Scott Young

If you really understand the principles of physics, for instance, you can solve a new problem simply by working backward.

There are nine universal principles that underlie the ultralearning

Focus: Sharpen Your Knife.

Directness: Go Straight Ahead. Learn by doing the thing you want to become good at.

Drill: Attack Your Weakest Point.

Retrieval: Test to Learn.

Feedback: Don’t Dodge the Punches. Feedback is harsh and uncomfortable. Know how to use it without letting your ego get in the way.

Retention: Don’t Fill a Leaky Bucket. Understand what you forget and why.

Understand how understanding works, and don’t recourse to cheap tricks of memorization to avoid deeply knowing things.

All of these principles are only starting points. True mastery comes not just from following the path trodden by others but from exploring possibilities they haven’t yet imagined.