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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Learn Like a Pro summary
Barbara Oakley
Olav Schewe
Science-based Tools to Become Better at Anything
22 mins
Brief summary
Learn Like a Pro by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe is a practical guide to learning how to learn. It explains how to overcome common mistakes, use effective learning techniques, and develop a growth mindset. It offers insights and tips that can be applied to any field of study or learning opportunity.
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Learn Like a Pro
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Use the Pomodoro Technique to focus in 25-minute intervals, stay on track, and minimize distractions.
It’s tough to focus in today’s tech-heavy world – so tough, that you may yearn for a bygone era when life was simple and distractions were limited. But here’s the thing: it wasn’t any easier to focus in the past than it is today.
You’ve probably heard of the French writer Victor Hugo. He wrote the novel Les Misérables. He lived in the 1800s. And he also struggled with focus. According to one legend, he motivated himself by working in his study completely naked, with nothing but a pen and piece of paper. His attendant was instructed to unlock the door only after he’d finished writing.
This worked well for Hugo, but what are you supposed to do if you don’t have an attendant and prefer to work fully clothed? Fortunately, we have modern methods for staying focused and overcoming procrastination. Perhaps the most powerful of these is the Pomodoro Technique.
The key message here is: Use the Pomodoro Technique to focus in 25-minute intervals, stay on track, and minimize distractions.
In the 1980s, Italian university student Francesco Cirillo took a stab at tackling his own tendency to get distracted. He did this by dividing his learning time into 25-minute chunks of intense focus, separated by five-minute breaks. He used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to time himself, and called each chunk a Pomodoro, the Italian word for tomato. It works like this.
First, remove anything from your workspace that might distract you. This includes unnecessary clutter and open tabs in your browser. And turn off notifications on all your devices.
Then, set a timer for 25 minutes and work with as much focus as possible. Actual emergencies aside, everything else can wait until you’re done. If you finish your task early, use the remaining time to check your work.
When the timer rings, relax for five minutes – but keep away from your phone, the internet, and reading, since these don’t allow your brain to recharge fully. Instead, make a cup of tea, or go for a walk. This short mental break gives your brain time to transfer the material you’ve just studied into your long-term memory.
So why is the Pomodoro Technique so effective? It stops you from multitasking, which hurts focus. In fact, a University of Michigan study found that participants who switched to a second activity before finishing the first showed 30 to 40 percent drops in cognitive performance.
Only about 2.5 percent of people can successfully transition among multiple complex tasks. For everyone else, there’s the Pomodoro Technique.
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What is Learn Like a Pro about?
Learn Like a Pro: Science-based Tools to Become Better at Anything (2021) looks at the most powerful strategies for staying focused and learning effectively. Both coauthors draw on their past struggles with learning, and use insights from experts and research to find out what works and what doesn’t.
Learn Like a Pro Review
Learn Like a Pro (2021) by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe explores effective study techniques and strategies to help readers improve their learning abilities. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With its practical tips and tools, it empowers readers to optimize their study habits and ultimately achieve better academic results.
- By incorporating scientific research and expert insights, the book provides valuable knowledge on how the brain learns, making the content reliable and trustworthy.
- Through its engaging storytelling and relatable examples, it manages to present complex concepts in an accessible and entertaining way, making it anything but boring.
Who should read Learn Like a Pro?
- Students looking to supercharge their learning
- Anyone who has struggled to learn something new
- Education gurus
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Learn Like a Pro FAQs
What is the main message of Learn Like a Pro?
The main message of Learn Like a Pro is to help learners be more effective and efficient in their studying and learning process.
How long does it take to read Learn Like a Pro?
The reading time for Learn Like a Pro varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in around 15 minutes.
Is Learn Like a Pro a good book? Is it worth reading?
Learn Like a Pro is worth reading as it provides practical strategies and techniques to enhance learning and improve study habits.
Who is the author of Learn Like a Pro?
The authors of Learn Like a Pro are Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe.
What to read after Learn Like a Pro?
If you're wondering what to read next after Learn Like a Pro, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- How We Learn by Benedict Carey
- Learn Better by Ulrich Boser
- A Mind for Numbers by Barbara Oakley
- How to Speak Machine by John Maeda
- Algorithms to Live By by Brian Christian & Tom Griffiths
- How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport
- 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life by Bill Eddy
- Deep Work by Cal Newport
- How We Learn by Stanislas Dehaene
- Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday