Book/Journal recommendations with topics for learning effectively?

What is your favourite books/journals that affected positively on how you study in school, language learning, and how you put that into your ways of studying, with or without Anki?


I’ve been reading this book repeatedly called “Make It Stick” (https://www.amazon.ca/Make-Stick-Science-Successful-Learning/dp/0674729013) where it talks about the myths and illusions of types of learning in schools, such as rewriting and rereading and its ineffectiveness.

This book mentioned spaced repetition where they did an experiment to test students on delaying on quizzing, whereas the other students repeatedly quiz multiple times. As a result, the delaying group did more effectively long-term than the group.

Which has led me to researching more of it and reminding of FSRS from here: Spaced Repetition Algorithm: A Three‐Day Journey from Novice to Expert · open-spaced-repetition/fsrs4anki Wiki · GitHub

And I saw this post from the Anki Reddit community where it talks about how Anki would not be popular, and it mentions about the difference between active and passive learning. (Why Anki will never be popular and a fancy user interface wouldn't change anything - r/Anki)

And it mentioned in the book (Make It Stick) also that active learning is much more effective when it’s not easy, whereas passive learning makes it the opposite (or easy) on the chapters of “Embrace Difficulties”

I’m reading this currently (still on 1st chap) as I was told it helps in writing.

This reminds me of “Mind for Numbers” by Barbara Oakley. Re-reading is simply a mindless endeavour. I actually don’t think people do it because they believe it’s a better method but because it’s much more easy and effortless to do it.

As I said.


I don’t have many recommendations, but If you’re learning languages I suggest you check out Refold’s Guide.

For more general learning, I once read an essay called Guide to Autodidactism. I’ve uploaded it on Drive for you. It’s hard to find on the internet.

But generall, the “how” of learning pretty much depends on the “what” of learning. And what you want to do is follow successful examples, and copy it.

I wanna delve more into the language learning. Do you have any more recommendations?

Barbara Oakley has been mentioned before, especially her Coursera course Learning how to learn is really good (https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn). She also has a book targeted on teenagers how to learn (Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying)

Two names: Alexander Arguelles and LLORG. The first person is a professor and a polyglot. Really great guy. The second one is a forum, previously called HTLAL. There aren’t many Anki users there but it’s valuable resource. And read the refold guide. They have a discord server too, if you want to join. It has some great people.

May I ask one more time, is there any language learning resources like the Refold roadmap, that provides good information of it, including myths, ways to learn, etc?

It’s very hard to give anyone a “good resource”. That is, what is relevant to me might not be relevant to you or the other way around. And a lot of things are learnt through experience, not by reading text. And the same text is often interpreted in different ways at different times of your life. It’s hard, is what I mean.

I also dont always remember my sources. I’ve read Iverson’s language learning guide. It’s in the LLORG forum. That was very long and got me lost. I like the conciseness of Refold’s guide. That might not be found everywhere.

Also, most knowledge requires churn. You read something, re-read it, engage with it, think about it, discuss it with others. For example, I was just watching an half an hour long presentation about the use of “simply” in technical writing. That might seem unnecessary to you, but for me that creates depth of knowledge. I’d rather watch Prof. Arguelles’ videos that doing other things for language learning theory.

Most of human knowledge is trapped inside the skulls of people. Engage with smart people and you’ll learn much more than others. Remember, Refold also came into being after a lot of churning from people.

(BTW, if you learn Japanese you should check out The Moe Way website. They’ve some good resources.)

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I always thought that the way we learn stuff is through x to y, a to b, because this is how I taught in my schooling. However, if I violate the equation, I would be considered as failure.

Until I realized it’s all about experience. Your explanation sums it up well. The Refold guide has been helpful too

I’ve learnt so much from deeply listening to my teachers. I think schools are good, it pulls you out of your immediate social confines and creates an opportunity for conversation with educated intelligent adults. Schools can do better, but they’re not bad. You forget a lot of the factoids you memorise in school, but many greater themes persist.

Anyways, good luck with learning!

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