Ask HN: How do I become smarter?
I'm 19 years old and I go to a not so great (according to Macleans university rankings) university in Canada. I would like to make a transfer to Waterloo and then go to graduate school at Stanford or MIT. These are just some of the goals that I'd like to achieve in my academic career. I would just like to prove to myself that I have what it takes and I would like to be in that academic environment (Sorry if I worded it poorly).
At the moment I know I definitely am not trying as hard as I should..I don't remember the last time I engaged myself with hard problems or where to start. I've been feeling pretty lost in what I've wanted to do with my life so I just decided to follow Paul Grahams advice and just go with what gives me the most options (http://paulgraham.com/hs.html).
When it comes to learning new things or building off old concepts, I feel like I have a poor foundation and I just don't know where to start. How can build a great foundation where I can understand the concepts intuitively?
In short, how can I become smarter?
92 comments
[ 3.0 ms ] story [ 113 ms ] threadFrom your post, it sounds like intelligence isn't the problem, but rather one of motivation. While doing well academically does require a baseline intelligence, the more important thing (like most things in life) is a matter of effort. Perhaps this comes from your lack of any concrete goals.
I found myself similarly lost when I first started my university education. Actually, I started off by going to a community college, and while at first that was disappointing, it also gave me the chance to sample a wide variety of subjects, and eventually finding out CS was what I was passionate about. By finding my passion, I was able to overcome my previous motivation problems. Perhaps if you try new things as well, you might find something that sparks your drive.
So I'd say :
1. Try to figure out what you'd love to do 2. Do it, and enjoy everyday of your life :)
The problem is, it's not always easy to find answer to point 1. To find, you must try a lot of different options, until you find what you really want to do. That's why I would suggest :
1. Try to work as an intern in small companies (startups). You'll get a very good contact with the founders, who are usually very smart guys. In other words : find a mentor
2. Try to be friends with people that have a passion for something, and see if you can share their passion
3. Be curious, go out, speak with people. And travel. Travel a lot.
Just remember this all times.
Going there will offer you nothing if you don't know what you're looking for. What is it that you love doing in life and how can you build on that?
Take a look at some of Rajesh Kumar's (Nanotech Engineering 2010) essays: http://rajesh.rapidtech.ca/archive_2009_08.html#the-case-for...
Do that. Forget about some impossible to quantify long term goal about being smarter and set a goal of solving a hard problem that should take you a few hours.
When you solved it, do another one.
Also, when taking on a problem, it helps if you break it down into smaller, shorter, quantifiable targets. This single approach alone will help you see impossible problems as being a set of smaller, difficult ones.
Considering that you "Migrated from reddit" because the "quality of the comments declined way too fast.", you'll probably be interested in (re)reading the HN guidelines.
http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Of course we can now also discuss what is thoughtful, civil, and substantial. From my understanding of the word civil, your comment is questionable. I may be too sensitive, but your comment strikes me as one that attempted to show no respect and even try to hurt my feelings. This thought process has even more grounding with the appearance of your account being made only for this one comment. I'm saddened that you couldn't show me the respect and common courtesy of using an active account.
On to my actual comment. Your first quote is from the welcome page. The same page that appears to be quite lax and from my (admittedly biased) reading, doesn't seem to be too against my comment. The one mistake I admit to is the wording. It should have been worded better.
On the other hand, I was the first and only person to bring up 'brain-enhancing' drugs. I decided to keep my comment short so if anyone actually cared about the topic, they could reply and then I could expand. Otherwise I feared I would possibly invoke negativity from people that don't like the idea of people taking certain drugs. Negativity (not necessarily for what I had in mind) occured anyway so that reasoning is moot I guess.
Longer-form materials that require deep concentration are best. On hard topics, go as slow as necessary but don't change tasks looking for the quick hit of some lighter reading/interaction.
You could fight your way through a textbook, going more slowly (and doing side research or seeking others' help) on the parts that are most difficult. Or grab research papers of interest, and when you hit things you don't know take detours only to fill those gaps.
But the problem with the advice "put in more effort" is that it isn't really that helpful. But such is life. The beauty really is in figuring out answers for yourself.
When I was younger I was obsessed with finding out answers. I am very curious and like to learn things so of course I would read and ask people and go on the internet and try to figure things out - in short, I relentlessly pursued answers.
But as I grew older I came to realize that you can't always pursue answers from external sources, because they aren't really that helpful. I am not saying never learn, I am saying answers are only the beginning!
Answers are abundant. PG has all the answers about running a startup. Ask any nba player how to be good at basketball and you'll have tons of answers. The internet makes practically any answer ever recorded instantly accessable.
This probably sounds like a lot of nonsense but the point is, the answers you really care about and the answers that will shift your life and spur greatness, those answers do not exist in books - you have to figure them out yourself, relative to your self.
How do you do that? Be active. Keep trying, never stop, always appreciate, always learn, always read, always be humble, always be kind, be helpful, be aware, be open.
See there you go, I guarantee and I will stake my life on the fact that what I am saying is 100% the correct answer. But it doesn't help you much does it?
Be a happy, appreciative student of life, stop to say hi to your fellow humans along the way and work hard - you will be smarter my friend.
Take care.
And it doesn't matter how many different topics you cover. What matters is how deep you go into the topics that matter to you. You have more of a chance of actually coming up with some new and useful, instead of merely rediscovering or relearning what others already came up with.
2. Solve problems (anything, it can be hard or easy)
3. GOTO 1
In all seriousness though #1 is the point that will make a big difference. My friends generally mark me as the smartest person in our group (uh, there was no "nice" way to put that). They are perfectly smart individuals; but due to my old social awkwardness and slight insomnia I spent the better part of my school years reading anything I could get my hands on, and that makes a difference.
Ok, so on a public front you simply appear smart for knowing stuff about a diverse range of topics (I recall a particularly crazy conversation on a train at 1am where I met an Aussie and we discussed Scuba diving in some depth :D) - which is a bit of a fake because that is just "knowing stuff".
But knowing stuff is a path to smartness. Pick up threads you find interesting and pursue them. Teach those things to people. Find stuff that excites you and makes you want to solve it.
You mention intuitive learning too; over time you can develop great intuitive learning Just follow what feels "right" in your reading and problem solving; eventually you will find when presented with a problem you can visualize it, break it down/deconstruct it and then solve for x.
(always seek an answer)
But anb ability to retain random pieces of information is often confused for intelligence :D
2. Show, don't tell
3. Take advice from smart people
4. Trust your instincts
5. Listen
You'll get out of University what you put in and at 19 not everyone is in a position to put a lot in. I certainly wasn't. I went to a top University in the UK and basically wasted four years. I came out a lot better off but I didn't milk it for all it was worth. You may consider a gap year but that can be expensive. Taking a year out to work for charity can help you mature and see the world a little. Gap years are no panacea though.
Since you don't know your story yet I recommend that you read other people's stories. You can read Founders at Work or something by Bill Gates but first I'd recommend reading Cherry-Garrard's account of Scott's attempt on the South Pole "The Worst Journey in the World". It changed my whole perception of life. Scott's team knew there was a good chance they would die. They knew they didn't know HOW to get to the pole. They knew they didn't know how to survive at -60c. It's an amazing story and has inspired me for 10 years now. Most things in life are a mystery but that shouldn't stop you reaching the south pole. Cherry-Garrard himself was too weak and short sited for the trip but showed so much determination and courage that Scott let him join the team.
Hopefully you'll find something inspiring. From inspiration comes drive and from drive comes a determination to do something. Since most of the world is a mystery you'll have to look for that something to do but it's out there, somewhere.
Anyway, I've prattled on a little like the old fart I am :)
Good luck.
* Don't focus on the goal: You might set some big goals, but don't focus on them too much (focus on the process instead and probably you'll be happy with the outcome).
* Change slowly: Monitor yourself, summarize what you did each day and try to change things one at a time. Changes that need time to take effect cannot be made quickly (the same way it's not a good idea to adjust water temperature quickly while you're showering).
* Know yourself: Know your limits, and what makes you tick. Monitor yourself and your friends. Figure out why those people are your friends. (It helps to understand yourself better). What are your weaknesses, what are strengths? Hint: what are the things you enjoyed doing when you were a little kid? Try to find activities / work that's similar to that.
* Learn from others: Get to know people, who you respect, and are smarter than you; learn from them. (Also a great way to keep your ego checked)
* Remember to spend time with your loved ones. Do it for them, and for you.
You'll never be smarter, but that's a meaningless term anyway. You are inclined to learn more about things that matter to you. And because these concepts are fascinating your focus will exceed that of any disinterested person with a natural aptitude.
Not long from now you'll be discussing entomology or artificial intelligence or interior design with an uncommon passion and someone will wish they were as smart as you.
I've really learned what people mean when they say that the mind is a muscle. You know when you first start working out, you can't lift that much and everything hurts, but after, say, two years you've built up some muscle and maybe you can bench your bodyweight? Well, it was a bit like that. Stanford was a very challenging environment for me at first. I feel like I get things more quickly, have more ideas, and think faster in general now than I did two years ago...to a greater degree than I could reasonably expect just from aging two years.
>how are you more comfortable with theory
I did my undergrad at Georgetown...fine school, and not totally devoid of theory classes, but the philosophy there is that you learn by implementing (which I did). But I never did a CS problem set in four years there. I could still understand theory and reproduce it on exams etc, but if you asked me to read an academic paper it would have been pretty painful. That's no longer the case, despite the fact that I've only read 1-2 papers here. If you want something more concrete - I took 224M and 225B my first quarter, and they were waaay harder for me then that taking a similar class would be now (especially 224M - http://cs224m.stanford.edu).
>what does that comfort do for you?
Hmmm, good question. I don't know if there's any direct, tangible benefit that I can point to.
>What type of role in society/IT would you say the education prepared you for?
Just about anything. I'm CTO of a NY startup, and will finally be full time on it once I graduate, but I could have gone on to be a PM or dev at pretty much any company of my choice, or gone to Wall St, or just about anything else you can think of. Oh, that reminds me of another benefit of being here...you'll regularly get Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc. emailing you and asking you to interview. Plus, Stanford is ridiculous for credibility...if you play the S-card, as some call it, people are often more conducive to your requests. That can even just mean sending an email from your @cs.stanford.edu address instead of GMail. Not sure how that is at other schools but it's a nice change from Gtown, whose CS dept is so small most people never think of it.
If you have a discipline A and a discipline B, and knowing A will help you a great deal with B, but B is totally unnecessary for A, it's natural to want to study A first. But this ignores the most important factor: everyday motivation. This is a much fuzzier thing than the dependency tree model, and it's natural to find it less attractive to think about. But it's real, and it's important. It's not enough to like the idea of conquering A. You have to find the process itself satisfying enough that it perpetuates itself. In practice, this often means learning B, being frustrated by your ignorance of A, but also excited enough to keep going. Then learning A once your studies of B have shown you the power and value of A.
If there isn't anything that excites you enough to study it without putting in inordinate amount of willpower, don't feel bad. It's entirely the fault of institutions that educated you. The trick is to start with some real world problem that doesn't even seem respectable, but is exciting because it's real, and in the course of solving which you'll come in contact with other, "deeper" areas of knowledge.
Rest assured that your capacity to acquire new skills and knowledge is massive.
You don't just get smarter. You get smarter at something in particular. Playing chess, doing IQ tests, running the 100m dash, programming, social skills, public speaking, etc. So you need to pick a particular skill or set of skills or vocation and decide to get smarter at that.
There are some general rules for improving brain function though. Here are a few:
1. Read books. Reading trains your brain to concentrate for long periods of time without fatigue or distraction. There is a growing school of thought that the short bursts of reading and frequent distractions we experience online are harming our ability for deep contemplation, introspection and concentration. See Nicholas Carr, The Shallows. http://n.pr/bnAfRV
2. Try to get 10 hours of sleep a night. Sleep improves mental and athletic performance. http://n.pr/9wQsXr
3. Maintain your cardiovascular fitness. I highly recommend running. After years of cycling, swimming, hiking, etc I've found that running gives my brain function the biggest boost and provides me with sustained mental energy through the day. A good cardiovascular system supplies your brain with plenty of healthy oxygen rich blood. It's like putting racing fuel in your car.
4. Eat well. Cook your own food. Avoid processed or pre-prepared foods and non-organic foods (mainly due to the pesticides). Fish is awesome, but watch out for mercury.
5. Don't drink anything stronger than wine. Don't do drugs. (just like your mom told you)
6. Watch your weight. I find the biggest source of mental fatigue is when I've gained a few pounds.
Good luck, and congratulations on making the decision at a relatively young age to focus on your mental fitness.
Expanding on #3:
Team sports & activities can increase not just mental acuity, but social acuity as well. Being academically intelligent will get you far, but being socially & emotionally intelligent as well will get you even further.
Also, martial arts, dancing, and any kind of activity that requires fine coordination can significantly build new neural patterns. If you enjoy doing them, then the overall mental health you gain is a total bonus.
#7:
Learning a new language and/or travel outside of your country. Different languages and cultures can actually affect the way you perceive the world in subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) ways. They expand your understanding & view of the world, thereby allowing you to see an issue from multiple viewpoints.
A quick example is national and global politics. I don't really care for politicians, but I try to follow the shifts in the world climate as much as I can. And I'm always impressed by how my European friends seem to have such a keen understanding of US politics, while I'm scratching my head about European politics.
#8:
Foster many interests. If you have a random interest in birds, feed it. Read books on birds. Go bird watching. Join a bird watching group.
One of the reasons people are cited as geniuses is because they are able to engage in lateral thinking. They can see patterns in seemingly unrelated topics. This is a powerful mental mechanism that can help in all facets of life - especially in solving difficult problems.
#9:
Engage in critical thinking. Practice the art of asking "Why?" Don't always accept what you see and hear at face value. Question it, probe behind it, and get at the underlying truth.
The news media is a great place to practice this. I used to work in this industry and even studied subjects like communication, propaganda, and marketing in college.
Allow your curiosity to take over as you read the news or watch a TV show. If something doesn't make sense, try searching for more information about it online. Read about it until you've satisfied that itch of curiosity.
One word of caution here: this can be taken too far. I think it's a fine practice to think critically about the declarations people tend to make. I have many friends who say things that seem to be full of questionable assumptions. I want nothing more than to question their statements and challenge them. But doing so can easily cross the line into obnoxiousness. For friends who like to debate, I'll jump right into it. But I pick those battles carefully. Some can take it, some can't.
I hope this helps. It's great that you're asking this question. Wish I had asked it when I was 19. Good luck!
I will strongly second the "no drugs" advice. I experimented and quickly stopped because I noticed - more than inhibiting my mental capacity - it ruins your life and makes you dependent (rather than autonomous). Autonomy is the watchword of an adept mind!
Read. Read. Read. But, don't believe everything you read! Part of being intelligent is knowing when to accept a piece of thinking and when to question it; when you do question it, dig into it deeply until you come out the other end with a whole new set of original conclusions that were inspired by one dubious conclusion.
I will strongly second the advice to foster many interests. You interact with people that have points of view (goes with world traveling well) you would never consider. Also, don't forget, "weirdos" or "eccentrics" have much to offer - just be sure to follow your gut when interacting with them (some have misguided intentions, others are pure as gold).
You just reminded me of another one: teaching.
One study showed that older siblings, on average, tend to be slightly smarter than their younger siblings. One plausible rationale may be because they spend time teaching their younger brothers & sisters. http://www.bioedonline.org/news/news.cfm?art=3401
If you've ever taught someone a subject, and found yourself walking away knowing that subject better than you did before, you're experiencing a similar phenomenon.
The act of teaching a subject requires you to understand it well enough to be able to synthesize, then explain it to someone else.
Regarding 4 and 5 though, will these actually improve your brain function - make you smarter? Or are they just to guard against decline?
I've heard about fish being good in the womb and good for warding off dementia, but I haven't seen anything about it actually making you smarter.
And I guess the warning on drugs doesn't include nootropics.
That said, the rest is solid. Cooking for yourself is cheaper, healthier, and tastier.
out of the 6 things you've mentioned I have been doing all of them except for #2 which I have been working on slowly.
Running is absolutely amazing, I definitely agree with you that it provides the biggest boost of brain function, after a nice run a long the canal I feel like I can take on the world.
I now just need to find something I love doing, and just stick with it. I have trouble sticking with something, as soon as it gets challenging I back out...most likely a fear of failure that I need to overcome.
A few comments:
Micronutrients - you should take a vitamin daily Omega 3s - these are well worth supplementing, they play a key role in brain development and I have felt an impact from them.
2) The ideal case is to let your body decide how much sleep it needs, I rarely sleep more than 8 hours.
3) I used to run, but a knee injury has taken me out of that particular hobby. What matters is that you raise your heart rate - elliptical machines do a great job, particularly if you do weights in advance. exrx.net has some great info.
5) This shows a bit of prejudice. You definitely should moderate your drug intake and bear in mind that caffeine is just as much a drug as alcohol or thc or lsd. You have to make up your own mind which drugs are acceptable and how you want to use them and in what quantities. Drinking 8oz of wine or 2 ounces of cognac are pretty well equivalent, it's the alcohol that matters. Same goes for tea vs coffee etc.
2. Get to a point where they see you as a peer (by reading, discussing, solving problems etc.)
3. Go to #1
(1) Get rid if your TV. Dumping my TV probably had the single largest impact on the effective use of my time. You will be amazed at how much more creative you can be when you no longer have an excuse to lounge about for an hour or so at a time.
(2) Don't 'study' your academics. Ignore the marks altogether and learn stuff for the sake of it being interesting to you. Study chapters outside the syllabus and ignore ones in it that might be boring. You may sacrifice results in the short run but your long term understanding and passion for the subject will be of great benefit in the long run.
(3) Be endlessly curious. Make an effort to figure out how things around you work, or why they work that way. Seriously, take a cigarette lighter apart from time to time just for the sake of solving the how. Drive a different route home just to see where it goes and why.
(4) Don't be afraid to fix things that break. Always make an effort to fix some or other mechanical thing that breaks around the house. You'll be surprised how this improves your patience and problem solving skills.
(5) Spend time with smart people. Watching them solve problems and how they think will give you something to work towards.
Being 19, you still have a lot of time to get smart - so put in the effort now and by the time you're finished college, you'll probably be nicely along the road to better, more creative, problem solving.
You know those people who say "I used to ..., but then I realised that ... and now I'm much happier"? You're either one of them just on the cusp of your epiphany, or you're just wishing really hard for a silver bullet. The latter is a waste of your time.
(Mine was putting the blame for my lack of achievements anywhere but my own procrastination. I realised what I was doing, and stopped by imposing deadlines on myself, and penalties for missing them. "I'm not allowed to go to that party at the weekend unless this project is finished, completely. Either that, or accept that I'll never achieve anything because I don't put in the time". Treating myself like the naughty child I was, basically.)
2) Learn something interesting
3) Teach it to someone else (write something about what you've learned, sit a friend down, ring up your mum)
Repeat.
My problem is that now that I work in the area I'm interested in, and by the time I'm done with my work day my brain is completely exhausted, so all I want to do is lounge in front of the telly or similar instead of getting more into the field other than what I'm working on :( (I'm a philosophy post-doc.)
Attributed to Einstein: "Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking."