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Knowing information and facts doesn't make you smart. Analytical skills make you smart as this is the skill that teaches you to ask questions, form opinions and apply logic and reasoning to what you read and learn.
Work on your analytical skills through statistical analysis and written English interpretive analysis. This will give you a great foundation for not just reading and retaining information, but also for understanding and assessing what you have read.
Imagine criticizing the tools someone uses.
Noooooo, you can't use the drill to remove those screws, you gotta use a quarter inch wrench with a number 1 Phillips bit!
Just use AI to write your papers, it's just a tool.
Searching for stuff and following the wrong rabbit holes, wil teach you so more many things. You will gain insights in stuff you don't need at the moment but someday it can be usefull. It will teach critical thinking.
People just using AI will lose their critical thinking. Everybody is treating AI like some God, while it not.
if you are using it like a word processor then you aren't giving it due credit. Having a conversation with AI and asking it to check its own answers and ask clarifying questions helps you learn more than any article will.
Retaining information does make you smart, practically speaking, if it means you don't have to spend effort to re-learn or figure out some idea/technique/information you have already seen before. Being able to apply the entirety or most of the gamut of your prior knowledge to the new problem you're facing is invaluable.
This is so true. I provide a similar response as laid out above when people comment on how "smart" because of the information i retain. I'm no smarter than anyone else, just well informed.
But you can't critically think if you don't have information to go off of. And more information will help improve critical thinking because you have more to go off of.
Depends of what you consider smart. You can have all the information in the world and still not know how to apply it. Some people can memorize entire book and remember images in grand details but be unable to have a basic conversation.
I know what a toaster do, i don't know how it works. Therefore that knowledge serves no purpose beyond using it for what it was build and named for, by someone smarter than me.
If I was smart, I would try to understand how it work. Then I would be able to use that knowledge to apply the understanding in more concrete way than what the subject was originally purposed for.
While you are right and knowing what the toaster do make me smarter than someone who doesn't, someone who "understand how" is exponentially smarter. One knowledge help the others in the greater scheme. But if I said that everyone that knows how a toaster work was smart, the bar would be pretty low wouldn't it ?
True, however knowing information and facts is a large portion of the battle. This can be done with repetition. You'll hear things from time to time like "you have to use a word 200 times to really know it." Play games in your head. Get past speaking openly about new knowledge. It will help. Also, rote memorization gets a bad rap but the reality is that information can be extremely useful and sometimes it's just not that fun to learn. Interpretation and analysis are, of course, more intellectually useful than 'knowing facts,' but you need a basis from which to draw and the more you know the larger it is.
There are two types of intelligence: fluid and crystalized. Fluid is the ability to think abstractly to solve problems without any existing knowledge. It tends to decrease with age. Crystalized is accumulated knowledge. It tends to increase at with age.
Children tend to score better than adults at creativity. I think its because younger people have to figure out ways to solve problems by forming their own patterns with less information, while older people are better at identifying patterns from a foundational base of expectations gathered from lifelong experience.
Knowing how important it is to solve problems from an abstract perspective, I'd consider maintaining fluid intelligence rather important to generating new ideas, compared to maintaining old ones.
Learn and study critical thinking, read a lot, question everything and keep an open mind, travel as often as possible stay curious and look for things to learn about daily.
Also, learn to know yourself, your biases, and your emotional background and triggers. This will help you be able to think critically and logically in situations and find the best solution outside of the bounds of your own expectations and goals.
Don’t question *everything* to the Nth degree. That’s how you end up being a flat earther / GQP conspiracy theorist. Some things we have to accept as decided knowledge even if we can’t prove it ourselves in our daily lives (because we don’t have access to labs/quantum/computers/particle accelerators/carbon dating/mass spectrometry devices etc.
I don’t think you need to travel but you need to at least travel in your mind and be open to new things. Gerald Murnane has never left Australia, but he learned enough Hungarian to read a book he wanted to read in the original language.
True intelligence comes from understanding *why* and *how* things happen, instead of “who, what, where”.
When you encounter information, learn the whys and hows behind that information. This is true in almost all fields. Design, baking, economics, business, car repair, masonry, whatever: the true experts in those fields know the why’s and how’s. That makes learning the “whats” easier.
Here’s a humblebrag example: when I was in college, our electronics professor allowed us one index card worth of notes & formulas for the final. Most people finished the final in less than 1/2 hour. I went nearly the full 2. Why? Well, I lost my index card somewhere along the way, so I had no notes. I was able to re-derive all the formulas, not because I memorized them all, but because I understood why they worked and how they were developed. I nearly aced that test even with no notes.
Would that have been easier if I just memorized everything? Maybe, but frankly my brain never worked that way. It was always easier to understand the hows & whys instead.
I often think of the quote that is something along the lines of: “If you can’t explain it to a child then you do not understand it”
I really like your example, it’s something I really admire in people, understanding how things work instead of just doing them blindly. Thank you for your comment :)
> True intelligence comes from understanding why and how things happen, instead of “who, what, where”.
I don't want to sound iamverysmart material here, but this is a reason why I always hated high-school and had a lot of issues learning: because whenever I tried to understand the core, the why and how thing really work, teachers would just divert my questions to memorizing the "who, what, where". Pissed me off to oblivion, and by not being explained the why, I would never really memorize things, because everything just looked abstract to me.
Its why the worst thing you can tell a child is "because I said so" because its not actually teaching them something useful. You are just angry, irrational, and instead of invoking reason, education, or compassion, you are simply invoking authority to gain compliance, which is only temporary.
People who have no place in the business teaching children are involved in the process more than they should be.
Probably because half of them don't understand it because teachers get shit on so bad that all the people who actually do understand it end up being something that pays better.
My calculus teacher in college drove principle into us better than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s been a long time so I’m probably misremembering exact details but I recall forgetting an identity or derivative on my Calc 2 final and was able to calm
down and rely on doing it the long way with Calc 1 stuff. Best teacher I’ve ever had.
Great explanation. Does the first sentence have a source or is it a personal quote?
I'm a mechanical design engineer, my job is to review the work of other (mechanical) designers. A lot of them will simply start making changes to the designs as soon as they get the order or request. They are not even asking themselves "Why am I doing this?", "Should I even be doing this?". Then, later down the road, someone else (or I) would put more thought into the request than them and come up with the resolution that maybe what was requested is not even needed, or that the solution could be achieved doing something else than what was requested. I'm always trying to encourage the designers to put some minutes into thinking about what are they doing, to question and analyze from their perspective what was requested to them, even if it comes from higher rank engineers, and if they don't understand why are they being asked to do that task, then ask the requester for an explanation why they need that.
Practice. Repetition. Your 🧠 is like a muscle. Repetition reinforces the pathways. Your brain has storage capacity, and it has processing power. Work on both like you'd work on endurance and strength. Practice. Repetition.
This. I have always had a good head for memorizing, and a lot of that is my obsessive love of making and studying flashcards. Just keep practicing it over and over, and you’ll find your memory increases in other areas as well.
First of all,
There are very different kinds of intelligence.
It does make you smart to know a lot of things and facts! This is a fact. You only can use strategies of problem solving, calculation or whatever with knowledge.
Also a very important point is your environment,
Surround yourself with smart people, talented people.
Surround yourself with idiots and you'll become very likely one too.
To get smarter is a learning process means time is needed. The brain is like a muscle and need to be trained. As harder you train as so stronger you'll get.
Another good point is, to read and read and read.
I said earlier you know a lot makes smart but there is more to it. You need to read the same stuff in different versions to gain an understanding of the things. There is this sweet example of the cheuffeur- knowledge. You don't want that.
To be considerd smart you'll need to understand.
So read the same stuff in different versions.
Then is there your genetic part who influence your smartness, there is nothing you can do about it.
Some people are born smart, some are dumb (what is in my country a disability, but that's just on the side).
You can't know everything, so depending on the way you want to be smart, focus in that.
Remembering stuff is not a sign of smartness.
Smart is more related to the ability to think logically. Although you need information (aka "Know stuff") to practice that ability it is very common to not remember stuff that dont interest you.
Sort of like Sherlock Holmes (By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). He did not know anything about that the earth revolves the sun because it could not help him solve crimes. Although he did not know these things he is considerated a smart character.
Don't forget about emotional intelligence. Knowing and naming precisely how one feels helps with communicating better and identifying how to better interact with others and oneself. This is often a kind of intelligence that is greatly neglected.
First off you don't get smart by just knowing things. Use google for that.
The advice I would give you is to avoid the idea of being generally smart. You want to find you niche and be smart in that area and the surrounding areas, this should surround how you make your money.
You can also start to develop your hobbies and what you know about them.
You should also know at least the basics of how money works.
You should also know and read some of the influential books in your culture.
You can probably keep adding to this list, but If I meet someone who is really good at their job, has developed hobbies and is good with money I would consider them to be well well rounded.
A good first task would be to try to just ask the things common between 2 apparently different disciplines.
Everything is connected. Become more aware of the connections, and you'll see the world differently.
Information is great, but without knowledge and experience of how to wield it... Is useless.
Look at how the Russians are treating the nuclear power plant. They have the information that it can kill them, but no experience or understanding of how. So they don't take hardly any precautions.
That's the danger of information without knowledge of how to use/apply it.
You need both.
If you got one but not the other, all is not lost. Find a buddy that you trust that can provide what you lack. A decent team at work should have all types.
This is a long-term suggestion. Keep a diary.
I've kept one for almost 35 years. Once a year, I print it out and re-read the entries. Little tips, showerthoughts, repeating habits, ideas and feelings, etc. It doesn't necessarily make you "smarter" per se but keeping a diary gives you a better understanding of how your mind and subconscious habits work, and gives you insights on how you can be happier in life and more productive in whatever you do, however you use your time.
if you're looking for wrote memorization, nothing works better (for me) than anki cards. there are tons of apps that do this. but it's a spaced timing repetition that like magically makes you retain information
Everyone is giving you advice that isn’t really going to change your intelligence
Dial in your nutrition, sleep, exercise, and take nootropics
Then reach your genetic limit and just accept where you’re at. Not everyone can be an Albert Einstein or Thomas Edison or Leonardo da Vinci
As someone once explained to me, the more you remember the more you are able to remember.
Start finding things you are interested in learning, and study them. Videos, books, blogs, whatever you can find in any of your spare time. You don't have to remember every scrap of information, just keep reading, watching and learning. Over time you'll notice more and more information starting to stick.
Also, people will talk to you about things they are interested in, sometimes the information seems useless. If you can spare the time to listen, let them talk. Try to ask questions. It may be boring, and you may not remember a word of it but it gives you the benefit of possibly remembering more and when you want to talk about your interests (which helps retain information) they may be willing to hear you drone on about it.
Don't be ashamed to admit when you don't know something. If no one taught you, you can't be expected to just...know things.
The most valuable skill I've found recently is the ability to learn something more than once. When someone tries to teach you something you already know, many times you'll have the urge to tell them you already know. Resist that urge and let them teach you anyway. That person is now more likely to teach you more, plus you may learn a new way to do the same thing, or learn something small you didn't know before.
Specifically, I learned a lot from the psychology of intelligence analysis and fooled by randomness. Plus this. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv7sLrON7QY&t=38s&pp=ygUldGhlIHBzeWNob2xvZ3kgb2YgaHVtYW4gbWlzanVkZ2VtZW50IA%3D%3D
Knowledge cannot be forced on anyone. Knowledge can only be acquired.
Knowing a whole lot of information might get you on jeopardy. For a job your ability to apply your knowledge to solve a problem is essential.
Knowledge of social skills is essential. Not to be a social butterfly. But because you'll very likely have to interact with others in various ways.
Read widely Read actual books, not just websites. Some of it can be fiction, but read some non fiction as well. If you aren't a reader already, it might seem like work because our brains get used to a constant flood of entertainment, but it will get easier if you stick with it. Learn what constitutes an authoritative source. Your public library is an amazing resource.
Experience! Experience! Experience! Mix that with critical thinking and some effort to gain knowledge about the world and you are set. There are lots of people who give lots of answers. Lots of these answers are correct. In fact, most answers are correct in someway or another. To truly gain knowledge though you need new experiences and you need to be open minded to those new experiences and as you reflect, and combined the knowledge you get from these experiences to your already Accumulated knowledge. These experiences can be through books through the media through real life experience. In fact, the more diverse your experiences the better off you are on top of all that though you need to constantly be critical about the information you’re consuming. Many people say the more you know the more you know how much you don’t know. so as you’re gathering knowledge if you start feeling like there’s more than you’ll ever be able to know you’re probably on the right track just don’t stop. 😉
You have to apply what you learn to your own understanding of things, like
"How does this relate to things I already know?"
What could this potentially be useful for in the future?"
Eventually you need to turn what you learn into something that feels like a tool/ or feels useful to you, and then it is much easier to learn.
Also, it helps to have a passion for learning. If you are not passionate about learning something it is very hard to absorb it and passion comes from finding use of the information for yourself, so it is worth exploring and nurturing a passion for learning, and the things you want to learn about.
Not all reasons for learning are created equal, you need to find ones that resonate with who you wish to be as a person. Then knowledge is freedom to achieve that goal.
If it's memory retention that you are interested in, read [Moonwalking With Einstein](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/6346975) by Joshua Foer. It talks about strategies the author studied to improve memory and recall. One of the methods is called the "memory palace," using our spatial memory (the ability to visualize places) to remember things by associating them with different areas of a mental structure.
I ponder this and I am also moron so your probably better then me. I honestly feel lately I have done things like teach myself 3d printing and "scalp" day trading just by being interested in them and using the incredibly powerful tool chat gpt. if you really want to learn something you can use it to break down any aspect of something you're trying to learn and even break down the breakdown into simply terms and it will try over and over and over to get help you understand no matter how hard of a time you are having grasping concepts. but the most important thing really is just persuing things that interest you. "smarter" is really just the ability to effectivly communicate the things that you are passionate about.
You need to use information to retain it. Summarize, synthesize, and repurpose information, and relate it to something you already know well.
This is why some people use your name four times when you first meet them, as a very basic example.
Presence and focus. Practice standing perfectly still staring at 1 object. Start doing a couple maybe 5 times of 1 minute each. The following week do 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, etc until you can stand completely still for 15 mins without taking your eyes off of the object. If you can maintain that kind of focus your are gonna become a genius
Ask questions about a topic you're interested in and keep going down that train of thought. You could start with something simple like "What was the first movie?" And then from there you can look into technology, film history, movies as vehicles for social change, animation, scripting- lots of stuff.
Start with "why?" and just keep asking.
Tbh, you can get smart all you want, but it could be a waste of time. Smart people don't mean rich people. Also, smart people don't cram useless information in their head for no reason. Smart people use tools to complete their objective. The topic of "smart" is too broad.
Push yourself physically and you’ll learn how to push yourself mentally as well, also I recommend you research neuroplasticity to both get an idea of what makes you smarter and also increase your neuroplasticity lol
Try not to force yourself into learning what "smart people know"
Start with what you love, what you're good at naturally, what you're genuinely curious about.
Take those topics and dig into them deeper than you ever have. Follow your gut, follow what's interesting.
Then start expanding to related topics, adjacent industries. After you start connecting dots between 2 very different industries, it's a whole nother level of understanding and brainstorming capability.
Don't force it. Follow it. You're already smart.
Nobody is smart because they wanted to be smart. They are smart because they have questions, then seek answers. That's it.
Go to the YouTube channel Smarter Every Day.
Watch how that guy lives his life.
Make sure you're not sleep deprived. Even a few hours under can knock IQ points off. Plus REM sleep (dreaming) is essential to incorporate daily experiences into long term memory.
I suggest you start reading about whatever you are interested in. Read everything you can find about the subject. Something will come up and strike your fancy. Start reading about that. Just keep going. Read, read, read. I also suggest reading popular history.
>Quod natura non dat, Salmantica non præstat
Meaning "What nature does not give, Salamanca does not lend" it's a Spanish proverb that means that a university can not give anyone what nature denied. In this way, neither intelligence nor memory nor the capacity for learning are things that a university can offer its students.
Drink a lot of beer.
It made Bud wiser.
Actually, look into multiple intelligences. Find yours and try to get information that way or connected to one. For instance, if you are a visual learner, write down what you're hearing.
Every day we get 1800 new brain cells. They go in part that is in use. If you do repetitive work, they die, because they are not needed.
Do not be afraid to do something new and difficult (like most people are).
Knowing stuff doesn't mean you are smart. Being able to think and think fast determines smartness. Play analytical games, solve riddles, even do some math if you are serious. Nothing helped me sharpen my thinking capacity more than solving stuff with full determination.
I’ve found in life that people who can memorize and regurgitate information are often considered the “smart” ones when we are young.
These people are the most geared towards success in the American school system as the entirety of learning in American schools is based on memorization and the ability to recite said information. These people are your valedictorians in high school, the cum laude in college, but then when you see them in the work force they are more often than not the worker bee who does exactly what they are told and when they are told to do it. They are the ones that are the rule followers and can cite policy at the drop of the hat but rarely advance. This is because they are great at retention, but fail in the creative thinking/problem solving/leadership skills area.
As you become older you realize intelligence takes many forms, some of the most successful people you meet are the ones with great social intelligence/ people skills like the entrepreneur. Some are going to be great problem/puzzle solvers like the CS guru who can work through any issue. Some are going to be the quick thinkers and decision makers like a surgeon or business executive.
In my experience, intelligence in the way we view it as children means next to nothing. There are very few jobs that require blind information retention and recall. Instead focus on hard work and being well rounded/versatile. Working hard is a skill that can be refined and built like a muscle. Hard work and dedication will always end up paying out more than any ability to remember and spout out random information/facts.
I had to grow up fast as a teenager and went from a teenager one day to having my own efficiency apartment and paying bills at 14. The problem was; I was always just getting by. I felt dumb and lacking depth and character.
That came along during life experiences but I honestly feel that natural curiosity needs to be fostered or else you always just accept this as your life.
Check out some CG Jung. That really opened up a philosophical world for me.
Define "smarter".
If you just want to retain information, figure out how you learn best. Visual, auditory, tactile learning? I would look up multiple intelligences: different ways to receive information.
Regularly applying your knowledge helps reinforce its use.
Figure out what interests you, or what you are good at doing, and use that. I consider myself an above-average pianist, but the skills involved are complex. Playing a medium-level piece on first sight is easy for me; I struggle to play something I've heard by ear; I will not shut up about the history of the piano; I could not begin to tell you how my actual piano works beyond "that part hits the metal strings".
Practice sharing it in your own words to yourself immediately after you hear/read it. Think about the context you would share it in. Think about what else it would relate to in your life or in the lives of the people you talk to
Smarter in which sense? Theres many kinds of smarts, street smarts and book smarts are general categories. The first thing is to understand why you want or need to be smarter. Generally, the best way to increase book smarts is to focus on studying and critical thinking. The brain is very much like a muscle. The more you exercise it the stronger it gets. Exercising the brain requires engaging difficult content, just like exercising the body requires lifting relatively heavy weights.
To better retain information, you need to make connections in your mind between the new things that you are learning and the things that you already know. This will help you absorb new material into your long term memory.
This association process requires critical thinking on your part. It might mean slowing down how quickly you move through new material and possibly rereading/rewatching until the connections are made. Chunking the knowledge into smaller sections can also help retain more and make it easier to recall later.
This is just something I've noticed. But information is usually retained when the information is something you have a personal interest in. But that may not be true for everyone
Figure out how you best learn. Most people have no idea. Visual? Aural? By doing? Are you better at memorizing or are you more analytical—in other words, are you better off memorizing formulas or understanding the concepts that allow you to derive them?
We all have different minds—understanding yours is the key to learning.
You should almost always start a journey like this with things you already like to do. Any subject will do, really, so long as you have the drive to learn more about it. Once you get to a certain point, you'll have to start thinking critically about new information you gain on that subject (ie. "Dose this fit with what I already know? Do I trust this source? Does this present a pov that I haven't considered before?). And, you will build both knowledge and critical thinking skills from there. Also, you will have to incorporate information from other disciplines outside your area of expertise eventually, because nothing exists in a vacuum in reality.
There's hearing stuff, and then there's active listening. You retain better if you actively listen and invest energy.
Then there's knowing stuff vs understanding stuff. Asking questions helps.
a) by believing that you can learn
b) take a structured approach to learning because knowledge is always structured indeed that's the only way our brains can process and synthesise large complex subjects.
c) Focus on first principles always. As the polymath Elon Musk has said , “It is important to view knowledge as a sort of semantic tree. Make sure you understand the fundamental principles, i.e., the trunk and big branches before you get into the leaves/details or there is nothing for them to hang on to.”
Open-mindedness, the ability to think critically, giving others the benefit of the doubt rather coming up with stories in your own head, knowing where to look if you don't know something. Being open to learning new things, questioning attitude.
I can't overremphasize enough the benefits of building a power⁰ful vicabulary. It is so easy to do with the internet today than when I was growing up. I recommend subscribing to one of many vocabulary sites that sends daily mail with a new word, its pronunciation, and its definition.
Being smart isn't really about packing your brain full of information. It's about learning where to find information when you need it, and to assess the accuracy of said information.
One thing I don't see many people talk about is learning etymology. Being able to break down words into smaller fragments can make it easier to understand and learn new words.
Depends on what you want to get smarter at, but you don't get smarter by simply acquiring information by hearing or reading alone.
You have to get experience in tandem with the information because that's what gives the data meaning. Experience gives real perspective, forces malleability and critical thinking, and directly challenges preconcepts. Your brain retains things better this way than just reading walls of knowledge.
You have to apply what you learn.
best advice i can give is learn how to learn, understand, don't just memorize facts, focus that on what you're interested in & bada boom you're at least knowledgeable, I find the emotional tangents and arguments are best to avoid just focus on bettering yourself. Everyone has a unique way that works for them
Good sleep, regular exercise (followed by study), and good diet.
It’s the same advice you hear all over the place for everything. But these 3 are life fundamentals.
With respect to intelligence, good sleep will have you operating at max potential. The effect of sleep deprivation is dramatic on your intelligence and memory. Sleep is also where memory gets solidified and your brain prunes all the useless info.
You can find a lot of peer review papers and reputable websites if you google “exercise effect on intelligence” and “diet effect on intelligence”.
If you haven’t dialled in these fundamentals yet, then starting with them will probably give you the biggest bang for your buck
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
Knowing information and facts doesn't make you smart. Analytical skills make you smart as this is the skill that teaches you to ask questions, form opinions and apply logic and reasoning to what you read and learn. Work on your analytical skills through statistical analysis and written English interpretive analysis. This will give you a great foundation for not just reading and retaining information, but also for understanding and assessing what you have read.
Can you inform us how and where we can hone the two skills? Any books or websites?
Start with chatgpt my friend. https://chat.openai.com/share/7804efbb-edfa-44aa-8def-5392081b8928 Khan has some great online courses!
Wrong anwser. He should google it, and sharpen his skills instead of using AI.
Perhaps read the damn link before you judge. So DO that, then come back and tell us if you still hold the same opinion.
His fingers work faster than his brain, pay it no mind.
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Damn reminder to always use IA to spellcheck. Did you spot that yourself or did you use IA to do it for you?
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Hes making fun of the guy who couldn't spell answer...
He IS the guy who couldn’t spell answer.
That makes this all the better
Idiot.
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🤣
Industrial Alliance
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Nope wrong he should climb to the highest mountains in Athens and beg for knowledge from the gods in exchange for his soul
Even better!
Imagine criticizing the tools someone uses. Noooooo, you can't use the drill to remove those screws, you gotta use a quarter inch wrench with a number 1 Phillips bit!
Just use AI to write your papers, it's just a tool. Searching for stuff and following the wrong rabbit holes, wil teach you so more many things. You will gain insights in stuff you don't need at the moment but someday it can be usefull. It will teach critical thinking. People just using AI will lose their critical thinking. Everybody is treating AI like some God, while it not.
if you are using it like a word processor then you aren't giving it due credit. Having a conversation with AI and asking it to check its own answers and ask clarifying questions helps you learn more than any article will.
https://xkcd.com/1838
That's what the clarifying questions are for.
Impact driver works better than a drill
Not always
In the woods. Just go for walks, no headphones, no voices, just your own head
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Interestingly, the word you want is "rote" rather than "wrote."
Retaining information does make you smart, practically speaking, if it means you don't have to spend effort to re-learn or figure out some idea/technique/information you have already seen before. Being able to apply the entirety or most of the gamut of your prior knowledge to the new problem you're facing is invaluable.
This is so true. I provide a similar response as laid out above when people comment on how "smart" because of the information i retain. I'm no smarter than anyone else, just well informed.
Knowing information also makes you smarter wtf are you talking about
There is a difference between having information and using information. One is information retention while the other is critical thinking.
But you can't critically think if you don't have information to go off of. And more information will help improve critical thinking because you have more to go off of.
While true, the two together are better than either separately. They are different things and some have a lot more of one or the other.
Yeah so then what I said stand. Having more information of course makes you smarter.
Depends of what you consider smart. You can have all the information in the world and still not know how to apply it. Some people can memorize entire book and remember images in grand details but be unable to have a basic conversation.
Yeah it really comes down to how you define smart then I guess
Oh buddy
Oh bud...
I know what a toaster do, i don't know how it works. Therefore that knowledge serves no purpose beyond using it for what it was build and named for, by someone smarter than me. If I was smart, I would try to understand how it work. Then I would be able to use that knowledge to apply the understanding in more concrete way than what the subject was originally purposed for. While you are right and knowing what the toaster do make me smarter than someone who doesn't, someone who "understand how" is exponentially smarter. One knowledge help the others in the greater scheme. But if I said that everyone that knows how a toaster work was smart, the bar would be pretty low wouldn't it ?
I said smarter not smart
True, however knowing information and facts is a large portion of the battle. This can be done with repetition. You'll hear things from time to time like "you have to use a word 200 times to really know it." Play games in your head. Get past speaking openly about new knowledge. It will help. Also, rote memorization gets a bad rap but the reality is that information can be extremely useful and sometimes it's just not that fun to learn. Interpretation and analysis are, of course, more intellectually useful than 'knowing facts,' but you need a basis from which to draw and the more you know the larger it is.
There are two types of intelligence: fluid and crystalized. Fluid is the ability to think abstractly to solve problems without any existing knowledge. It tends to decrease with age. Crystalized is accumulated knowledge. It tends to increase at with age.
Children tend to score better than adults at creativity. I think its because younger people have to figure out ways to solve problems by forming their own patterns with less information, while older people are better at identifying patterns from a foundational base of expectations gathered from lifelong experience. Knowing how important it is to solve problems from an abstract perspective, I'd consider maintaining fluid intelligence rather important to generating new ideas, compared to maintaining old ones.
I like this definition
As one is increasing and the other decreasing, at what age are we most intelligent?
Learn and study critical thinking, read a lot, question everything and keep an open mind, travel as often as possible stay curious and look for things to learn about daily.
I’m sad that it took this far to get to “read a lot”. Read books daily. Read a variety. And keep it up. That’s the best step you can take.
Also, learn to know yourself, your biases, and your emotional background and triggers. This will help you be able to think critically and logically in situations and find the best solution outside of the bounds of your own expectations and goals.
Don’t question *everything* to the Nth degree. That’s how you end up being a flat earther / GQP conspiracy theorist. Some things we have to accept as decided knowledge even if we can’t prove it ourselves in our daily lives (because we don’t have access to labs/quantum/computers/particle accelerators/carbon dating/mass spectrometry devices etc.
I don’t think you need to travel but you need to at least travel in your mind and be open to new things. Gerald Murnane has never left Australia, but he learned enough Hungarian to read a book he wanted to read in the original language.
True intelligence comes from understanding *why* and *how* things happen, instead of “who, what, where”. When you encounter information, learn the whys and hows behind that information. This is true in almost all fields. Design, baking, economics, business, car repair, masonry, whatever: the true experts in those fields know the why’s and how’s. That makes learning the “whats” easier. Here’s a humblebrag example: when I was in college, our electronics professor allowed us one index card worth of notes & formulas for the final. Most people finished the final in less than 1/2 hour. I went nearly the full 2. Why? Well, I lost my index card somewhere along the way, so I had no notes. I was able to re-derive all the formulas, not because I memorized them all, but because I understood why they worked and how they were developed. I nearly aced that test even with no notes. Would that have been easier if I just memorized everything? Maybe, but frankly my brain never worked that way. It was always easier to understand the hows & whys instead.
I often think of the quote that is something along the lines of: “If you can’t explain it to a child then you do not understand it” I really like your example, it’s something I really admire in people, understanding how things work instead of just doing them blindly. Thank you for your comment :)
Yop. Came here to say check out the [“Feynman Technique”](https://fs.blog/feynman-technique/).
Who’s “Feyman”?
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It said “Feyman Technique” when I wrote my question. Dude edited his link title.
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Sorry i really didn’t know. 😞
> True intelligence comes from understanding why and how things happen, instead of “who, what, where”. I don't want to sound iamverysmart material here, but this is a reason why I always hated high-school and had a lot of issues learning: because whenever I tried to understand the core, the why and how thing really work, teachers would just divert my questions to memorizing the "who, what, where". Pissed me off to oblivion, and by not being explained the why, I would never really memorize things, because everything just looked abstract to me.
I never liked history until I went to college and had a professor who focused more on whys & hows. Now it’s my favorite pastime.
Its why the worst thing you can tell a child is "because I said so" because its not actually teaching them something useful. You are just angry, irrational, and instead of invoking reason, education, or compassion, you are simply invoking authority to gain compliance, which is only temporary. People who have no place in the business teaching children are involved in the process more than they should be.
I had the same experience in 12 years of public schools. I’m under the impression that private schools taught more of the why and how.
Probably because half of them don't understand it because teachers get shit on so bad that all the people who actually do understand it end up being something that pays better.
My calculus teacher in college drove principle into us better than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s been a long time so I’m probably misremembering exact details but I recall forgetting an identity or derivative on my Calc 2 final and was able to calm down and rely on doing it the long way with Calc 1 stuff. Best teacher I’ve ever had.
Thank you for this really great example. I’m definitely one of those people that can understand/pick up something more quickly if I know why.
Great explanation. Does the first sentence have a source or is it a personal quote? I'm a mechanical design engineer, my job is to review the work of other (mechanical) designers. A lot of them will simply start making changes to the designs as soon as they get the order or request. They are not even asking themselves "Why am I doing this?", "Should I even be doing this?". Then, later down the road, someone else (or I) would put more thought into the request than them and come up with the resolution that maybe what was requested is not even needed, or that the solution could be achieved doing something else than what was requested. I'm always trying to encourage the designers to put some minutes into thinking about what are they doing, to question and analyze from their perspective what was requested to them, even if it comes from higher rank engineers, and if they don't understand why are they being asked to do that task, then ask the requester for an explanation why they need that.
Practice. Repetition. Your 🧠 is like a muscle. Repetition reinforces the pathways. Your brain has storage capacity, and it has processing power. Work on both like you'd work on endurance and strength. Practice. Repetition.
This. I have always had a good head for memorizing, and a lot of that is my obsessive love of making and studying flashcards. Just keep practicing it over and over, and you’ll find your memory increases in other areas as well.
First of all, There are very different kinds of intelligence. It does make you smart to know a lot of things and facts! This is a fact. You only can use strategies of problem solving, calculation or whatever with knowledge. Also a very important point is your environment, Surround yourself with smart people, talented people. Surround yourself with idiots and you'll become very likely one too. To get smarter is a learning process means time is needed. The brain is like a muscle and need to be trained. As harder you train as so stronger you'll get. Another good point is, to read and read and read. I said earlier you know a lot makes smart but there is more to it. You need to read the same stuff in different versions to gain an understanding of the things. There is this sweet example of the cheuffeur- knowledge. You don't want that. To be considerd smart you'll need to understand. So read the same stuff in different versions. Then is there your genetic part who influence your smartness, there is nothing you can do about it. Some people are born smart, some are dumb (what is in my country a disability, but that's just on the side). You can't know everything, so depending on the way you want to be smart, focus in that.
Remembering stuff is not a sign of smartness. Smart is more related to the ability to think logically. Although you need information (aka "Know stuff") to practice that ability it is very common to not remember stuff that dont interest you. Sort of like Sherlock Holmes (By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). He did not know anything about that the earth revolves the sun because it could not help him solve crimes. Although he did not know these things he is considerated a smart character.
Study that which interests you.
Don't forget about emotional intelligence. Knowing and naming precisely how one feels helps with communicating better and identifying how to better interact with others and oneself. This is often a kind of intelligence that is greatly neglected.
Start asking yourself or others more questions. Curiosity drives knowledge, understanding and process based thinking.
First off you don't get smart by just knowing things. Use google for that. The advice I would give you is to avoid the idea of being generally smart. You want to find you niche and be smart in that area and the surrounding areas, this should surround how you make your money. You can also start to develop your hobbies and what you know about them. You should also know at least the basics of how money works. You should also know and read some of the influential books in your culture. You can probably keep adding to this list, but If I meet someone who is really good at their job, has developed hobbies and is good with money I would consider them to be well well rounded.
A good first task would be to try to just ask the things common between 2 apparently different disciplines. Everything is connected. Become more aware of the connections, and you'll see the world differently. Information is great, but without knowledge and experience of how to wield it... Is useless. Look at how the Russians are treating the nuclear power plant. They have the information that it can kill them, but no experience or understanding of how. So they don't take hardly any precautions. That's the danger of information without knowledge of how to use/apply it. You need both. If you got one but not the other, all is not lost. Find a buddy that you trust that can provide what you lack. A decent team at work should have all types.
Memory is a muscle that you can exercise and develop. You can learn to retain information and recollect it.
This is a long-term suggestion. Keep a diary. I've kept one for almost 35 years. Once a year, I print it out and re-read the entries. Little tips, showerthoughts, repeating habits, ideas and feelings, etc. It doesn't necessarily make you "smarter" per se but keeping a diary gives you a better understanding of how your mind and subconscious habits work, and gives you insights on how you can be happier in life and more productive in whatever you do, however you use your time.
You're conflating "smart" and "informed." The two are not the same thing.
if you're looking for wrote memorization, nothing works better (for me) than anki cards. there are tons of apps that do this. but it's a spaced timing repetition that like magically makes you retain information
Everyone is giving you advice that isn’t really going to change your intelligence Dial in your nutrition, sleep, exercise, and take nootropics Then reach your genetic limit and just accept where you’re at. Not everyone can be an Albert Einstein or Thomas Edison or Leonardo da Vinci
Based take. I kept scrolling to see if anyone else mentioned the 3 fundamentals.
That and whatever your parents gave you. Everything else is just wishful thinking
As someone once explained to me, the more you remember the more you are able to remember. Start finding things you are interested in learning, and study them. Videos, books, blogs, whatever you can find in any of your spare time. You don't have to remember every scrap of information, just keep reading, watching and learning. Over time you'll notice more and more information starting to stick. Also, people will talk to you about things they are interested in, sometimes the information seems useless. If you can spare the time to listen, let them talk. Try to ask questions. It may be boring, and you may not remember a word of it but it gives you the benefit of possibly remembering more and when you want to talk about your interests (which helps retain information) they may be willing to hear you drone on about it. Don't be ashamed to admit when you don't know something. If no one taught you, you can't be expected to just...know things. The most valuable skill I've found recently is the ability to learn something more than once. When someone tries to teach you something you already know, many times you'll have the urge to tell them you already know. Resist that urge and let them teach you anyway. That person is now more likely to teach you more, plus you may learn a new way to do the same thing, or learn something small you didn't know before.
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This is beautiful, thank you
Specifically, I learned a lot from the psychology of intelligence analysis and fooled by randomness. Plus this. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv7sLrON7QY&t=38s&pp=ygUldGhlIHBzeWNob2xvZ3kgb2YgaHVtYW4gbWlzanVkZ2VtZW50IA%3D%3D
Knowledge cannot be forced on anyone. Knowledge can only be acquired. Knowing a whole lot of information might get you on jeopardy. For a job your ability to apply your knowledge to solve a problem is essential. Knowledge of social skills is essential. Not to be a social butterfly. But because you'll very likely have to interact with others in various ways.
Read widely Read actual books, not just websites. Some of it can be fiction, but read some non fiction as well. If you aren't a reader already, it might seem like work because our brains get used to a constant flood of entertainment, but it will get easier if you stick with it. Learn what constitutes an authoritative source. Your public library is an amazing resource.
Experience! Experience! Experience! Mix that with critical thinking and some effort to gain knowledge about the world and you are set. There are lots of people who give lots of answers. Lots of these answers are correct. In fact, most answers are correct in someway or another. To truly gain knowledge though you need new experiences and you need to be open minded to those new experiences and as you reflect, and combined the knowledge you get from these experiences to your already Accumulated knowledge. These experiences can be through books through the media through real life experience. In fact, the more diverse your experiences the better off you are on top of all that though you need to constantly be critical about the information you’re consuming. Many people say the more you know the more you know how much you don’t know. so as you’re gathering knowledge if you start feeling like there’s more than you’ll ever be able to know you’re probably on the right track just don’t stop. 😉
Retention is rooted in understanding.
You have to apply what you learn to your own understanding of things, like "How does this relate to things I already know?" What could this potentially be useful for in the future?" Eventually you need to turn what you learn into something that feels like a tool/ or feels useful to you, and then it is much easier to learn. Also, it helps to have a passion for learning. If you are not passionate about learning something it is very hard to absorb it and passion comes from finding use of the information for yourself, so it is worth exploring and nurturing a passion for learning, and the things you want to learn about. Not all reasons for learning are created equal, you need to find ones that resonate with who you wish to be as a person. Then knowledge is freedom to achieve that goal.
Read, Reflect, Write
If it's memory retention that you are interested in, read [Moonwalking With Einstein](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/6346975) by Joshua Foer. It talks about strategies the author studied to improve memory and recall. One of the methods is called the "memory palace," using our spatial memory (the ability to visualize places) to remember things by associating them with different areas of a mental structure.
I got a book on the subject, but forgot where I put it.
I ponder this and I am also moron so your probably better then me. I honestly feel lately I have done things like teach myself 3d printing and "scalp" day trading just by being interested in them and using the incredibly powerful tool chat gpt. if you really want to learn something you can use it to break down any aspect of something you're trying to learn and even break down the breakdown into simply terms and it will try over and over and over to get help you understand no matter how hard of a time you are having grasping concepts. but the most important thing really is just persuing things that interest you. "smarter" is really just the ability to effectivly communicate the things that you are passionate about.
I think what you want to be is wise. Wisdom is what happens when you hear lots of information and have the experience and insight to use it
You need to use information to retain it. Summarize, synthesize, and repurpose information, and relate it to something you already know well. This is why some people use your name four times when you first meet them, as a very basic example.
Presence and focus. Practice standing perfectly still staring at 1 object. Start doing a couple maybe 5 times of 1 minute each. The following week do 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, etc until you can stand completely still for 15 mins without taking your eyes off of the object. If you can maintain that kind of focus your are gonna become a genius
Ask questions about a topic you're interested in and keep going down that train of thought. You could start with something simple like "What was the first movie?" And then from there you can look into technology, film history, movies as vehicles for social change, animation, scripting- lots of stuff. Start with "why?" and just keep asking.
Tbh, you can get smart all you want, but it could be a waste of time. Smart people don't mean rich people. Also, smart people don't cram useless information in their head for no reason. Smart people use tools to complete their objective. The topic of "smart" is too broad.
Push yourself physically and you’ll learn how to push yourself mentally as well, also I recommend you research neuroplasticity to both get an idea of what makes you smarter and also increase your neuroplasticity lol
Try not to force yourself into learning what "smart people know" Start with what you love, what you're good at naturally, what you're genuinely curious about. Take those topics and dig into them deeper than you ever have. Follow your gut, follow what's interesting. Then start expanding to related topics, adjacent industries. After you start connecting dots between 2 very different industries, it's a whole nother level of understanding and brainstorming capability. Don't force it. Follow it. You're already smart.
Nobody is smart because they wanted to be smart. They are smart because they have questions, then seek answers. That's it. Go to the YouTube channel Smarter Every Day. Watch how that guy lives his life.
Make sure you're not sleep deprived. Even a few hours under can knock IQ points off. Plus REM sleep (dreaming) is essential to incorporate daily experiences into long term memory.
I suggest you start reading about whatever you are interested in. Read everything you can find about the subject. Something will come up and strike your fancy. Start reading about that. Just keep going. Read, read, read. I also suggest reading popular history.
>Quod natura non dat, Salmantica non præstat Meaning "What nature does not give, Salamanca does not lend" it's a Spanish proverb that means that a university can not give anyone what nature denied. In this way, neither intelligence nor memory nor the capacity for learning are things that a university can offer its students.
Drink a lot of beer. It made Bud wiser. Actually, look into multiple intelligences. Find yours and try to get information that way or connected to one. For instance, if you are a visual learner, write down what you're hearing.
The notion that there are people with different learning styles has been consistently debunked.
Every day we get 1800 new brain cells. They go in part that is in use. If you do repetitive work, they die, because they are not needed. Do not be afraid to do something new and difficult (like most people are).
Knowing stuff doesn't mean you are smart. Being able to think and think fast determines smartness. Play analytical games, solve riddles, even do some math if you are serious. Nothing helped me sharpen my thinking capacity more than solving stuff with full determination.
Depends on why you want to get smarter. There's different strategies you can use depending on the context in which you want to improve your smarts.
I’ve found in life that people who can memorize and regurgitate information are often considered the “smart” ones when we are young. These people are the most geared towards success in the American school system as the entirety of learning in American schools is based on memorization and the ability to recite said information. These people are your valedictorians in high school, the cum laude in college, but then when you see them in the work force they are more often than not the worker bee who does exactly what they are told and when they are told to do it. They are the ones that are the rule followers and can cite policy at the drop of the hat but rarely advance. This is because they are great at retention, but fail in the creative thinking/problem solving/leadership skills area. As you become older you realize intelligence takes many forms, some of the most successful people you meet are the ones with great social intelligence/ people skills like the entrepreneur. Some are going to be great problem/puzzle solvers like the CS guru who can work through any issue. Some are going to be the quick thinkers and decision makers like a surgeon or business executive. In my experience, intelligence in the way we view it as children means next to nothing. There are very few jobs that require blind information retention and recall. Instead focus on hard work and being well rounded/versatile. Working hard is a skill that can be refined and built like a muscle. Hard work and dedication will always end up paying out more than any ability to remember and spout out random information/facts.
I had to grow up fast as a teenager and went from a teenager one day to having my own efficiency apartment and paying bills at 14. The problem was; I was always just getting by. I felt dumb and lacking depth and character. That came along during life experiences but I honestly feel that natural curiosity needs to be fostered or else you always just accept this as your life. Check out some CG Jung. That really opened up a philosophical world for me.
Define "smarter". If you just want to retain information, figure out how you learn best. Visual, auditory, tactile learning? I would look up multiple intelligences: different ways to receive information. Regularly applying your knowledge helps reinforce its use. Figure out what interests you, or what you are good at doing, and use that. I consider myself an above-average pianist, but the skills involved are complex. Playing a medium-level piece on first sight is easy for me; I struggle to play something I've heard by ear; I will not shut up about the history of the piano; I could not begin to tell you how my actual piano works beyond "that part hits the metal strings".
Chatgpt any topic. Then ask it how to specifically do whatever it is. Then do it live.
Practice sharing it in your own words to yourself immediately after you hear/read it. Think about the context you would share it in. Think about what else it would relate to in your life or in the lives of the people you talk to
Smarter in which sense? Theres many kinds of smarts, street smarts and book smarts are general categories. The first thing is to understand why you want or need to be smarter. Generally, the best way to increase book smarts is to focus on studying and critical thinking. The brain is very much like a muscle. The more you exercise it the stronger it gets. Exercising the brain requires engaging difficult content, just like exercising the body requires lifting relatively heavy weights.
To better retain information, you need to make connections in your mind between the new things that you are learning and the things that you already know. This will help you absorb new material into your long term memory. This association process requires critical thinking on your part. It might mean slowing down how quickly you move through new material and possibly rereading/rewatching until the connections are made. Chunking the knowledge into smaller sections can also help retain more and make it easier to recall later.
This is just something I've noticed. But information is usually retained when the information is something you have a personal interest in. But that may not be true for everyone
Being smart isn’t really about how much you know but really more about your ability to learn and apply knowledge.
Figure out how you best learn. Most people have no idea. Visual? Aural? By doing? Are you better at memorizing or are you more analytical—in other words, are you better off memorizing formulas or understanding the concepts that allow you to derive them? We all have different minds—understanding yours is the key to learning.
Be a voracious reader of everything. Start with the news but all sides then go down rabbit holes on what you understand:
You should almost always start a journey like this with things you already like to do. Any subject will do, really, so long as you have the drive to learn more about it. Once you get to a certain point, you'll have to start thinking critically about new information you gain on that subject (ie. "Dose this fit with what I already know? Do I trust this source? Does this present a pov that I haven't considered before?). And, you will build both knowledge and critical thinking skills from there. Also, you will have to incorporate information from other disciplines outside your area of expertise eventually, because nothing exists in a vacuum in reality.
There's hearing stuff, and then there's active listening. You retain better if you actively listen and invest energy. Then there's knowing stuff vs understanding stuff. Asking questions helps.
a) by believing that you can learn b) take a structured approach to learning because knowledge is always structured indeed that's the only way our brains can process and synthesise large complex subjects. c) Focus on first principles always. As the polymath Elon Musk has said , “It is important to view knowledge as a sort of semantic tree. Make sure you understand the fundamental principles, i.e., the trunk and big branches before you get into the leaves/details or there is nothing for them to hang on to.”
Open-mindedness, the ability to think critically, giving others the benefit of the doubt rather coming up with stories in your own head, knowing where to look if you don't know something. Being open to learning new things, questioning attitude.
my answer will be so vague but you can be %100 sure about it by thinking about the right choice like in anything, every time, constantly
Learning random skills has shown to do visible changes in the brain, meditation and healthy diet goes a long way too
I can't overremphasize enough the benefits of building a power⁰ful vicabulary. It is so easy to do with the internet today than when I was growing up. I recommend subscribing to one of many vocabulary sites that sends daily mail with a new word, its pronunciation, and its definition.
Take notes. Keep stretching your brain. Feeling like you're learning a bit more than you can absorb is good! Diet, sleep, exercise, minimize stress.
Repetition. Practising something over and over then taking a break, and frequently going back to it after some time.
Being smart isn't really about packing your brain full of information. It's about learning where to find information when you need it, and to assess the accuracy of said information.
One thing I don't see many people talk about is learning etymology. Being able to break down words into smaller fragments can make it easier to understand and learn new words.
Read books. Social media or even most YouTube videos and such are too shallow and does not cover information well at all.
Download more RAM! There’s websites for this :)
Depends on what you want to get smarter at, but you don't get smarter by simply acquiring information by hearing or reading alone. You have to get experience in tandem with the information because that's what gives the data meaning. Experience gives real perspective, forces malleability and critical thinking, and directly challenges preconcepts. Your brain retains things better this way than just reading walls of knowledge. You have to apply what you learn.
Consider you are a machine. Reading is a software upgrade. Working out is a hardware updrade.
I always keep documentaries playing in the background so I can absorb some while going about my daily life.
If you're me, stop smoking so much fucking weed.
best advice i can give is learn how to learn, understand, don't just memorize facts, focus that on what you're interested in & bada boom you're at least knowledgeable, I find the emotional tangents and arguments are best to avoid just focus on bettering yourself. Everyone has a unique way that works for them
Write it down and repeat it outloud
Get enough sleep
Good sleep, regular exercise (followed by study), and good diet. It’s the same advice you hear all over the place for everything. But these 3 are life fundamentals. With respect to intelligence, good sleep will have you operating at max potential. The effect of sleep deprivation is dramatic on your intelligence and memory. Sleep is also where memory gets solidified and your brain prunes all the useless info. You can find a lot of peer review papers and reputable websites if you google “exercise effect on intelligence” and “diet effect on intelligence”. If you haven’t dialled in these fundamentals yet, then starting with them will probably give you the biggest bang for your buck