PDF Summary:Learn Like a Pro, by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe

Whether you're a student, professional, or lifelong learner, Learn Like a Pro by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe can help you become a more effective learner. Drawing on the latest research in cognitive psychology and education, they provide proven techniques for mastering new skills and knowledge quickly and efficiently. With practical strategies for improving your memory, increasing your focus, and managing your time, this comprehensive guide will help you unlock your full learning potential.

Oakley and Schewe are experienced educators and learning experts who struggled to learn in the past. In this guide, we’ll outline many of the author’s learning techniques and explore some of the cognitive psychology and neuroscience of learning so that you can understand why these techniques work. We’ll also explore how you can boost your motivation to learn, and we’ll provide practical tips for excelling in academic settings so you can become a better learner for life.

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A Deeper Look at the Brain’s Modes of Attention

In Focus, Daniel Goleman refers to focused mode as selective attention and diffuse mode as mind-wandering.

Goleman’s selective attention (focused mode) is effortful attention that helps your brain filter information from your senses and focus on what is relevant. With strong selective attention skills, you can focus on a task and ignore distractions, deal with emotional distractions during stressful times, and direct your attention away from worrisome thoughts. These abilities are crucial for engaging meaningfully with learning tasks by giving you control over where you put your mind to use.

Goleman’s mind-wandering (diffuse mode) is the brain's "default mode," meaning it happens automatically when you’re not deliberately focusing on something, causing your mind to wander from topic to topic. He writes that mind-wandering can spark enormous creativity because your brain makes unique connections unconsciously before they emerge into your awareness.

To learn something complex, you’ll need to alternate between focused and diffuse modes. When you’re learning something simple, focused mode will be all you need. But when you’re learning something complex, you won’t be able to fully absorb the concepts if you stay in focused mode alone. This is because in focused mode, your brain suppresses all thoughts except what you’re purposefully paying attention to, which will prevent you from making the “aha” connections between different pieces of information that diffuse mode encourages.

Switch back and forth between both modes to build and strengthen your understanding of new ideas: Work in focused mode until you start to get stuck, then switch to diffuse mode to let your brain work on those ideas in the background. Then switch back to focused mode to continue your learning again.

(Shortform note: In Learning How to Learn, Oakley has a slightly different way of explaining how alternating between focused attention and diffuse mode optimizes learning. She says focused mode allows you to comprehend the problem at hand, taking a mental break in diffuse mode allows your brain to discover the solution, and switching back into focused mode again allows you to apply the solution to the problem.)

How to Improve Your Focused Mode

The authors say you can improve the power of your focused mode with the following tips:

Reduce distractions. The authors advise making your environment as distraction-free as possible and minimizing interruptions. Choose a location where socializing doesn’t typically occur, such as a quiet library or private study space. If you can't avoid noise, consider using noise-canceling headphones or earplugs. Keep your phone out of sight, disable notifications on your electronic devices, or use website blockers to avoid being distracted by social media or other notifications.

(Shortform note: What makes something a distraction? In Hyperfocus, Chris Bailey defines distraction as anything that hinders you from accomplishing your intended goal or task. In other words, if something takes your attention away from what you intend to or need to concentrate on, it can be considered a distraction. This implies that anything has the potential to become a distraction if it interferes with your focus.)

Avoid multitasking. The authors advise that you only multitask (switch back and forth between tasks) infrequently. Studies show that constantly switching between tasks harms your ability to concentrate, which makes you more likely to make mistakes and hurts your ability to write and remember information. This is because part of your attention lingers on your previous task—what the authors call attention residue—which prevents you from fully focusing on the new one.

However, task-switching has some benefits: It can foster creative thinking by freeing you from ruts in your thinking that can occur when you concentrate for too long on a single task by changing and expanding your perspective.

Have a plan for interruptions. The authors recommend that when inevitable interruptions occur, like your child coming into your office to ask a question, take a moment to note where you will leave off in whatever you are focusing on—the paragraph number on the page of a book, for example. This gives your brain a sense of closure that reduces the attention residue of multitasking, therefore helping you regain focus when you return to your learning task. Acknowledge and respond to the interruption, and then make a clean break from the interruption and completely switch your attention back to your learning.

(Shortform note: In Eat That Frog!, Brian Tracy explains that when you switch back and forth between tasks or deal with a lot of interruptions while you’re trying to work (or learn), it takes an average of 17 minutes for you to fully regain your focus. In other words, attentional residue can last a long time. Tracy says the more you task-switch and deal with interruptions, the more mistakes you make, increasing the time you need to complete something by over 500%. In contrast, when you commit to focusing on one thing at a time and minimize interruptions, you can complete a task in less than half the time it would take you otherwise.)

How to Use Diffuse Mode for Learning

Being in diffuse mode might feel unproductive for learning compared to focused mode because it seems like you’re not doing anything. But the authors assert that diffuse mode is essential for learning complex topics or skills and can help you get unstuck when you’re struggling to learn something new.

(Shortform note: In addition to helping you learn, Daniel Goleman highlights some other benefits of mind-wandering (diffuse mode), including facilitating self-reflection and problem-solving by allowing your attention to sort through personal concerns, dilemmas, and regrets. However, he warns that letting your mind wander too much can lead to rumination, negatively affecting your quality of life and disrupting your concentration (focused mode).)

To take advantage of diffuse mode, the authors advise you to take frequent, five- to 10-minute breaks while learning. The specific technique they recommend to incorporate breaks into your process is the Pomodoro method:

1. Remove distractions from your environment, especially easily accessible technology distractions like open computer tabs and cell phones.
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes.
3. Concentrate as much as you can on your learning task.
4. After 25 minutes, take a break for five minutes. The break should be an activity that doesn’t require much concentration, like stretching for a few minutes or petting a pet. Checking emails and social media doesn’t count as a break, as these activities do not put your mind in diffuse mode.
5. Repeat the timed work and break cycles as necessary.

(Shortform note: The Pomodoro method is a popular tool among education and psychology experts, and one expert offers a twist on the method: Instead of using a timer to divide your learning time into 25-minute chunks with a break in between, use a music streaming service, like Pandora, which plays music for about 20-30 minutes interspersed with short commercial breaks. Work while the music is playing and take your breaks during the commercials—this way, you won’t have to set and reset a timer, and you can enjoy music as you study as long as it's not distracting.)

Improve Learning by Boosting Motivation and Self-Discipline

Improving your motivation and self-discipline to tackle learning tasks can improve how effectively you learn. Motivation is how much effort you’re willing to put into achieving a goal, and self-discipline, or willpower, is your ability to make small sacrifices now to accomplish that goal in the future. The authors argue that when it comes to your self-discipline for learning, the best approach is not to cultivate more of it but instead to focus on strategies that reduce or eliminate your need to use it in the first place. Boosting your motivation is one of the best ways to bypass the need for self-discipline—when you’re motivated to learn, you don’t need to tap into your willpower to do it.

(Shortform note: Although the authors don’t focus on strategies to cultivate and strengthen self-discipline (but rather, to avoid the need to use it), many psychology experts offer techniques for increasing your willpower, including Kelly McGonigal in The Willpower Instinct. McGonigal explains that things like stress, guilt, and not getting enough sleep and exercise deplete your willpower, and by addressing these factors, you can restore your ability to delay gratification in pursuit of long-term goals.)

You may not always feel enthusiastic about your learning tasks, but the authors recommend several ways you can strengthen your motivation for learning and lessen the need to exert self-discipline to accomplish your learning goals.

Set compelling goals. To stay motivated, set three types of goals: long-term goals (like starting your own business), which keep you focused on and excited about the future; stepping-stone goals (like getting your MBA), which are closer in time and help you reach your long-term goal; and process goals, which are short-term and actionable daily and weekly learning tasks (like studying for your MBA exams) that build toward your stepping-stone goal.

Make study plans and anticipate the obstacles that could deter you. Strategize when, where, and how you’ll study or practice and mark it on your calendar because you’re more likely to follow through on studying if you make a plan. Then, think about what could get in the way of your plan—for example, your friends inviting you to hang out on your study day. It’s also helpful to set yourself up for success. For example, if you know you always forget your glasses when studying at a coffee shop, set your book bag up with everything you need the night before.

Goal-Setting and Deliberate Practice Develop Grit

In Grit, Angela Duckworth says that setting different levels of goals, making study and practice plans, and planning for potential obstacles are all techniques for developing grit—what she defines as a combination of perseverance and passion.

Duckworth explains that setting goals provides you with a clear sense of direction and purpose, which helps you stay motivated and focused over the long term. Planning and structuring your practice and study time, along with anticipating learning obstacles, would be considered a part of what Duckworth calls deliberate practice—a purposeful way of focusing your effort in order to achieve tangible outcomes—which helps you develop the grit you need to stay committed to your goals.

Change your habits. We all have habits and routines, and some may get in the way of our learning. For example, maybe you focus and learn better in the evening, but you’re in the habit of playing video games after dinner. Identify the habits that may make it harder for you to commit to your learning goals and try to change them.

(Shortform note: The authors don’t offer explicit advice for how to go about changing a habit or routine, but Charles Duhigg in The Power of Habit explores why we form habits and how to change them. Duhigg argues that having self-discipline is not enough on its own to change a habit—you must understand how habits work and address what reinforces them. Habits become automatic through a cycle of cue, routine, and reward and are reinforced by our cravings. The anticipation of a reward is often more pleasurable than actually experiencing it, driving you to continue your habitual routines. To break unwanted habits, it's important to make cues less visible, routines more challenging, and rewards less satisfying.)

Don’t isolate yourself. Spend time with people interested in and passionate about what you’re learning. Learning with others makes it more enjoyable and fulfilling, which are powerful emotional motivators. Involving others in your learning also helps keep you accountable for your goals—it’s harder to procrastinate, forget, or avoid learning tasks if you have made a commitment to another person.

(Shortform note: While spending time with others who share your interests can be a great way to enhance your learning experience, there are potential drawbacks. For example, education experts warn that group learning can sometimes be distracting or unproductive, with conversations or discussions that are not directly relevant to the task at hand. Ultimately, it's important to balance the benefits and downsides of group learning to ensure that your learning goals and needs are always front and center.)

Match the difficulty level of a task with your skill level. Tasks that are too challenging will discourage you, and ones that are too easy will bore you. The feeling of mastering something—when your skill level matches the difficulty level of a task—is highly motivating. If a task is just beyond your level, don’t be shy to ask for help. The authors also recommend breaking up learning tasks into manageable chunks to allow yourself more time to absorb the information.

(Shortform note: Matching your skill level with the difficulty level of a task not only improves your motivation—Chris Bailey adds that it will also boost your ability to focus. This is because when you are bored or stressed by a learning task, your mind will naturally wander. Improving your motivation and focus together make matching skill level with task level a powerful learning tool.)

How to Excel at Academic Learning

The authors offer tips and techniques for excelling at these key elements of academic learning, including how to actively engage with your materials as well as how to read, take notes, and memorize.

How to Learn Actively With Engaged Retrieval

The authors argue that the best way to learn is to actively engage with the material, as by doing so, you’ll absorb far more information than when you engage with materials more passively. This is because active learning helps build longer and stronger neural connections.

(Shortform note: A recent study has shown that AI technology can play a role in helping people learn actively. The researchers found that incorporating an AI-based virtual helper in the learning process can improve learning during hands-on activities. The virtual helper combines physical and virtual reality elements to create an immersive learning experience. They found that when the AI helper was turned on, it encouraged students to engage in critical thinking and discussions, resulting in more thorough learning. When the AI helper was turned off, the students learned far less.)

To actively engage with your materials, they recommend a technique called engaged retrieval (they call it active recall). To practice engaged retrieval, periodically look away from what you’re studying and try to remember what you just learned. It can also be helpful to explain the ideas in your own words or teach them as if you were explaining them to a grade-schooler. You can use this technique with any kind of material, such as text, videos, or lectures.

Engaged retrieval helps you internalize concepts. The authors say that you haven't really learned if you can't retrieve something from your memory, and that when you pull information from your memory, you help solidify it in your long-term memory. Engaged retrieval can also give you real-time feedback on how well you're absorbing new information.

(Shortform: Scott Young uses a different term—self-testing—to describe the process of engaged recall and agrees that it’s the best way to learn effectively as it cements information into your memory and provides you with feedback about how well you’ve learned the material. He outlines several methods to self-test as you’re learning, including using flashcards, creating quiz questions for yourself as you’re taking notes that you can try to answer later, and, as Oakley and Schewe also suggest, writing in your own words what you’ve learned after studying an idea.)

How to Read

Improving reading efficiency is not only about increasing speed. It’s about optimizing your comprehension—understanding what you read and remembering it later. Focusing solely on increasing your reading speed can easily harm your comprehension.

(Shortform note: Scientific research supports the authors' claim that there’s a trade-off between speed and accuracy when it comes to reading. Doubling or tripling reading speed from the normal rate (around 250 words per minute to 500-750 words per minute) may not allow readers to comprehend the text as thoroughly as they would at a normal pace. However, speed reading or skimming could be helpful for readers who prioritize getting through the text quickly over understanding it completely. To increase reading speed while maintaining high comprehension, you should improve your language skills, such as by expanding your vocabulary because language skill is a key factor in reading quickly with high comprehension.)

To increase your reading efficiency and comprehension, the authors recommend the following:

Preview the text before reading it in detail. Getting a big-picture view of the text, its organization, and the overall themes will prepare your mind for what is coming and make it easy to comprehend.

Read actively. To read actively, practice engaged retrieval by asking yourself to restate key concepts as you read. Highlighting can also help you read actively, but only when you review what you’ve highlighted the next day—your brain doesn’t build neural connections in your long-term memory unless you review your highlights after some time has passed.

Annotate. Another active reading strategy is annotation. As you read, write down comments and questions that come to mind. In your own words, note key concepts and their relationships, and then, in the end, write a small summary of what you read. Annotating as you go makes reviewing and referring back to the text easier. It also helps transfer the information into your long-term memory for quality learning.

(Shortform note: The authors’ reading tips above are a part of the broader reading strategy outlined by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren In How to Read a Book. Pre-reading your text before reading it closely is an important aspect of what Adler and Van Doren call the inspectional reading stage—glancing through the book to get an overall understanding of what the book is about before trying to understand what the author is saying. Active reading techniques like restating key concepts as you read and writing down comments and questions are a part of the analytical reading stage, where you dive deeper into the concepts of the book and word to understand the concepts as best you can.)

How to Take Notes

To get the most out of note-taking, use engaging ways to take them, organize them, review them, and use them as study tools. The authors outline the following strategies to make the most out of your notes.

Take notes with the dual-column method. Divide your note page into two parts with a vertical line down the center. Capture the key concepts on the right side and summarize them on the left using short phrases. When reviewing your notes, cover up the right side and try to recall the meaning from the summary words. This method helps you understand the structure of ideas and retain the information better.

Use mind mapping to organize your notes. Mind maps are visual representations of topics. A typical mind map starts with a central idea or concept and branches into related ideas connected with lines, colors, and images.

Use engaged retrieval to review your notes. Review your notes the same day you write them and again the next day. Practice with them using engaged retrieval strategies like flashcards. The authors assert that the process of reviewing your notes is more important than the process of note-taking itself.

(Shortform note: Many different note-taking strategies can help you capture ideas, organize them, and retain the information—for example, Jim Kwik in Limitless asserts that the first step in effective note-taking is to clarify what you’re interested in learning (or what you must learn) from the material you are studying. In other words, identify your goal in studying that specific material and then take notes based on that goal. Like Oakley and Schewe, Kwik also recommends reviewing your notes, and he suggests adding highlights and additional notes to the original ones to actively engage with them and spotlight key points.)

How to Memorize

To improve your memorization skills, practice engaged retrieval (as discussed above) and space out your session over several days. Additionally, try memorization hacks such as acronyms and mnemonic devices. You can also envision unusual, vivid, and compelling images to represent concepts and information, such as with the memory palace technique. In this technique, you create a representative image for every idea you want to remember and then “place” those images in a particular space, like a building, in your imagination.

(In Moonwalking with Einstein, Joshua Foer explains that our brains are wired to remember images and places better than numbers and words, which is why image-based methods like the memory palace work. Foer recommends that you make the images in your memory palace compelling by giving them multisensory, vulgar, funny, or absurd qualities. Our brains also remember new information when we connect it to things we already know, which is why mnemonic devices and acronyms work.)

How to Do Well on Tests

No matter how well you know a subject, your test scores will likely suffer if you don’t know how to take a test effectively. The authors offer the following tips.

Before a test: Understand the test format, the types of questions that will be asked, and how the test will be evaluated. For example, are some questions weighted more than others? Discuss any unclear aspects of the test with your instructor, and talk to peers to gain insights they may have. Create a study plan with a schedule, necessary study materials, and the time you’ll devote to each topic. Having a plan can reduce stress and help you focus on studying.

(Shortform note: In addition to the authors’ recommendations to get to know the exam you’re about to take, some psychology experts suggest you review your past exams in the course to help you identify areas of strength and weakness. They also recommend that your scheduled study plan, as well as necessary materials and a checklist of topics, include routine breaks for meals, exercise, relaxation, and socializing. This is because routine helps you stick to commitments.)

During a test: Read the instructions carefully and, on timed tests, keep track of your progress. Try to answer all the questions, even if you’re unsure of the answer, unless the test penalizes guessing. Use the challenge-first method: Start by scanning the questions, marking the hard ones, and working on them until you feel stuck. Then, move on to easier problems, and return to the challenging problems later. While working on the easier problems, your brain will work in diffuse mode to sort out the harder problems in the background. Be mindful of your time—don't get fixated on difficult questions while neglecting easier ones that can also earn you points.

(Shortform note: Some education experts recommend the opposite of the challenge-first method—instead of starting with the difficult questions, answer all the easy questions first and then return to the hard ones later. They explain that the benefit of tackling the hard or easy questions first depends on whether you have a limited amount of time for the exam. If you have a time limit, it may benefit you to start with the easier questions first because it can help you build up your confidence and momentum, allowing you to move through the test more quickly.)