How to Learn Anything

The Core Philosophy: Consumption vs. Digestion

graph TD
    subgraph "Stage 1: Consumption (Reading)"
        Input[Source Material] -->|Passive| Reading
        Reading -->|Active Filter| PACER{Identify Category
P-A-C-E-R}
    end

    subgraph "Stage 2: Digestion (Encoding)"
        PACER -->|P: Do it| Practice
        PACER -->|A: Judge it| Critique
        PACER -->|C: Connect it| Mapping
        PACER -->|E/R: Save it| Store
    end

    subgraph "The Learning Gap"
        Store -.->|Delayed Action| SpacedRep[Spaced Repetition]
        Reading -->|IMBALANCE: Skipping Stage 2| Overload[Biological Overload]
        Overload -->|Result| Vomit[Mental Vomiting
90% Forgetting Rate]
    end

    Practice --> LTM[Functional Knowledge]
    Critique --> LTM
    Mapping --> LTM
    SpacedRep --> LTM

    style Overload fill:#f99,stroke:#333
    style LTM fill:#bfb,stroke:#333

The PACER Action System

flowchart TD
    Start(Input Information) --> Identify{Category?}

    %% PROCEDURAL
    Identify -->|Procedural| P[P: How-To
Steps, Methods, Code]
    P --> P_Act[Action: PRACTICE
Execute immediately.
Don't just take notes.]

    %% ANALOGOUS
    Identify -->|Analogous| A[A: Analogous
Links to prior knowledge]
    A --> A_Act[Action: CRITIQUE
1. How is it similar?
2. How is it different?
3. Where does it break?]

    %% CONCEPTUAL
    Identify -->|Conceptual| C[C: Conceptual
Theories, 'The What', Relationships]
    C --> C_Act[Action: MAPPING
Draw non-linear connections.
Link to other concepts.]

    %% EVIDENCE & REFERENCE
    Identify -->|Evidence| E[E: Evidence
Facts supporting a Concept]
    Identify -->|Reference| R[R: Reference
Specific data/values]

    E & R --> ER_Act[Action: STORE & REHEARSE]
    ER_Act --> ER_Detail[1. Store in Flashcards/Notes now.
2. DO NOT memorize now.
3. Use Spaced Repetition later.]

    style P_Act fill:#ff9,stroke:#333
    style A_Act fill:#ff9,stroke:#333
    style C_Act fill:#ff9,stroke:#333
    style ER_Act fill:#ff9,stroke:#333

Expert Knowledge Architecture (The "Nesting" Insight)

graph TB
    subgraph "Expert's Brain (Networked Map)"
        direction TB
        C1((Concept A
Muscle Contraction))
        C2((Concept B
ATP Cycle))

        %% Connection
        C1 <-->|Relationship| C2

        %% Nesting Evidence
        C1 --- E1[Evidence: Sliding Filament Data]

        %% Nesting Analogy
        C1 --- A1[Analogy: Rowing a Boat]

        %% Nesting Procedural
        C2 --- P1[Procedure: How to measure ATP]
    end

    subgraph "Novice's Brain (Linear List)"
        direction TB
        L1[Text: Muscle Contraction] --> L2[Text: Sliding Filament]
        L2 --> L3[Text: Rowing Analogy]
        L3 --> L4[Text: ATP Cycle]
    end

    style C1 fill:#add8e6,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style C2 fill:#add8e6,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style A1 fill:#ffd700,stroke:#333
    style E1 fill:#ffcccb,stroke:#333

The Constraints Algorithm (Time & Capacity)

flowchart TD
    State[Reading Mode] --> Check1{Constraint 1:
Do I have Time?}
    State --> Check2{Constraint 2:
Mental Capacity?}

    Check1 -- No --> Stop[STOP CONSUMING]
    Check2 -- Full --> Stop

    Check1 -- Yes --> Process
    Check2 -- Available --> Process

    Process[Apply PACER Process] --> Encode[Encoding Successful]

    Stop --> OptionA[Wait for later]
    Stop --> OptionB[Review existing notes]

    Stop -.->|Warning| Trap[The Trap:
Reading without Digesting]
    Trap --> Waste[Time Wasted & Info Forgotten]

    style Stop fill:#f99,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style Waste fill:#666,stroke:#333,color:#fff

Goal Setting: Retention vs. Reasoning

quadrantChart
    title The Goal of Learning (High Level vs Low Level)
    x-axis Low Reasoning --> High Reasoning / Problem Solving
    y-axis Low Retention --> High Retention

    quadrant-1 "Ideal Learner (PACER System)"
    quadrant-2 "Kim Peek (Rain Man)"
    quadrant-3 "Novice / Passive Reader"
    quadrant-4 "Smart but Forgetful"

    "Junior School Exams": [0.2, 0.8]
    "University/Real Life": [0.9, 0.8]
    "Kim Peek": [0.15, 0.95]
    "Passive Reading": [0.1, 0.1]

Sources

• How to Remember Everything You Read