Top products from r/IWantToLearn

We found 183 product mentions on r/IWantToLearn. We ranked the 1,738 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.

Next page

Top comments that mention products on r/IWantToLearn:

u/kaidomac · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

>IWTL How to be more positive and be able to get over the slumps of sadness and feelings of inadequacy in life.
>
>Recently I've began to notice that I have feelings of being inadequate in a lot of things in life. I feel that I'm pretty confident in every day life. I do my best to look good, smell good, and make sure I treat everyone I cross with the best attitude I can offer. I try to make sure I'm the best version of myself that can exist, but I still find myself thinking that I'm not good enough. That my friends deserve a better person to talk to, my girlfriend deserves a better boyfriend, and that I myself am just not cutting it. I want to learn how to fix this toxic mindset and be able to turn my thoughts around and be proud of myself for what I'm doing correctly. I'm a 22 year old Male by the way. Not sure if that has any correlation at all, but it's out there.

It's worth learning how the system (i.e. your brain) works in order to create change. In a nutshell:

  1. Thoughts create emotions (events are just events; your interpretation of those events is a thought, and thoughts become emotions)
  2. You have basically a Twitter feed in your head, streaming ideas into your brain
  3. Most people never realize they can audit that feed (I didn't, until I read the books below)
  4. TL;DR - you don't have to believe everything you think (and what you think becomes how you feel)

    If you're up for some reading & practice exercises, get these two books: (same author, second one is a workbook you fill out)

  • Feeling Good
  • Ten Days to Self-Esteem (literally a tool to help you identify how you think, how you feel, and decide how you want to change both of those things)

    I'd highly recommend walking through the book in the second link, as it helps you write stuff down, audit (i.e. review) it, and then decide how you'd rather think (and eventually feel) instead. It's a simple mechanism, but externalizing it is really what gives you control over it, because you can literally see it, on paper, in front of you. We all lie to ourselves, we all let ourselves slide, and we all believe fuzzy notions about ourselves that are untrue, whether it's an inability to accept mistakes due to perfectionism or feeling sad or inadequate or whatever you're struggling with. Learning how the different mechanisms in your brain work (thoughts create emotions, you don't have to believe everything you think, etc.) is hugely empowering for changing how you feel!

    On a tangent, there's a really excellent Ted Talk by Monica Lewinsky on shame that I just watched the other day, and is extremely well-written & well-delivered:

    https://www.ted.com/talks/monica_lewinsky_the_price_of_shame

    If you're not familiar with her history, in her early 20's, she fell in love with her married boss & slept with him. This isn't big news, except that her boss at the time was President of United States Bill Clinton, so it was a huge scandal. The catch was that we were just at the beginning of the Internet age, so she got mega-attacked worldwide online. Today, unfortunately, cyber-bullying is pretty normal, but she had to learn how to deal with it & take ownership of her story instead of letting others or her internal "Twitter feed" define her. Pretty good talk to listen to! Kind of the overall idea of the books above & that talk are:

  1. You are valid just being you
  2. Being imperfect is OK (everyone on the planet is imperfect!); mistakes happen & they can be worked on
  3. Thoughts create emotion; you can audit what you think & choose how you want to feel about things proactively, instead of reactively
  4. You can let others define you, or you can let your internal Twitter feed define you, orrrrr you can work on how you think, in order to cement your self-image down

    My situation was similar to yours; I always felt like a second-class citizen, emotionally - happy on the outside, but lots of doubts & anxiety on the inside. For me, going through this process was both an essential part of maturing & also for defining exactly who I am. I'm not a big fan of the Hollywood approach of "go out & find yourself"; I'm a bigger fan of "think about things & define who you want to be", i.e. I like to be nice, I like to help other people, I like to do good-quality work, I like to feel good & am willing to do the things required to make me feel good (ex. get enough sleep, eat throughout the day, audit my thinking patterns, etc.), and so on. You absolutely should NOT be walking around feeling like you're not good enough all the time! You should be feeling good & happy instead! Learning how your mind works & how to tweak the system has helped me a lot with that problem.
u/Vegetable_Assassin · 18 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Sorry if this list is a bit long, this is kind of an obsession of mine. No one source is really all encompassing, but each one offers a different point of view. They also may seem like slightly odd choices, however I have found each one very useful when it comes to understanding how people work. If you want a more streamlined set of sources just use every other link. (I don't know how well these work if you have any sort of innate understanding of body language, but they are excellent for beginners).

Tricks of the Mind - Derren Brown - This isn't the sort of book you would imagine when looking for body language guides, and in fact it doesn't even scratch the surface of how complex our bodies are. However it does contain what I consider to be the most important thing when learning to read people, which is the concept of relativity. Lots of sources give set actions and ascribe to them a meaning based only on the movement, but people are so wonderfully complex that this doesn't work all the time. Derren instead comes up with the concept of relativity - the idea that everybody has their own baseline for body language, and that in order to read body language effectively you need to take into account the divergence from this person's normal body language instead of just looking at their actions in a vacuum. It's also a fascinating read throughout and cites numerous other books you can use if you want more sources.


Changing Minds - this is a very good resource for looking up on any one area of body language you feel you may be rusty on, as opposed to a complete guide. Everything is organised by mood and then by body part, so you can focus on whatever you want. It also covers many other related areas and little tricks for surviving interpersonal relationships.


The Game - Neil Strauss / Fastseduction - Again, odd choices for someone looking to learn how to read body language. These are more of a meta-read than actual sources on body language, as they don't go into body language in much detail at all. Honestly I wouldn't recommend these at all if it weren't for another concept that is introduced through them called Inner Game. Inner Game is about taking all the information that you have gleaned from days surrounded by words -all the actions, routines, and painfully memorized sequences - and inserting it into your daily life, with the aim of having them completely internalized and instinctual. In the book Strauss goes to some crazy pick-up gurus and gets hypnotised over the course of a weekend to try and improve his Inner Game, but honestly that's not necessary. I feel that the concept is very much related to the phrase "Fake it 'till you make it" - just as the man looking to become more confident must put on a façade and keep confidence in mind at all times until the adopted mannerisms become habit, if you want to read people you have to pay attention to everything around you and compare it with what you know. After a while you will find that it takes less and less time to understand what a particular stance suggests, and eventually you won't have to consciously think about it at all. So yeah, not very good for body language outside of one specialist area but excellent for state of mind. There may also be a seduction community on reddit, though I couldn't speak for their body language resources.

Peoplewatching - Desmond Morris - This is one of the single greatest books ever written. It was originally released as Manwatching in the late 1970s and is a staggeringly useful guide to body language. It looks at human behaviour through a zoological lens, giving it a more sterile feel than the more well known guides, but covers everything perfectly. This is I feel the perfect introduction to the subject, covering what body language conveys and speculating on how it came about without attaching too much meaning to any one gesture.

The Definitive Book of Body Language - Allan + Barbara Pease - This is almost an obligatory mention. I don't like this book. It's undoubtedly an excellent resource on the subject, and covers most topics in a nice, well-ordered manner, but I can't bring myself to like it. It has something to do with the attitude of the book I think - right from the title the authors try and place themselves somewhere up above normal humans, and the entire book has an underlying air of condescension combined with complete confidence that what it says is 100% correct and a corresponding smugness. It is also guilty of the worst crime possible (aside from the aformentioned certainty) when discussing body language, which is dressing up speculation and correlation as fact. The book is littered with speculation on numerous topics that are stated without any nod to the fact that it is in fact speculation, such as the line 'Henry VIII popularised this gesture (pursed lips) as a high-status signal because of his small mouth and modern Brits and Americans still use it'. Here I opened the book to a random page and read the first sentence I could. This sounds like an excellent fun fact except for the complete lack of evidence, and this is repeated on every single page of the book. So, while it is an excellent source for body language, please read it with an open mind and salt at the ready.



There are probably hundreds of books and websites I've missed, but hopefully those should help a bit.

Edit: As mentioned above Lie to Me and the Mentalist are good as TV goes, but I might recommend Psych over both of them just because of the way it deals with it - there is some body language stuff in there to pick up on (occasionally), but mostly it's just a hilarious and spectacular show.

u/RishFush · 61 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Rich Dad Poor Dad catches a lot of flak, but it's actually really good at teaching the absolute basics in an easy-to-follow manner. Like, learn what a Cash Flow Statement is, increase your asset column, learn basic accounting language, separate emotions and money, minimize taxes. Just glean the overall principles he's teaching and don't blindly follow his specific strategies.

The Richest Man in Babylon is another great, easy to read, investing 101 book.

And The Millionaire Next Door is a research-based book on Millionaires in America and what kind of habits and mindsets got them to their current wealth. It's a wonderfully refreshing read after being brainwashed by tv and movies saying that millionaires won it or stole it and live lavish lives. Most actual millionaires are pretty frugal and hard working with modest lives.

---
And here are some resources to help you learn all the new words and concepts:

u/[deleted] · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Yeah beane is correct. There is only one case in medical history of photographic memory but the person was only tested once, the scientist who tested her later married her, and then she refused to ever be tested again. So it's probably crap.

Photographic memory is really something popularized by the media, movies, tv shows, and novels. It's not uncommon for an intellectual protagonist or antagonist to have a photographic memory. Unfortunately the popular conception of photographic memory is no where near realistic.

Even news reporting is inaccurate. The news often cites autistic savant Stephen Wiltshire as having a photographic memory. But if you compare his drawings to a real photograph they are different.

London Skyline (look carefully and you will see significant differences in scale, proportion, shape, texture, number of buildings, etc... Don't get me wrong it's phenomenal but it's not photographic)

People can remember what they know about really well. Better than amateurs. So chess master's can remember hundreds of games move by move. But put a chess board in front of them with the pieces in a nonsensical order and they do no better than the average person.

With Stephen Wiltshire he has a strong interest and knowledge of architecture and cityscapes. So when he sees a city from above his mind is able to consolidate it better than yours or mine. But he is consolidating. His mind is doing what all minds do with memory but at an advanced level because he's been drawing nonstop since being a kid (for which he did start with a natural drawing talent). Another savant Kim Peak also made mistakes in remembering but he too was often touted by the media as having a photographic memory.

Also note that in recent years there have been lots of stories about people with autobiographic memory. It's impressive but not photographic. They can remember events of their lives very well but not information(such as a text). 60 minutes did a story about it recently that is really fascinating.

All hope is not lost though. Nearly everyone can develop extraordinary memory powers by practicing mnemonics.

Your Memory by Kenneth Higbee is excellent. Kenneth Higbee is both an mnemonics enthusiast and a brain scientist. His book is full of techniques and the science behind them.

In the book Moon Walking with Einstein science reporter Josh Foer chronicles his accent from having no special memory talents at all to being the US Champsion in the course of a year.

So like I said most anyone can do it but it takes practice.

u/tolos · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Lots of great recommendations in this thread; I've added a few to my reading list. Here are my suggestions (copied from a previous thread):

u/bedgar · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

Take a genuine interest in the people you are talking to. Remember, it is (in most cases) easier to get people to talk about themselves. So if you help guide by asking questions about them and taking a real interest in them it will start to come naturally.

While you talk to them, make sure you listen. When they are talking, you should not be thinking about the next thing you are going to say as that will surely lead to a dead conversation. If you are busy thinking about what to say next, you are not going to hear what they say and it will be obvious. So make sure you listen and comment back on the topic. It helps the conversation continue and shows that you are interested in what is being talked about. If you are constantly changing subjects people tend to think you are not that interested.

There is a good book by Dale Carnegie called How to Win Friends and Influence People. There are many good tips and pointers in there.

Another good tip, work on remembering names. People like to hear their own name and using it is a powerful tool. This works great in sales and for guys, ladies simply love it. Especially when you meet them once briefly and the next time you see them you remember and use their name. It shows you are thoughtful and ladies like thoughtful men.

u/musicsexual · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

"How to Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie is a book that is decades old, but still useful. It's probably the most famous book of its type ("how to talk to people"). Literally over a dozen million copies have been sold. Check out some of the reviews on Amazon.

"How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships" by Leil Lowndes is also a great book. I have read part of this book before and it offers extremely useful tips. It's also easy to read as the author provides great anecdotes to explain the tips and to help you easily recall them. This one is more recent than Carnegie's book, which was published in 1936. I believe this book would be a better read because our society/culture is a little different from what it used to be back in 1936. Still, some claim that there are timeless pieces of advice in Carnegie's book, which is true but if you're only getting one, I'd get this second book instead.

u/TweaktheReaper · 11 pointsr/IWantToLearn

TL;DR: Draw EVERYTHING, draw CONSTANTLY, and TURN OFF YOUR LEFT BRAIN!


As an artist, I will tell you what all of my art teachers failed to ever tell me, and hopefully help kick-start you into drawing.


First of all, as /u/Im_A_Nidiot said, draw anything and everything and draw constantly. It's hard to train your fingers to do what your brain wants them to, so just like exercising to become a body builder, you have to draw constantly. Whether it's someone you passed by on the street wearing a funny hat that you want to capture, or something you just dreamed up, always draw. If you can, draw for at least an hour every day. For detailed pictures that's an easy task, but if you have a busy life and can't just sit down and devote time to it, then sketch every time something comes to mind. 10 gestures or sketches a day will be much more helpful in developing the skill than just one or two occasionally.


Secondly, a big thing my art teachers wanted us to do but never explained why, was drawing still life or from life. Figure drawing, inanimate object drawing, drawing your own feet from your own perspective, it's all incredibly important. Why, you might ask? Because it builds a library in your head of what things look like. If you have a pile of stuffed animals, and you say draw one each day as realistically as you possibly can, then after a month suddenly you'll know exactly what that stuffed giraffe looks like and how to draw it in various positions, even ones you haven't drawn before. Same if you have a pet cat or dog and you draw it every day in various positions- you'll be able to draw a cat or dog from your imagination without much issue. So even if it seems trivial, draw from life! An exercise I would do is I would divide my work space in half, and draw the boring realistic object in one side, and then draw the same thing on the other side but with added "weirdness" from my imagination. If it was a pill bottle on one side, it would have an octopus coming out of it on the other. That helps keep it interesting and helps you expand your mental library.


And finally, once you start building your finger skills and your mental library, as /u/jus_richards already mentioned, I highly HIGHLY recommend buying Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. The entire purpose of this book is to train you to "turn off" your left brain, because it interferes with right brain activity which is what you use when you create art. Being an extremely analytical person, my left brain was always giving me fits whenever I would draw. Now I know how to quiet it down so I can draw, and it has done wonders for my work. If you are serious about wanting to learn how to draw, definitely invest in this book and do all the exercises.

u/silverforest · 9 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Disclaimer: I love consuming knowledge but I'm not a news junkie.

> As someone who would like to continue building my knowledge of the world I sometimes get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information there is out there.

You need to know how to select knowledge to read and devour. (Actually, go ahead and read the rest of Dr Wozniak's articles while you're at it.)

> With the news I tend to get overwhelmed. I'd like to come up with some kind of system where I filter out for quality, in-depth stories yet keep up-to-date with a wide range of topics/regions.

Reading straight from the newswire is akin to drinking from a firehose.

Regarding this: I would personally have a machine learning algorithm do the filtering for me, one that I have preferably written myself and tweaked to perfection. Sorry but I do not know any off-the-shelf solutions to this.

> For my other interests I'm mainly reading non-fiction right now. I really hate the feeling that I'll forget a good amount of the detail of what I read which makes me feel compelled to put everything I read on my re-read list (which is problematic considering I still have a substantial to-read list).

Feel like you'll forget something that you want to remember forever? Use a spaced repetition system. SuperMemo used to be the big name in the game but I personally prefer Anki.

> Any suggestions for a system of organizing knowledge for myself (a personal wiki, a series of documents, notebooks, etc)?

I would strongly recommend writing up a series of documents on a topic, and then SRS-ize all the relevant facts. Store a hard copy of the original document you wrote up along with a list of sources in a file somewhere safe, so you can pull it up if you want to properly reference something / give someone else a summary/overview of the topic. It is important to first understand the material before you put it into your SRS system.

On a semi-related note, if you wish to adopt speedreading, take a look at Peter Kump's book on the subject. Reading doesn't have to be linear, I find reading non-linearly to work best.

u/nolsen01 · 9 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I think we may be looking for the same things. I read a book a few weeks ago called Pragmatic Thinking and Learning that I found really helpful and interesting. Its not too expensive and if you have the money I'd recommend it. Don't be intimidated by the programmer talk, none of it is really relevant.

Last week, I discovered a wiki that gave great advice on learning and memory techniques that seemed like it would have been extremely useful. I've spent the last hour searching for it but I just can't find it. When I come across it, I will let you know.

Another book that I found useful a few months ago was How to Read a Book. Don't let the title undermine the books value; its an awesome book. Definitely worth looking into. I don't follow the advice given in the book very rigidly, but since I've read it, I've found that I approach books much more methodically and absorb the information much more easily.

Its great to see that there is someone else out there looking for the same sort of resources I'm looking for. The way I look at it, learning is a skill that can be developed and mastered. It is an interesting pursuit in and of itself.

I haven't found any single resource for this sort of thing but maybe we can put together a subreddit where we can pool our resources for things that may be particularly helpful.

u/ViviVon · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

This guy helped me a lot! http://www.dueysdrawings.com/drawing_tutorials.html
Drawing is one of those things that anyone can learn to do well, it's just a matter of practice and patience. But Duey's tutorials give a great run down of basic techniques to master, good tips most people starting out wouldn't think of and even gives a great list of essential materials and how to use them properly. I had been drawing for years without knowledge of all the right tools and blending with my fingers (a drawing sin as taught in school!) before I stumbled upon that site and found out that the oils on your hands are bad for the paper and to blend with tissues and blending stumps! Had always been artistic growing up but Duey honestly helped bring my work to a whole new level and made me appreciate the art form all the more. His free tutorials are definitely enough to become really good at drawing but if you want to refine or further advance your skills, he mentions a book on his site that he learnt a great deal from, which I ended up buying and definitely recommend. There's also another really good one here: http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Right-Side-Brain-Definitive/dp/1585429201
No matter what method or techniques works for you, the most important and also the most difficult thing is to just stick to it and keep drawing!

u/mrburrows · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

First off, I'd recommend looking into a book like this.

Second, when doing something like multiplication, it always helps to break a problem down into easier steps. Typically, you want to be working with multiples of 10/100/1000s etc.

For multiplying 32 by 32, I would break it into two problems: (32 x 30) + (32 x 2). With a moderate amount of practice, you should quickly be able to see that the first term is 960, and the second is 64. Adding them together gives the answer: 1024. It can be tricky to keep all these numbers in your head at once, but that honestly just comes down to practice.

Also, that same question can be expressed as 32^2 . These types of problems have a whole bunch of neat tricks. One that I recall from the book I linked above has to do with squaring any number ending in a 5, like 15 or 145. First, the number will always end in 25. For the leading digits, take the last 5 off the number, and multiply the remaining digits by their value +1. So, for 15 we just have 1x2=2. For 145, we have 14x15=210. Finally, tack 25 on the end of that, so you have 15^2 = (1x2)25 = 225, and 145^2 = (14x15)25 = 21025. Boom! Now you can square any number ending in 5 really quick.

Edit: Wanted to add some additional comments that have helped me out through the years. First, realize that

(1) Addition is easier than subtraction,

(2) Addition and subtraction are easier than multiplication,

(3) Multiplication is easier than division.

Let's go through these one by one. For (1), try to rewrite a subtraction problem as addition. Say you're given 31 - 14; then rephrase the question as, what plus 14 equals 31? You can immediately see that the ones digit is 7, since 4+7 = 11. We have to remember that we are carrying the ten over to the next digit, and solve 1 + (1 carried over) + what = 3. Obviously the tens digit for our answer is 1, and the answer is 17. I hope I didn't explain that too poorly.

For (2), that's pretty much what I was originally explaining at the start. Try to break a multiplication problem down to a problem of simple multiplication plus addition or subtraction. One more example: 37 x 40. Here, 40 looks nice and simple to work with; 37 is also pretty close to it, so let's add 3 to it and just make sure to subtract it later. That way, you end up with 40 x 40 - (3 x 40) = 1600 - 120 = 1480.

I don't really have any hints with division, unfortunately. I don't really run into it too often, and when I do, I just resort to some mental long division.

u/jboehmer17 · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

This is an oft-recommended book on Russian grammar, from what I've seen.


Order that, then get on this site and learn the alphabet. It's not too difficult to get it down on a basic level.


From there, get used to some basic vocabulary using a resource like Memrise (vocabulary practice site). Sign up on Livemocha.com and start with the basic Russian course. You'll learn some beginning phrases, get used to reading, eventually the alphabet will become second nature.


After some time with these resources (maybe a couple hours, maybe a couple of days), start listening to Russian music. You need to practice listening early and often to get the ear for words and how they sound together. Go on a Russian radio streaming site that lists the track currently playing (you can do this using a phone app, TuneIn Radio, which may also have an online site), then look up songs you like the sound of and listen to them over and over again with the lyrics in front of you. Try to sing along, even if you're sort of just mumbling Russian-sounding noises along with the singer.

At this point, start watching movies with subtitles. Search Mosfilm on Youtube. All of this studio's movies are free online, and most of them have English subtitles available.

Keep practicing like this, study the grammar using your Penguin book, and then find a penpal or something via Livemocha. It'll be scary at first, trying to communicate with someone in a language you're still making a lot of mistakes in, but people who study languages understand each other and are generally patient.


TL;DR:

  1. Order grammar book

  2. Before it arrives, learn alphabet, basic words / phrases

  3. Listen to songs

  4. Watch movies

  5. Learn grammar

  6. Find penpal

  7. Practice, practice, practice!!!


    Good luck! If you need any other help, PM me! I absolutely love Russian and would gladly help out anyone else who's interested.
u/melkahb · 10 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Especially if your primary communication in English is written, Strunk and White's The Elements of Style is really your indispensable resource. It's much more about composition than grammar specifically, but the two topics are so closely linked that you'll benefit from it.

The Well-Tempered Sentence is another good resource, with a much more lighthearted approach. It's also primarily focused on written forms.

Neither of these are deep resources for grammar structure or usage rules, but understanding and implementing them will put you head and shoulders above a great many native speakers. I think if you're more interested in speaking than writing you'll want a language course of some kind. I've no personal experience with them, so I can't recommend one on that basis.

Good luck.

u/relampago-04 · 6 pointsr/IWantToLearn

First you need to start off making sure you're in good health. Make sure you're eating a good diet, especially one that contains foods that improve cognition (e.g. foods with choline, lecithin, omega-3s, etc.). Make sure you're getting enough quality sleep and exercise (20 min. of aerobic exercise has been shown to improve memory). And stay adequately hydrated (I usually drink 2 1/2 liters of water a day).

Now for digesting and assimilating what you read, look into close reading techniques; taking notes while you read and jotting down questions you have while reading; marking-up text; and, echoing what /u/Firetaffer suggested, reading "How to Read A Book" by Mortimer Adler.
I've also heard good things about "Moonwalking with Einstein" by Joshua Foer.

Also, SuperMemo and Anki might be of interest of you.

Here are some links that might help:

u/WhistlinWill · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

Third year Microbio major here! Just picked this book up but could have been much more helpful earlier. Quick, easy read with lots of good insight on many common errors students make when studying or learning topics and is backed by a lot of recent, well supported studies. Can bring to light a lot of things you know should happen when studying but just don't. Has a lot of good tips and strategies and can overall motivate you to get better at learning! I recommend it!
http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra/dp/039916524X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417378070&sr=8-1&keywords=a+mind+for+numbers

u/siddarth2795 · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

There is this one book by Josh Kaufman which you might find helpful

The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything . . . Fast! https://www.amazon.in/dp/1591846943/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GbjTDb8RNVJRT

Then there is a another book which is also said to be pretty good

The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance https://www.amazon.in/dp/0743277465/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TgjTDb2W9TWFD


You can also check the art of deliberate learning where you improve yourself constantly through examination.

You can find good chunks of this in the book - Grit by Angela Duckworth


Others things that help me learn anything quickly is by learning from my mistakes and asking these 3 questions

  1. What did I do well?

  2. What did I not do well?

  3. What could I have done better?

    Also make sure once you learn these things you can constantly put them into practice.

    For example with the books... a person who learns 10 books and applies whatever he learns is hella lot powerful than a person who just skims through a 1000..

    See what works for you and get started on this amazing journey

    Cheers
u/littlebagel · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

While I'm certainly no expert by any means, I believe things that can help include reading and practice.
A friend once told me reading good books helps you learn good writing, and good writing I would imagine also leads to good speaking.

Practice would be helpful too. Even if we don't write well, we get better by just forcing ourselves to write, and similarly with reading and speaking.

A popular book on reading books that I've noticed is ["How to Read a Book" by Morimer Adler.] (http://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Book-Intelligent-Touchstone/dp/0671212095)

u/NoMo_Moto · 4 pointsr/IWantToLearn

For dealing with e-mails and various scraps of paper, I recommend reading Getting Things Done by David Allen. For organizing any long term tasks or projects, I recommend The Project Success Method by Clinton Padgett.

Other than that, I would recommend trying to go paperless as much as possible. Purchase a good scanner like the Fujitsu ScanSnap and try to utilize smart phone apps that can convert images to PDF (such as CamScanner for Android). I would also recommend using services such as DropBox and Evernote to help keep notes and files organized and synced across all your computers/devices.

Just remember the key to a good system is something that is simple to use. If it takes too much time you won't stick to it and your filing system will begin to fall apart.

u/jesschester · 12 pointsr/IWantToLearn

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a good place to start :)

Also How to Win Friends and Influence People is great for learning how to be an adult in a social setting and look good while doing it.

u/raymond8505 · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

the biggest convo thing I got from the Game was conversational hooks- things in a conversation that you can hook on to to branch out on.

If someone tells you "I just got back from studying in Australia" you've got 2 main hooks: study and Australia and from there you can get what'd you study? Why Australia to study? What's Australia like? How'd you ever get the courage to pick up and leave? Did you learn to surf? How'd you like vegemite? Some of those were closed ended questions but from them you might be able to get more hooks.

Also check out How To Win Friends and Influence People Lots of good tips for maintaining conversations. At the very least it made me less of an abrasive dick. Also you'll find getting hooks easier if you can find a common interest and then just ask them questions you want to know on the subject or use your knowledge on the subject to ask questions.

u/Hynjia · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

You know what? I have an awful memory. My SO gets mad at me all the time because she'll tell me things and I'll inevitably forget them.

Which is to say that your memory isn't holding you back. It's the way you interact with information you want to retain that is the problem here, much like it was for me.

My background is that I wanted to "become smarter". Didn't know wtf that meant but I figured reading book was important to that goal so that's what I did. I've read some really awesome books and I can tell you that I don't remember a lot of them.

However, there is a book that you should absolutely read to learn to how correctly interact with the information you're trying to retain: How to Read a Book, by Mortimer J. Adler. The book is an instruction manual on how to read books effectively, so as to learn from them and really really understand them.

Nowadays, I can't say that I remember specific parts of books that I read, but I absolutely can recall the general idea of a book (which is often helpful in conversation) and whereabouts in the book I read something so I can look it up again if I need to.

And this information can be applied to literally anything you read.

As far as learning in general, Make It Stick was alright. Would recommend, but it's pretty basic.

u/autophage · 4 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Lots of people are recommending ways to learn a language, and I just want to pop in to say: most popular languages are much more alike than they are different. Learn any one of them for a few months (until you're no longer looking up references for how to write a for loop or getting confused by the language's comparison operators), then try your hand at a different language.

If you find something hard to grasp in one language, it's probably about equally hard to grasp in another language - so don't just think "Hmm, well, maybe this is easier in other-language" and switch over to that one instead. (There are a few exceptions - for example, you don't have to worry about memory management in Java the same way that you do in C. You can still get memory leaks in Java, but the fact that you've got garbage collection makes memory management on the whole far simpler.)

In terms of getting into hacking - the first step, hands down, is to read this book. It will teach you the really really basic stuff, on a far deeper level than most laymen ever think about, in a very gentle and even fun way. After that, start getting your hands on networking texts, security texts, and just plain writing a lot of code. Get the source to some popular open source projects (Apache, for example) and run it in a debugger, watching how the values change and looking for unexpected things.

u/bkoch4 · 7 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Best Android app I've found yet: Russian in a Month. Best online site (for pocasts when you are driving: RussianPod101.com. Best book I've found: New Penguin Russian Course

Other then that, read children's articles, watch Cheburaska, follow the Russian subreddits /r/Russianlessons, /r/Russian101, and /r/Russian, read Russian wherever you can, and listen to Russian music. If you want any other tips or tricks I've used, just let me know. Good luck!

u/IAmDude · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

I'm learning this too. I've found Dale Carnegie to be an extremely helpful guide to communication.

Right now I'm reading The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking. And I'd recommend How to Win Friends and Influence People too, for the general communication and people skills he teaches.

(rest assured, the content is much higher quality than the titles =D)

u/Lhopital_rules · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Possibly one of these? They were the only books about coding/computers with the name Charles that I could find. I'm guessing you're talking about the first one. It looks like a more popular version of things, but probably all still new stuff for me, so I'll check it out!

EDIT: The second one looks really promising too. Thanks for the suggestion!

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold

Fundamentals of Logic Design by Jr. Charles H. Roth & Larry L. Kinney

u/exoarn · 7 pointsr/IWantToLearn

The book Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer is a good place to start. It combines Joshua's personal story of how he became the 2006 U.S.A. Memory Champion, with plenty of background information on the history and science of the art of memory.

It will give you a clear view of the possibilities and limitations of the method of loci (memory palace). Although strictly it is not a self help book or an instruction manual, it will explain the basics of what you need to know and it discusses some more advanced techniques as well. As a bonus it is very well written and easy to read.

There are several free online recources available as well:

u/sn76477 · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

This looks like a good book

http://www.amazon.com/MAKE-Electronics-Learning-Through-Discovery/dp/0596153740/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279769926&sr=8-3

This IS a good book but deals with advanced theories.


http://www.amazon.com/Art-Electronics-Paul-Horowitz/dp/0521370957/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279769926&sr=8-16


And this looks pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/Circuitbuilding-Yourself-Dummies-Ward-Silver/dp/0470173424/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279769941&sr=8-21


Go to the book store, pick up some books. Go the the library and see what they have. Pick up old radios and junk off of the street take them home and pull them apart but be careful of the capacitors, if you dont know what a capacitor is then read one of the above books.

Look on craigslist for free electronics and start taking them apart. Be careful of anything that uses Alternating current, anything that plugs into a wall deals with large voltages so be sure to start small.

u/AnOddOtter · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Here's some books and YouTube videos I've found helpful.

The Charisma Myth is easily my favorite.

Anything by Leil Lowndes, but particularly Goodbye to Shy and How to Talk to Anyone

Charisma on Command YouTube videos

The 5 Languages of Love is pretty much for marriages but it is helpful for developing empathy in general and relating to people better.

u/dta9191 · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

This book is a great place to start, even if only to inspire you. I really enjoyed it and listen to it about once a year if not more.

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Journey-Optimal-Performance/dp/0743277465

Happy to someone interested in learning how to learn, since it is the ultimate skill. Happy learning!

u/reddington17 · 40 pointsr/IWantToLearn

The Feynman Technqiue can be a good place to start. Basically entails learning a concept and then writing it down (or explaining it in your head) in a way that would be understandable to a class of 3rd graders. That way if there's any gap in your understanding you can figure out where you need to improve your understanding. Makes the ideas very strong in your mind like you are looking for.

You could also check out Moonwalking with Einstein. It sounds like that's more the sort of thing you're looking for. It goes into teaching the reader how to use the memory palace technique to develop a near perfect memory.

EDIT: Added the second paragraph.

u/CrispyBrian · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

There are several videos on YouTube I like to use.
This page will help you with the rapid start.

https://www.youtube.com/user/charismaoncommand

Charlie is a very good with introducing body language and tips how to work on your expressions as well.

Than I recommend to continue by reading books.
https://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Book-Body-Language-Expressions/dp/0553804723
Good luck

u/mental_cholesterol · 10 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I recommend Moonwalking With Einstein. The author trains with memory champions from around the world in hopes of becoming a memory champion himself. Great read.

u/cdubose · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

There is actually a system to Braille. I read the first part of the book Code, and it does a great job explaining how someone might have first conceived of a system like Braille. For instance, notice the letters A though J. Then notice the letters K through T. The Braille patterns for K through T are the exact same as those for A through J but with the lower left dot filled in. Then notice the letters U through Z. With the exception of W, the last few letters of the Braille alphabet are like the first few letters, but with the bottom two dots filled in. (W doesn't match the pattern because W isn't part of nineteenth century French, the native language of Louis Braille).

Knowing some contextual information like this will help you memorize and understand the Braille alphabet better. I would start by learning the numbers associated with the different dot positions and go from there. This page is a good introduction I think.

u/Brother_Nature · 7 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Check out /r/learnart and /r/drawing. I just discovered them myself & have begun starting to try drawing. I also bought this book. It's supposed to arrive tomorrow, so I can't give a personal review of it just yet - but it's been recommended by several people on the learnart sub, so I figure it's a good place to start. Good luck!

u/ketnehn · 23 pointsr/IWantToLearn

This is such a great book, and is what really sparked my interest in body language and psychology. Great explanations, illustrations, and integration of humor!

EDIT: Here is the link to the book on amazon

u/AnneThrope · 10 pointsr/IWantToLearn

this helped me out a decent bit. you may also want to check out books on poker (specifically those covering bluffs and tells) as well as videos like this, [this](https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=l_k-u0bldf4) and that. good luck, and happy learning.

u/cynosurescence · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

For an entertaining summary of how these methods, along with a great story of how a regular guy became the US Memory champion, I strongly suggest picking up Moonwalking With Einstein by Josh Foer.

u/Greyyguy · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Drawing on the Right side of the Brain is a very impressive educational resource:
http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Right-Side-Brain-Definitive/dp/1585429201/

I can't draw well, but this book is helping me get better. I need to spend more time with it and practice more, but it definitely showed me that I could do it.

u/mr_wowtrousers · 7 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I am going through this book:

Make: Electronics (Learning by Discovery)

Beginner like you and it is pretty easy to follow along with. Great explanations.

u/gtcom · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Cannot upboat enough.

I was kind of indignant when a highschool teacher recommended this to me about 15 years ago, but I went ahead and bought it anyway.

WOW! What a difference! I could already draw pretty well and this brought my skill to another level. Very good book.

It's available at Amazon: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain ~$12

u/jus_richards · 31 pointsr/IWantToLearn

/r/learnart

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

These two resources will pretty much do you for a while. The book is like learning the abc's for drawing. It'll run through everything a beginner needs to know. The sub-reddit will allow you to post your drawings and then get critique for them: really helpful tool.

For drawing kit all you'll need is a pencil or a pencil set and some paper. Don't go nuts with buying too much 'cause you never know if you'll like it enough to keep going.

u/Nuclear_Siafu · 6 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns would work well as a starting point. It doesn't take extensive preparation or much special knowledge to start work on CBT, but it does require you to commit to doing the exercises. The book isn't a replacement for a mental healthcare professional. Aside from it being just generally helpful to have someone talk you through the exercises, a professional can help you with issues that may be keeping you from doing the work in the first place.

u/HeebieGeebie747 · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

Read “What Every Body Is Saying” by Joe Navarro. It is the most comprehensive, accurate, scientifically-valid explanation of body language I have ever read.

He was a Cuban refugee or immigrant, so when he came to the US, he couldn’t speak any English. He had to learn how to read body language to interact with people because he couldn’t verbally communicate with them yet. That’s where his perceptive body language skills began to develop.

Then he became an FBI interrogator and had to learn how to read people’s body language in an interview setting where getting someone to fess up could mean the difference between catching a serial killer of not.

In addition to his own personal skill set he developed, he also backs up everything he says with evolutionary biology. For example, people crossing their arms over their body could be indicating that they feel threatened by you/someone, and as such their body acts unconsciously and instinctively to protect their vital organs, whether they are at an immediate physical risk or not.

In saying that, no single piece of body language is definitive. Crossing your arms over your body could mean you’re just resting them - it doesn’t ALWAYS mean you feel threatened. It’s really a game of reading the situation around you, being aware of the emotional tenor of the room and drawing conclusions from there.

It is one of the most useful books I have ever read in my life. I have integrated it into my life and use it all the time to read people. It has really helped me gauge lots of social situations and is just honestly such a fascinating book.

Here’s a link below to it on Amazon. Hope you enjoy :)

What Every Body Is Saying

u/rocktopotomus · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

exercise is great for depression like most everyone else here has already mentioned.

also Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is very useful for many who suffer from depression. a popular book on the subject is feeling good: the new mood therapy

That being said, she must actively want to get better or else she will find excuses for every helpful suggestion you make. You can't will someone else out of their depression, they must put forth the energy and effort to make changes for their own good, and not because of some external pressure (e.g. pressure from friends and family).

u/__Pers · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

If you want to learn to calculate quickly in your head, probably the most fruitful thing is to pick up a bunch of tricks for mental math. One good video course for this is Secrets of Mental Math put out by The Great Courses. The same lecturer published out a very good book on the subject as well.

Of course, if you want to go old school, then it's hard to beat the utility of memorizing logarithm tables...

u/bad_enough_dude · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I super-duper recommend this book

The reviews give a good idea of why this book is so fantastic. I started using this book casually in high school and it concisely gets a ton of vital information.

It's not afraid to mention exceptions and weird things that a lot of beginner books would let you ignore and sound stupid later. It also has accent marks on all of the words past the first few chapters.

The pronunciation guide is priceless, as well. It's clear but comprehensive. I've seen tons of pronunciation aides for Russian but so far following this book's guide on it has yielded the best accent that I know of.

u/passivelymediocre · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280
This book is absolutely amazing! CGPGrey strongly recommended it saying it changed his procrastination habits and made him a better person

u/kentzler · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

1 month ago I thought it was impossible for me to draw something "nice". Now, even though I'm no DaVinci, I have improved my drawing skill. How, you ask? Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book.

You don't need any prior experience, and just by dedicating 30 min/ 1 hour a day will improve your drawing skills dramatically.

Good luck!

u/toastisme · 11 pointsr/IWantToLearn

A similar question was posted on Quora not long ago, and the main recommendation was Code by Charles Petzold:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Software/dp/0735611319/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395088237&sr=8-1&keywords=code+charles+petzold

Having subsequently read the book I think it's a fantastic introduction, and goes through everything from the importance of binary code and applying Boolean logic to circuits, to the details of the inner workings of the first microprocessors, and all in an interesting and engaging way.

u/lethargilistic · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I am not great with hardware, so I can't help with actually building a computer.

Nonetheless, a book that's been really helpful to me and a lot of other people is Charles Petzold's Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software. Basically, it's about machine organization. It walks you through how computers work by building a theoretical computer with you, starting from how to encode information and building to logic gates, relays, and circuitry.

It's also hilarious, written for the layman, and informative enough for serious students. It's incredible. Absolute, unreserved recommendation. Petzold is a master. I recommend the (published later) paperback version because its preface give the book great context.

u/SomeASCIICharacters · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

This book is absolutely amazing, and I think it would help you!
It says Numbers and seems like its for math only. Nope! It teaches learning skills!

https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra/dp/039916524X

u/free-heeler · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

For me the overwhelming feeling was tied into a fear of failure. I was subconsciously afraid that I would do something wrong and I wouldn't be successful. I had always been driven to succeed instead of driven to learn.

Once I realize this and that failure is an integral part of learning, I started accepting failure. It really helped to change my entire mindset and approach to learning. I still have a really long way to learning how to learn (late in life) but I am far better off.

I also realized my reading level was not as high as it should have been. If you find that is the case:

https://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Rapid-Reading-Peter-Kump/dp/073520019X

This book is THE book for improving your reading speed. It is a speed reading book, but if nothing else it will teach you something about your reading ability and very basic ways to improve it, without having to go "full speed reading."

u/majofski · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Moonwalking with Einstein is one book that explores and teaches this method. I personally haven't read, but a friend of mine said it was great and the techniques taught are like that of the above comment.

EDIT: Posted this comment before reading the others, which also talk about Moonwalking with Einstein. Give the karma to them :)

EDIT2: Damn, I didn't even finish reading your post before posting my comment. This should just be deleted now.

u/SnowblindAlbino · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I teach a college seminar on "efficient and effective reading" of research monographs. I always start the course the classic work How to Read A Book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren. It's not a speed reading guide, but really a set of strategies for anyone looking to read non-fiction efficiently. Some of it is common sense but most of the strategies are things I didn't learn until graduate school, and then through trial and error. My undergraduates love it and often complain that we waited until they were juniors to "show them the tricks" needed to actually read several books a week for our classes.

Speed reading isn't that useful. You want to read efficiently-- and that requires active reading. Van Doren will teach you to be an active read.

u/tamupino · 4 pointsr/IWantToLearn

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0671212095?pc_redir=1414393418&robot_redir=1

Excellent book. This was given to me as a gift before college, and I single handedly give it credit for getting me through the tough literature of my theory and philosophy classes.

u/BeornPlush · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

Practice, practice, practice, practice. Getting good at maths is 90% equal to the practice you put in. People who seem "naturally" good at maths, most of the time, are just used to trying everything in their head and thus get more practice. Also, they may have done more in the past, and gotten used to using the smaller concepts they need to solve a bigger problem.

2 good books about learning: Waitzkin, The Art of Learning and Polya, How to Solve It.

u/towhead · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

This is a crucial skill if you intend to do anything with real complexity in the future. Develop a few good habits and you'll use them for the rest of your career. Focus first on the process and then buy tools to help you maintain the process.

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280

I use "Things" to organize my life, but there are loads of free tools out there.

u/CaffeinatedGuy · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I'd pick up the following kit and book. I've had this kit for years, and it's a pretty good intro. The breadboard and external components make it expandable so you can use your own components for experimentation. It also had a lot of IC circuits.

The book will get you playing on your own, and supplement where the kit leaves off.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=28733516#

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0596153740/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_OnZaub1V8MYBY

u/JRyvoan · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

There is no internet outside of Reddit. What is this blue text you posted!?

tl;dr I <3 xkcd, just wish I could draw better.

I did want to point out that at one time I asked an art instructor at my college what I could do to get better at drawing and she recommended this book. I bought it, did two lessons and was able to draw what it wanted me to draw but I never finished the book. I really enjoyed it, but life got in the way.

Edit: fixed my lack of spelling.

u/CandidEntertainment9 · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

One way is to use memory palace technique.

Here is a book my a memory champion who used this technique to train himself and improve his average memory.

https://www.amazon.com/Moonwalking-Einstein-Science-Remembering-Everything/dp/0143120530

u/too_toked · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

My father has recommended this to me on numerous occasions. I just haven't picked up a copy. It may be useful to you

u/mollieegh · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I started learning russian because my ex bf was Rusian.
I bought this book, which is absolutely perfect for beginners.


I also met a Russian penpal who I help with English in exchange for Russian on penpalworld.com

u/rusemean · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Well, practice, obviously. But also: this book. It's aimed at people with no starting drawing abiliity, but I found it was great for learning to draw more realistically.

u/slavy · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

You can try Getting Things Done, which is a methodology as well as a book describing the methodology. It revolves around a very simple idea: get everything you have to deal with organized in a systematic way and off your mind by putting it on an appropriate list. Then when you have free time, you consult the list and carry out a task as appropriate. The most important aspect is that you can only be productive if you are not thinking about all the stuff you have to do, which is why it's important to write it all down and categorize it. This way you don't worry if you've forgotten something.

The details are only marginally more complicated: there are several lists with different categories and a strict procedure that ensures that you are getting through them. But it's very simple and doesn't require any special skills or equipment.

u/thecheatonbass · 4 pointsr/IWantToLearn

How To Read A Book.

A great novel that will teach you about the different types of books, how to take notes, make outlines, and read for understanding in general.

u/Wacholez · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

The book The Secrets of Mental Math has some great tricks in it to help you along.

u/apt2b · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

I'm in my junior year of highschool, myself, and I know that some extremely basic circuitry is going to pop up later this year in physics, but I don't think it will sate my appetite at all. And you're right, it's the practical part of it that interests me, which is why I haven't bought any kits already - it seems that the entry kits are all things that I have no use for, like pocket VU meters and infrared tripwires, but I guess I'll have to get over that. I'm not a fan of For Dummies books, so I think I'll look into this one, which I found in one of the threads in videoj's link.

Thanks.

u/pokemong · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Have a look at this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligent-Investor-Benjamin-Graham/dp/0060555661/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300704487&sr=8-1. It is written by the guy who taught Warren Buffet to invest and mostly covers the general approach and mechanics of investing in fundamentals. It's the bible of personal investing. I would check out the links other redditors provided for the very basics, then read this book to understand the overarching concepts. Good luck!

u/Meloman0001 · 0 pointsr/IWantToLearn

1.) This, by the end of three weeks my reading speed increased by about 100 wpm. The cliff notes is to basically use your index finger or pen to mark where you are on the page (that increased my wpm by about 50 wpm) the rest was just practice/patience.

2.) This one helped me to read more efficiently.

u/Harkonnen · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

This book is the best I ever read about that subject. Really. Buy it, it's worth it.

u/neilgg · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I just read Moonwalking With Einstein which covers some memory techniques and is a pretty good story.

u/YellowFlash99 · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Try this:
https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra/dp/039916524X

Really helped me a lot. Great book not just for learning math, but how learning works in general.

If you can't buy it just find a PDF from a torrent site or something like that

u/aspartame_junky · 6 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Check out Joshua Foer's book, Moonwalking with Einstein (Foer was interviewed on the Colbert Report recently).

He talks about the various techniques for improving your memory, most of which are fairly standardized, but follow along the following lines:

  1. NOBODY has a photographic memory. That is not how memory works.

  2. Memory is an active process, and as such, the more active you make the items to be remembered, the more likely you will be able to recall them. This means imagery.

  3. There are traditional methods, such as the Peg system and the Method of Loci, that can be used by anyone.

  4. Practice.
u/BetterLifeDude · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Like /u/JoshMnem pointed out, the method of loci is exactly what you want. Basically you just imagine some place you know well and place (absurd) things in it. check out the link /u/JoshMnem provided and if you want something more in depth, Joshua Foer has written a book about it

u/somedude8 · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

Would recommend this book very highly, I think it might be just the kind of thing that will help you. I consider myself to be fairly decent at math, and even then this book has made a world of difference.

u/Thunderducky · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

If you're interested in looking at how computers work on a fairly deep level, I'd recommend finding a copy of Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software. I thought it seemed very approachable.

u/thirtysixred · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I recommend some books on body language.

I'm currently reading The Definitive Book of Body Language

I have also read What Every BODY is Saying

I recommend both of them.

The first book is more about general body language, body language in business, and body language is courting. The second book is about lying and catching people lie.

There is also this book: Unmasking the Face: A Guide to Recognizing Emotions From Facial Expressions which I haven't read yet, but it looks good.

u/mooshoes · 11 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I'd recommend you start with the book "Code", which handles just this progression: http://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Software/dp/0735611319

From there, investigate operating system development. The Minix OS is very well documented.

u/RobOFLMAO · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

"Hang by your teeth"

Picture yourself as a circus performer swinging high above the ground. Then picture yourself doing that, but holding onto the bar with your teeth. This will align your entire body into good posture. Every time you walk through a doorway, picture yourself hanging by your teeth. Source.

u/docmongre · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

THIS book will get you drawing at an amazing level.

u/crazymusicman · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

i really enjoyed the book "how to talk to anyone" by liel londers (here). I just practice those tips and after a short time things just flow. this book changed my life

u/jaffa56 · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

The mother learned russian at school back in the day, i'm trying to follow in her footsteps, mainly by means of a teacher.

But this is the one book my mother recommends from back then. I bought it, and it is excellent. No stone is left unturned.

u/raindog67 · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

Read this book: Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything. Seriously. Great techniques that make it so much easier to remember things and keep them in your head. Helped me so much.

u/Danakin · 12 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Maybe I'm thinking of a different pose, but I'm not too sure about this, Joe Navarro says in his book

> When people place their arms behind their backs, first they are saying, “I am of higher status.” Second, they are transmitting, “Please don’t come near me; I am not to be touched.” This behavior is often misunderstood as merely a pensive or thinking pose, but unless seen in someone studying a painting at a museum, for example, it is not. Putting the arms behind the back is a clear signal that means, “Don’t get close; I don’t want to make contact with you”.

so you may be perceived differently than you think? I'm not too sure myself, because this always have to be seen in context and many more factors, but I'm reading this book at the moment and the quoted paragraph came to mind, so I thought I might share.

u/garblz · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Read that book. It's only $5 on Kindle (just download free reader for PC/Mac/iPhone/Android if you don't own Kindle).

u/KingOCarrotFlowers · 4 pointsr/IWantToLearn

At the age of 23, with the drawing skill of the average five year old, I decided that I wanted to start learning to draw. A friend / roommate of mine had a book titled Drawing on the right side of the brain, which he swore up and down is the best text for beginners. Basically, if you go through the excersizes, you will learn to be able to draw.

I made it through the book, and I can now draw decently. I highly reccommend it.

u/dacows · 6 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Forcing yourself into anxiety-causing situations can actually strengthen the disorder. You can't heal a broken hand by whacking it with a hammer. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is needed to change the way your brain approaches social situations. If a therapist tells you to "face your fears" then he doesn't truly understand the problem and you should find another therapist.

I used the audio series from the Social Anxiety Institute and it really opened my eyes about my behavior and ways of thinking. Poke around their websites (socialphobia, sai). It's a good place to start.

Also: There are lots of books out there on how to prepare for/act in social situations. I've read many of them and the one I highly recommend is How to Talk to Anyone. It's a simple layout, a fun read, and it's full of good tips and tricks.

u/atothayu · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

this book is all you need. guaranteed. but you have to ACTUALLY do the exercises and keep up with it, you'll see noticeable improvements within a week if you do the exercises everyday...gotta put in the work

http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Rapid-Reading-Peter-Kump/dp/073520019X

u/flowside · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I learned to read the Cyrillic alphabet in about 3 hours thanks to this book. It breaks down the letters for English speakers in a way that makes more sense than merely learning them in order.

u/watertap · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

Asked myself the same question this morning. I found this book is supposed to be a good start.

http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Mental-Math-Mathemagicians-Calculation/dp/0307338401

u/dancing_cucumber · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I read "The Definitive Book of Body Language" by Barbara and Allan Pease. It was easy to read, and might have actually helped a bit.

Also, first season of Lie to Me for microexpressions


Edit: I learned how to link

u/IthinkIthink · 9 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I'm currently reading "How to Read a Book"; it outlines and illustrates exactly how to read different types of books. So far I'd highly recommend it. There's also an Audible version.

u/CertifiedNicePerson · 106 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Read the book "A mind for numbers" by Barbara Oakley and take the course "learning how to learn"

Link to course:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn

Link to book:
https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra/dp/039916524X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=a+mind+for+numbers&qid=1570212770&sr=8-1


Edit: if I remember correctly, you don't have to pay for the course if you're not able to. Hope this helps you :)

u/Yds · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I'd recommend you to read and study this book by Adler and Van Doren, titled "How to Read a Book".

u/Santarini · 4 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Check this book out!

It absolutely changed my mental math ability. Arthur Benjamin also has videos all over the Internet with some quick mental math tricks.

u/FAGET_WITH_A_TUBA · 11 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Second this. The FBI's top expert on body language. Actual book title is What Every BODY is Saying

u/luciano-rg · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

For an introduction on how computers work the book "Code" by Charles Petzold is very informative. It starts from rudimentary circuits of blinking lights to the complexity of modern computers. I found this book to close the gap between the concepts of software and hardware.
Amazon link: https://amzn.com/0735611319

u/SandyRegolith · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

This is a good book:

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

It kind of teaches you to stop thinking you can't draw and just see what you see and get it on paper.

u/craywolf · 6 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Getting Things Done

It took me years of seeing people recommend this book over and over before I picked up a copy and read it. I wish I'd done it sooner. I even got my boss to pay for a copy to keep at work, and bought a copy for my Kindle for home.

Getting into the GTD "groove" takes a while - losing old habits and forming new ones always does - but even if you implement his plan halfway and imperfectly, you'll be twice as organized and productive as you are now.

u/iamsolidsnake · 4 pointsr/IWantToLearn

http://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Book-Body-Language/dp/0553804723/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

Body Language by allan pease, who's basically written a lot of standardized text on the matter.

http://www.paulekman.com/publications/recentbooks/

Paul Ekman and his FACS, METT, and SETT programs/methods.

Between these two authors you basically have everything you need to decode larger body language and finer subtleties of of facial movement.

u/areyn7 · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I found this helpful: http://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Anyone-Success-Relationships/dp/007141858X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319237401&sr=1-1
After I read it, I wrote out all the headings on index cards and used them to memorize the tips. If I was foggy on one of the headings, then I could just look up that specific info to refresh myself.

u/net_TG03 · 7 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I started to read the book Moonwalking with Einstein, and this is the first technique it talks about.

u/deaddodo · 4 pointsr/IWantToLearn

The Make books for electronics will get you a decent groundwork for the practical application side of things. Practical Electronics for Inventors will you get you covered on the theory side of things.

u/cl2yp71c · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

David Allen - GTD

You don't even have to follow his processes, the ideas alone are worth the read.

u/pastafusilli · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra) by Barbara Oakley https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra/dp/039916524X

u/matarky1 · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Book: What Every Body is Saying - Joe Navarro

Podcast: You Are Not So Smart

YouTube Series: Practical Psychology

Social Psychology seems to be what you're looking for

u/looselyspeaking · 9 pointsr/IWantToLearn

To be honest, eye contact has more to do with how people perceive you (confident, shy, lying, nervous) than with reading what they're feeling. And these perceptions are notoriously unreliable. Body language, the hands in particular, are a much better guide to what they are feeling. Here's a great book on body language.

As to general advice, the main thing is to pay attention. We're absolutely horrible at paying attention to other people even when we nominally are. We routinely tune out, or start thinking ahead to how we will respond instead of just paying attention to what they are doing and saying. Next time someone is complaining about something, pay attention to the stress in their voice, how they're sitting, what their hands are doing. Notice the details. Don't lapse into your own thoughts. Don't start formulating your answer until they're done talking.

tl;dr: Use your eyes to control how you are perceived. Watch their hands to see what they're feeling. And pay attention.

u/P-Nuts · 3 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Make/build/cook something for her. Not only will it cheer her up, the act of doing it will be therapeutic for you.

Consider getting professional help or medication if your depression is as bad as it sounds. At the very least consider reading (and acting on the advice of) a book such as this one.

u/Baraxton · 5 pointsr/IWantToLearn

Read a book called “Moonwalking With Einstein.”

It’s all about memorization using a technique called the memory palace. I’m able to memorize crazy amounts of information using this method.

Link:

https://www.amazon.ca/Moonwalking-Einstein-Science-Remembering-Everything/dp/0143120530

u/mantrap2 · 7 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I took a drawing class at a community college. Cost me $35 plus pencils and paper supplies. It gave instruction and a reason to spent the time and focus on learning. I'd recommend that as the primary strategy.

A big part of learning to draw is to learn "to see". Most people don't actually see what they look at but instead they let their brains tell them what their brain/memory presumes they are looking at, abstractly.

This is where/why you get amateurish child-like drawing that look horrible initially - your brain "knows (better)" superficially and overrides what's actually hitting your eyes. Then you draw this abstraction and it's always wrong and unrealistic looking. So you have to "unlearn" this way of seeing things to learn to draw.

There are a lot of books on this subject:

http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Right-Side-Brain-Definitive/dp/1585429201

http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Techniques-Learning-Peter-Jenny/dp/1616890541

http://www.amazon.com/Learn-See-Draw-Larry-Wither/dp/B0013MELQS

http://www.amazon.com/Your-Artists-Brain-right-brain/dp/1440308446

These books can be helpful and are often used in drawing classes but the first thing is to start drawing.

One other hint I've learned: the #1 and #2 parts of the face you MUST get right (and in fact you can do only these two parts and create a recognizable portrait - of a Western person for a Western audience) are the shape and details of the eyes, and of the nose/mouth. It's different if you are in Asia (asian models) - then it's the outline of the head/hair and nose/mouth.

u/HarmlessEZE · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

I foundthis book on how to learn math when you sick with numbers. I haven't read it so I can't review it, I just know of it.

u/Axana · 2 pointsr/IWantToLearn

This very method is discussed in-depth in Feeling Good. Excellent book for anyone suffering from depression or anxiety.