"Students generally are not taught how to study. And when they are, they often get the wrong advice. As a result, they gravitate to activities that a"Students generally are not taught how to study. And when they are, they often get the wrong advice. As a result, they gravitate to activities that are far from optimal: like re-reading, massed practice, and cramming."
(Although the above quote appears near the very end of the book, I find it summarizes the premise most succinctly.)
Were YOU ever taught how to study effectively? I know I wasn't. Oh, I was told to make flashcards out of index cards. And given the dim impression I should stay up late drinking Red Bulls while frantically "cramming" the night before a test--though I was also warned (quite accurately) that my long-term retention with this method would be absolute crap. But that is the sum total of what I ever knew about studying.
You know what I did happen to notice? When I was asked to tutor other students, particularly ESL students, and had to explain the material comprehensibly in my own words, I did FAR better--not only on my tests but in terms of long-term recollection of said material. It's a pity I didn't turn this into some sort of active strategy. I suspect I was confused by having been impressed with the importance of the now-debunked neuromyth of Learning Styles. (I scored equally on the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic--and so, presumed I needed all forms to be present for me to learn most effectively.) Thanks for nothing, Public School counselors!
Just kidding. It's not really their fault. This was back when the Food Pyramid was still being taught as undisputed truth, eggs were being described as evil cholesterol bombs, and margarine was purported to be SO much healthier than real butter. >.>
"If you're just engaging in mechanical repetition, it's true, you quickly hit the limit of what you can keep in mind. However, if you practice elaboration, there's no known limit to how much you can learn."
So in this book, we have proven principles behind effective study habits and strategies. In a nutshell, they are as follows:
3 keystone Study Strategies
*Practice retrieving new learning from memory. (This means self-quizzing. Retrieving info/skill from memory should replace re-reading.) How: When you read a text/study lecture notes, pause periodically to ask yourself questions like these: -What are the key ideas? -What terms are new to me? -How do the ideas relate to what I already know?
*Space out your retrieval practice. (Study information more than once, leaving considerable time between practice sessions.) How: Establish a self-quizzing schedule, allowing time to elapse between study sessions. How much time depends on the material. Names/faces must be reviewed within minutes. Texts should be revisited within a day or so of 1st encounter. Then, not for several days, or a week. Alternate topics.
*Interleave the study of different problem types. (With math formulas, study more than 1 type at a time--so you alternate between different problems calling for different solutions.) How: Mix up the examples. Change it up--mix in the practice of other subjects/skills, rather than practicing to mastery before moving on. Challenge your ability to recognize the problem type and select the right solution.
Other Effective Strategies:
-Elaboration: Multiples the number of mental cues available to you for later recall and application. Come up with a metaphor or visual image for the new material--which helps add layers of meaning.
-Generation: Makes the mind more receptive to new learning. Attempt to answer the problem before being shown the solution.
-Reflection: A combination of retrieval practice and elaboration that adds layers to learning and strengthens skills. Taking a few minutes to review what has been learned, and asking yourself questions. What went well? What could have gone better? What other knowledge/experiences does it remind you of?
-Calibration: The act of aligning your judgments of what you know and don't know with objective feedback--to avoid being carried off by the illusions of mastery, that catch many learners by surprise come test time. Everyone is subject to cognitive illusions.
-Mnemonic Devices: Helps you retrieve what you've learned, and hold arbitrary information in memory. Like mental filing cabinets that give you handy ways to store information. Makes retrieval easier. (See Chapter 7.)
If those concepts seem a bit vague, the author does get more specific in terms of suggested study habits of highly successful students:
-Always does the reading BEFORE a lecture. -Anticipates test questions and their answers while reading. -Answers rhetorical questions in head during lecture to test reading retention. -Reviews study guides. Finds terms they can't recall or don't know and relearns them. -Copies down bolded terms and their definitions, making sure they understand them. -Uses practice tests to identify weaknesses." -Reorganizes course info into study guide of their own design. -Writes out concepts that are detailed or important and posts them above their bed; tests self on them from time to time. -Spaces out review and practice over the duration of the course.
"Once you engage the mind in trying to make sense of something new, the mind begins to "knit" at the problem on its own. You don't engage the mind by reading a text over and over again, or by passively watching PowerPoint slides. You engage it by making the effort to explain the material yourself, in your own words--connecting the facts, making it vivid, relating it to what you already know."
Overall, I'm very glad I read this book. For the sake of my children, if nothing else. But it isn't without its flaws. There's a lot of repetition and embellishment to reinforce the main points. Really, the book could have easily been half the length we ended up with. (Perhaps it was Brown's way of spacing out how we learned the material to maximize retention?) ...more
But honestly, I'm mad I wasted as much time as I did trying to get literally ANYTHING out of this.
This audiobook readsDNF @ 45%
I tried. I really did.
But honestly, I'm mad I wasted as much time as I did trying to get literally ANYTHING out of this.
This audiobook reads so much like a knowledge-based compliance training module (of the type thrust upon many a government worker), resulting in my attention deficit issues dialing up to 10. Definitions upon definitions; dull, unrealistic example upon dull, unrealistic example. There is a voice narrator credited... but it sounds like the blandest, most inflection-lacking female A.I. ever conceived.
I would swear on the soul of my long-dead cat that the entire thing was written by an A.I. content farm, if it hadn't been released in 2020--2 years prior to the Chat GPT explosion....more
An introduction to Autism--its history and known neurological impact--by one who has long been considered a sort of Maven on the topic.
Much like the An introduction to Autism--its history and known neurological impact--by one who has long been considered a sort of Maven on the topic.
Much like the author's speaking voice, this work is an interesting sort of blend between cursory memoir... and a dryly informative textbook.
This book is divided into two parts. The first focuses on helping one visualize the brain structure variations between neurotypicals and those with Autism. There's also a bit of genetic theory that trends more heavily into academic terms, but not generally beyond the point of comprehension (particularly if one doesn't mind a deeper dive.) The second part centers more on Grandin's personal experiences and realizations over the years.
I appreciated how open Grandin is about some of her rigidity in thinking and assumptions--particularly when she admitted to her eventual revelation that not all Autistic people think and/or are affected by their neurodivergence in the same manner as her.
I've been hearing about Temple Grandin since I was a child. But this is the first time I've read her work, rather than just listening to her interviews. And while I didn't come away feeling like I knew her as well as I might have liked, I did glean more information on the evolution of understanding regarding the Autism spectrum. ...more
Note: This book came out in the early/mid-90s, hence the language choices and examples sometimes feeAn informative wake-up call on the marital front.
Note: This book came out in the early/mid-90s, hence the language choices and examples sometimes feel dated. (i.e. too much leaning into stereotypes at times.)
Apparently, I should have aimed for some of Gottman's more recent works. (I likely will, given how much useful perspective I gleaned from this one.)
At about the 1/4th mark, there's a self-evaluation comprised of yes or no questions. The test is called: Is there enough love and respect in your marriage? It's followed shortly thereafter by what I found to be the most revelatory aspect of the book--a simple appraisal tool that made me take a hard look at my own marital actions and communication flaws--as well as those of marriages around me. And undeniably, I had to take far more seriously certain behaviors and signs I had previously downplayed.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Gottman's name for 4 disastrous ways of interacting that sabotage your attempts to communicate with your partner. (In order of least dangerous.)
"As these behaviors become more and more entrenched, husband and wife focus increasingly on the escalating sense of negativity and tension in their marriage."
After about the halfway mark I found things repetitive. Whether other readers will may depend on how much reinforcement one needs to help identify warning signs and ways to correct them....more
A bit underwhelming, as far as pop psychology goes. The longer I've let it sit, the more I realize there just wasn't much memorable about thi2.5 Stars
A bit underwhelming, as far as pop psychology goes. The longer I've let it sit, the more I realize there just wasn't much memorable about this. (Especially past the halfway point, when it spends the rest of its time dragging you through subject material you'll be hard-pressed to care about.)
The authors are REALLY trying to sell you on their key term: Libertarian Paternalism. Which sounds like an attention-seeking contradiction--and as the authors admit, seems to tick off certain Libertarians as a result. I suspect that just depends on what kind of Libertarian you're talking about. They are about as far from monolithic as a fragmented, disillusioned, independent political affiliation can be.
Personally, I wasn't offended. Maybe just a little annoyed with the repetition. And with the way the authors seem to be patting themselves on the back for finding themselves at odds with both sides of the political extreme. (Not hard to do, fellas. Just ask a Libertarian.)
In theory, I agree with the content of this book to a large extent. The idea of gently "nudging" at human behavioral patterns (for their own good, of course) whilst leaving free will intact is an attractive proposition. Some might call it a form of social engineering. Some might call it manipulation. But the authors draw a hard distinction between nudging and manipulating. i.e. Maintaining the option of choice.
While I appreciate some of the broader and more political uses for nudging--the proven-effective instances in particular--I would have liked to see a lot more practical applications....more
"Reducing CPTSD to "panic disorder" is like calling food allergies 'chronically itchy eyes.'"
Superb!
I've read a number of best-selling books related"Reducing CPTSD to "panic disorder" is like calling food allergies 'chronically itchy eyes.'"
Superb!
I've read a number of best-selling books related to trauma and trauma recovery, and this one stands head and shoulders above all others thus far. (I particularly recommend it for those who found The Body Keeps the Score to be either semi-helpful... or perhaps too problematic to finish.)
Pete Walker has a steady, strong, compassionate voice that resonates with the authenticity of having survived a heavily abusive and neglectful childhood--and having spent a good chunk of his adulthood determinedly figuring out how to heal from it. He sounds very much like the authority he is, yet never loses his conversational tone. As a result, this book is concisely informative while remaining approachable in presentation.
"Trauma occurs when attack or abandonment triggers a fight/flight response so intensely that a person cannot turn it off once the threat is over. He becomes stuck in an adrenalized state. His sympathetic nervous system is locked "on" and he cannot toggle into the relaxation function of the parasympathetic nervous system."
"The role of traumatized childhoods in most adult psychological disorders is enormous. I have witnessed many clients with CPTSD misdiagnosed with various anxiety and depressive disorders. Moreover, many are also unfairly and inaccurately labeled with bipolar, narcissistic, co-dependent, autistic spectrum, and borderline disorders."
"Further confusion also arises in the case of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder), as well as Obsessive Compulsive disorder--both of which are sometimes more accurately described as fixated flight responses to trauma. This is also true of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and some depressive and dissociative disorders, which similarly can more accurately be described as fixated freeze responses to trauma."
Walker does a fantastic job of explaining, relating, and defining terms. But he doesn't stop at mere clinical definition (or redefinition--for those who've suffered misdiagnosis.) He validates, reframes, and offers actual solutions. Not just his own, but an amalgamation of the top influences whose methods he found effective in his own practice.
At the end of this book, he suggests somewhere around two dozen books addressing more specific types of childhood trauma recovery, and relationship enhancing (or repairing) resources. I added nearly half of them to my to-read list--gratefully. (You can find a partial reference list in my reading activity section for this book.)
Seriously, this was one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. I can't recommend it more highly--for those coping with unhealed childhood trauma, and for those who love and are attempting to aid someone who suffers from Complex PTSD.
Favorite Quotes:
*"Perhaps all addictive behavior is our misguided attempts to self-medicate deeper abandonment pain and unmet attachment needs."
*"The ability to say 'no' is the backbone of our instinct of self-protection."
*"Shame is blame unfairly turned against the self."
*"Narcissists don't have relationships. They take prisoners."
*"What was not provided by your parents can now be provided by yourself and others. Recovery from CPTSD typically has important self-help and relational components. The relational piece can come from authors, friends, partners, teachers, therapists, therapeutic groups, or any combination of these. I like to call this: Reparenting by Committee."...more
This is a fairly quick read that frequently sounds like a somewhat bewildered, embittered, and very personal reflection by the author. (Which2.5 Stars
This is a fairly quick read that frequently sounds like a somewhat bewildered, embittered, and very personal reflection by the author. (Which he all but admits.)
I sincerely hope this book was cathartic for MacKenzie to get out. And I suspect it could be helpful to certain laymen victims of psychopathy/sociopathy. (If you are completely new to the idea of a small but damaging--and sometimes dangerous--minority of people who lack both a conscience and any capacity to feel or experience love... the first 3/4ths of this book may help you wrap your mind around it.)
MacKenzie is no expert--nor does he claim to be. He cites few sources throughout the book (although he does refer to Dr. Martha Stout's work, which raised his credibility a wee bit in my estimation.) It did begin to bother me more than halfway in when I realized he lacks the understanding of critical nuance between psychopaths, sociopaths, and narcissists. There's no mention of the social savvy of most sociopaths vs. the more blatantly anti-social tendencies of psychopaths. There's no differentiation to help readers grasp that, while all sociopaths are narcissists, not all narcissists are sociopaths. And most concerningly, the author seems to imply that ALL anti-social personality conditions are irreparable and unchanging. (It's important readers know that non-sociopathic narcissists (and histrionics) can actually turn around with therapeutic intervention... it's just that they normally have to hit rock bottom and be abandoned by all their established supplies of attention and affection before they have the proper motivation to accept any responsibility for their actions or form a desire to change.)
One thing the author adds to the conversation that I hadn't noted before was his mentioning of some predatory personalities as having a "fan club." This is a very real aspect of mid to high I.Q. sociopaths that I don't feel is talked about enough. Unwitting fan clubs are typically composed of naive and/or inattentive, well-meaning individuals who simply can't see past the charming facade of a skilled sociopath or narcissist... unless they happen to become one of their latest victims.
And then there's the letter MacKenzie offers as a recovery exercise--thanking the psychopath's new target for diverting their focus and telling them you fear for them, even though you know they won't believe you until they too are discarded... THAT was poignant.
What really brought down my rating was the last 1/4th of the book, when the author goes off the rails in terms of lumping all 4 cluster-B personality disorders together--as though they all represented the same potential threat to the well-being of others. And as though all were equally incapable of reform. (I get that he had a bad experience--the quasi-memoir portion made it clear. But he comes off as unable to see past his valid hurt to the broad subtleties of this issue.)
And then there are the statistics offered at the very end. Let's just say... a statistician, MacKenzie is not. Not only does he not differentiate between the Cluster-B disorders, and doesn't account for overlap... he leaves readers with the impression that roughly 20% of the population poses a threat to their mental health. The paranoia this seems to promote had me understanding why so many reviewers had a problem with this book. I'm just trying not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. There are worthwhile aspects to this book, and things that can be readily dismissed.
I'll admit though, it was entertaining reading through a host of the 1-star reviews and spotting the red-flag ones that were entirely too defensive of Cluster-B personality disorders and offended by the author's hardline against their machinations and manipulations. As the Southerners so succinctly say... 'a kicked dog will holler.' >.>...more
A potentially thought-provoking encouragement toward introspection, and consideration of the motives of oneself and others.
The premise in a 3.5 Stars
A potentially thought-provoking encouragement toward introspection, and consideration of the motives of oneself and others.
The premise in a nutshell: "With everything you do, in fact, you should train yourself to question your repeated behaviors."
The author opens by recounting a horrible accident he was in as a youth, which resulted in him being burned over 70% of his body. The isolation he endured during his recovery sparked his interest in understanding human behavioral patterns, and the largely unconscious reasoning behind them.
Having just recently finished Nudge, I would readily recommend this book over it--for both its more overall practical content and its efficient brevity. It also struck me as more useful from a marketing standpoint (for those who find themselves in need of marketing.)
I already knew that humans see cash differently than credit--both to their detriment and in terms of willingness to be dishonest with it. But I found fascinating, and believable, the concept that the more separation or steps there are between them and money, the more likely people are to be dishonest in their accounting. (i.e. having to submit receipts to a middle-man in order to obtain reimbursement, rather than reporting amounts directly.)
I could have done without the section involving the male masturbation study. It wasn't just tacky, it came off as chauvinistic. (And really, what substrata of men would volunteer for this kind of study?! I have theories, but the book was no help with that...)...more
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