You've Probably Read Enough • Hacker News Board

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#11

Post by mtgentry » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:22 PM UTC

I read HN and listen to podcasts like TWIST to expose myself to good ideas. My theory is the more you expose yourself to talented thought leaders, the more likely you are to think like them.

Then when you come across a problem while building your product, you can say to yourself "Hey, this is what Mark Suster was talking about in that one blog post...how did he solve the problem?"

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#12

Post by taylorbuley » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:22 PM UTC

I have definitely not read enough.

I've been "self-teaching" (mostly via O'Reilly books) since 2007 and I have completely changed my career. I grow as a programmer more and more every day, mostly thanks to reading.

Sure, I've read books like "Learn You A Haskell" without putting much into practice. But I feel I am much better off reading about new ideas even if I can't make every day use of them.

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#13

Post by ofca » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:24 PM UTC

Exactly > take the red pill! :) there is too much ambiguation. People spend months,years even, daydreaming. Fuck that childish nonsense. I am learning JS atm and loving myself for actually doing something. It is hard as hell but at least I'm moving forward, instead of being trapped in a dream.

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#14

Post by LVB » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:26 PM UTC

I think that learning something new was a lot easier for me when I had the completely incorrect impression that almost everything I needed to know was in the one book I got from the library or bookstore (especially back when these places would often have only one book on a technical topic). Once I understood the book, I'd be a master! Being young, naive, and without any internet left me awfully gung-ho and I didn't need any external "Just Do It" prodding. Now when I think I'm interested in learning something new, and I dare do search on it, it's something akin to the scene in The Lawnmower Man where the guy's head almost explodes when he walks into the library and tries to absorb everything.

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#15

Post by cmaggard » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:27 PM UTC

This is completely true for me. Every time I want to start a project using something new, I get completely sidetracked wanting to read everything I can get my hands on regarding it. So many side projects have died before they ever really began that way.

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#16

Post by _delirium » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:27 PM UTC

jcr wrote: post #6

Though the time I spend here on HN is both enjoyable and educational, a few months ago I ran an interesting test. For each article I read, I wrote down a one line entry on a piece of paper noting the site and basic gist of the article. The next day, before I was "allowed" to read any more articles on HN, I sat down with the blank side of said piece of paper from yesterday, and wrote down the articles I remembered. I…

It's hard to say for sure, but I find the difference between "cold" recall and latent recall of facts to be pretty large. Happens most frequently with stuff I learned on Wikipedia: I'll end up in a conversation, find myself knowing a fact that I shouldn't really have known given my background, and then realized that I must've gotten it from Wikipedia. Sometimes after that I can mentally recreate the browsing path I must've used to get to the fact, even though I wouldn't have been able to explicitly list the article in question as one I remembered reading.

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#17

Post by daenz » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:44 PM UTC

Reminds me of http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103111... Which basically alludes to visualizing your success tends to de-motivate you. I can't help but wonder if the people who soak up articles/videos of other people's accomplishments aren't living out their fantasies vicariously through those people, and weakening their own potential.

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#18

Post by ithought » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:47 PM UTC

jcr wrote: post #6

Though the time I spend here on HN is both enjoyable and educational, a few months ago I ran an interesting test. For each article I read, I wrote down a one line entry on a piece of paper noting the site and basic gist of the article. The next day, before I was "allowed" to read any more articles on HN, I sat down with the blank side of said piece of paper from yesterday, and wrote down the articles I remembered. I…

I started writing notes if I thought it was worth remembering. Too often I'd read the article and then later try to discuss it with someone and forget simple facts. I realized I'm not even learning anything, just temporarily distracting my mind with 'shiny' factoids and stories. Basically the same as looking at imgur all day. I also try to focus what I read and follow only things that relate to my job, projects and 1 or 2 hobby interests.

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#19

Post by div » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:47 PM UTC

bprater wrote: post #4

When I want to jump into a new interest, I usually spend a chunk of time at the beginning watching videos or grazing thru a manual. Even if I don't "get" everything yet -- knowing that Final Cut can do "X, Y, Z" and it's somewhere in the middle of the manual -- can be useful in removing some of the early frustration in the learning process.

This is very much how my brain works too, and I wonder if it's prevalent at all.

I'll know something is possible, and vaguely know what the technique is called, and I will be able to incorporate that knowledge into my thinking.

Then whenever it is time to build stuff, there's a lot of very specific googling to lay down a strong foundation of a solution.

Re: You've Probably Read Enough

#20

Post by joeyespo » Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 10:51 PM UTC

jcr wrote: post #6

Though the time I spend here on HN is both enjoyable and educational, a few months ago I ran an interesting test. For each article I read, I wrote down a one line entry on a piece of paper noting the site and basic gist of the article. The next day, before I was "allowed" to read any more articles on HN, I sat down with the blank side of said piece of paper from yesterday, and wrote down the articles I remembered. I…

I've had a similar observation with all of my RSS feeds. Afterward, I dropped about 80% of them. And wow did that feel good! Strange how it becomes a weight after a while. I also reduced my HN reading to just a few top posts a day.

What keeps me coming back to HN is my ongoing curiosity of how technology is evolving. (And also a slight paranoia of another hacker publishing exactly one of my side projects before I do :) I enjoy being engaged with other like minded strangers. And I believe this place helps you better predict, even appreciate the direction of technology.

Just so long as you have balance and it doesn't keep you from actually getting things done. As for the article's point, I do agree. Doing something is immeasurably more beneficial for you than reading about it.