that label on it. I was reading this book on public transport a lot of the time so I didn't do all of the exercises at the time of reading but after finishing the book I went back and did the exercises when I was at home. Definitely recommend for people starting study who have a problem with procrastination.

[Aina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pleasant to read, but just seems like Graham's previous book (How to be a Productivity Ninja) under a fine coat of paint. It has some solid advice on organising yourself and setting priorities, but falls seriously flat when it comes to actual study techniques, relying heavily on the somewhat flimsy VARK model.

If you were to go into a STEM degree or diploma, or honestly any challenging degree/diploma course (in which you'd compelled to read a book like this) with only advice from Study Ninja, you'd probably feel cheated.

Instead, I'd recommend reading Productivity Ninja (or chapters 2 and 9 from Study Ninja if you've already bought it) and watching this Youtube video by a Cambridge med student: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt54C...

Of course, my perspective is heavily based on exams and technical subjects. Maybe you might read this and find the essay writing or general study tips effective as a casual or adult learner. I don't know. But I'd err on the side of avoiding this book. Well written and fun to read, but not a good use of you're time if you're a busy student.

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful tips to becoming a more successful student. Quick read with useful summations at the end of each chapter. References available for readers desiring more details.

[Rosie Sloane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Productivity Ninja written for students. Still good though.

[Ashastya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Author is underrated(he deserves to be at the level of James Clear and others) but his content is extremely good! Definitely give it a read if you are a student.

[Kaitlyn Shi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book would be useful for people who have never been exposed to methods which help make them more productive. It mostly contains methods and ways you can become more productive by using certain methods that can be quite well known. So if you are looking for something revolutionary, this book is not the one for you. This book suggests quite a few methods that may not be scientifically proven to make one more effective. These are methods which do not aim to solve the problem/issue at the root cause of it. This is most prominent in the methods suggested to deal with exam anxiety. Also, there is quite a lot of repetition in this book and a good amount of useless information and examples. People who are already fairly productive and good at studying, this book can help you, but not by leaps and bounds. People who are not productive/ good at studying at all, this is the book for you.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book for High School Students as it uses more modern language, isn't too difficult to understand, and gives a detailed, blow by blow set of instructions of how to study, do research and their assessments. It is though more for older students in the sense that it is word heavy and only a few templates and images. Allcott though tries hard with his use of language though to be accepted by teens.

[Pres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-rounded book about how to study for university or for life. It touches on GTD techniques, pomodoro technique and mindfulness, tailored for studying.

Takeaways:

1) Fun points system. You earn half a point for studying half an hour. You can use the accumulated points for leisure. (Label each leisure with some points)

2) Power Hour. Set an hour of time each day to do something that can make you successful.

[Lucas Berghuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a stand alone it is a decent book, but it is not original in any way. Let alone adding much to Allcott´s ´How to become a productivity ninja.´ Since I would still recommend productivity ninja before this one, and because I dislike authors repackaging the same content in different covers this book deserves, in my opinion, no more than three stars.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Well this book is a game changer!
It has inspired me to get in control of the stress in my life and improve the way that I learn and approach new information.
Already I have taken away some great new skills from it and I am sure I will be referring back to it time and again!

[Devon Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really helpful and teaches you how to focus and stop stressing over the little things. I would definitely recommend it!

[Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! It gave me great tips for studying and assessments - exactly what I need.

[Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

very british

[Heathyr]

Decent book, good tips... No science harmed in the writing of this book, though.