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Ask HN: Books on meta-learning

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Ask HN: Books on meta-learning

#1
I think meta-learning (i.e., learning how to learn) is a way too commonly overlooked subject. Unpopularity notwithstanding, there are some excellent books on the subject. What are some of your favorites?

Mine is probably Tony Buzan's "Use Your Head".

Re: Ask HN: Books on meta-learning

#4
There's probably considerable overlap with books on creativity and making your thinking more flexible. Roger von Oech's _A Whack on the Side of the Head_ and _ Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!_ may be helpful.

Also, look at some of the books about home schooling, targeted to both parents and the teenagers themselves. I remember Grace Lewellyn's _ The Teenage Liberation Handbook_ having sections along the line of, "How do I go about really learning history/math/foreign languages/etc."

Many things with meta-learning advice will have it as a secondary topic, albeit an important one. Try your public library -- this is an excellent question for a librarian.

Re: Ask HN: Books on meta-learning

#8
post #2

http://search.oreilly.com/?q=mind+hacks&submit.x=0&s... i remember these 2 mind hacks from Oreilly being good, but i htink mine got borrowed forever.

I read the mind performance one. It was good but only as a introduction to things like remembering things, calculating fast or planning the day. Lifehack.org delivers also great information about this topic and for free ;)

Re: Ask HN: Books on meta-learning

#9
I've never heard of meta-learning, but about a year ago I stumbled onto a branch of philosophy called epistemology or the Theory of Knowledge. My studies there have been absolutely exhilarating and disturbing.

Next time you see someone at the coffee machine, ask them them what is meant by knowledge, reason, belief, truth, evidence, opinion, conviction, and hypocrisy.

The incoherent jumble you'll get back is indicative of the broken and sloppy process of the attempt to process data into knowledge (learning).

Re: Ask HN: Books on meta-learning

#10
post #9

I've never heard of meta-learning, but about a year ago I stumbled onto a branch of philosophy called epistemology or the Theory of Knowledge. My studies there have been absolutely exhilarating and disturbing. Next time you see someone at the coffee machine, ask them them what is meant by knowledge, reason, belief, truth, evidence, opinion, conviction, and hypocrisy. The incoherent jumble you'll get back is indicativ…

Unless you just happen to work with, say, Eliezer Yudkowsky; or zombie Phillip K. Dick.
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