The Superlearner Myth: The Organic, Long-Term Approach to Effective Learning

by Angelos Georgakis

Superlearner is the same as superforgetter. Research in cognitive psychology, which goes back more than one hundred years, has shown that effective learning is hard and requires time and effort. You can feel like a superlearner by consuming tons of information in record time, but, in that case, you compromise the long-term results of your efforts. Your memory is not a hard disk to download books in a matter of seconds. Effective learning means you spend enough time to encode and give meaning to new information. You need to interpret, associate, interrelate, and compare new information with already known information. There are no shortcuts to this process. Today everyone is talking about speed-reading. However, research has shown that testing, or the practice of retrieving information from our memory, is the most effective way to immunize new information and helps to prevent memory loss. Even more telling, the harder the retrieval, the better your memory will be. Today it has become fashionable to talk about mastering a skill in ten hours, or learning a language in seven days, or attending an all-day crash course on the weekend. However, multiple studies in cognitive psychology have shown that massed practice gives you an illusion that you can master a skill quickly, but the results are only temporary. Instead, effective learning means you space your practice, you allow some forgetting to happen, you make mistakes, you squeeze your head, or you feel mental pain. Does it sound bad? Maybe it does, but this is 100% healthy, optimal, long-term learning. This book aims to talk you through the truth about how you can learn effectively. This truth is not the author’s truth; it’s the truth of the science of learning. The suggestions here may go against your intuition because effective learning, as we will see, is counterintuitive. By following these suggestions, though, you will soon become a more sophisticated learner with an increased ability to assess and improve your learning. We live in a fast-paced world where competition is high and acquisition of new skills is key to professional success. We can’t afford to lose time. We want to see quick results in anything we do. However, we need to understand that we are not machines. Don’t give your learning more speed. Instead, give it motivation, curiosity, and space. Only then will it produce the fruits you are looking for.

30 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2015

About the author

My passion is learning. Learning about languages, psychology, creativity, mathematics, international affairs, economy, history. But also, learning about learning. How does our memory work? How can we remember more and forget less? I write because I learn from my readers. We all learn from each other. There is no point in learning for ourselves. You will find me at livediversified.com. Write to me. Share your experiences. And read. And learn. And grow.

Are you learning Russian? Check my new website http://explorerussian.com and download the FREE resources now!

Reviews

[MR K KOSNO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and to the point

Great example of how self help books should be written - no sugarcoating, no lengthy stories, just pure knowledge and advice. Intuitively it makes sense to try the methods described since I have applied mass practice to learning and the results are similar to what the author points out in the book. I look forward to changing how I approach learning.

[Floyd Cryer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning At It's Best!!!

How well do you want to learn what you are learning? That's the question you need to ask yourself before you proceed. This book is not for the faint of heart.

This book was written for those who truly want to retain what they are learning. With proven researched and tested technical learning applications that help you to retain more for as long as you wish to retain it, you will be the person others come to for information. Your best test taking days are ahead of you!

Angelo's, you have written another jam pact book that is a must read for all students of all ages!...