A&B #37

Hey friends and happy Sunday.

Here's a quick story: In 2019 I sold my Xbox and used the money to buy a VIP ticket to meet Jordan Peterson. I was given the opportunity to ask him one question. So being the book nerd that I am, I asked him what 5 books had the biggest impact on him. Here's

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This week I wrote a thread about 10 amazing TED Talks by authors. The post went viral and received over 3.8K likes.

And here's a simple yet easy hack for a better life: Instead of asking yourself, what do I feel like doing today? Ask yourself, what will I be glad I did when I look back on today?

Alright, let's talk books.

📚 Book Lessons:

This week I read Learn, Improve, Master by Nick Velasquez. The book teaches readers how to learn better by providing proven strategies used by world-class performers. If you enjoyed reading Limitless by Jim Kwik or Ultralearning by Scott Young, you'll enjoy this book.Here are 3 lessons from it: 1) Mix & Match The 4 Learning ModesThere are 4 main modes of learning: Observation: watching someone do what you want to learn Imitation: following along as someone else does it Explanation: reading or listening to someone break down the subject Experimentation: trying to figure things out on your ownWhenever possible, try to mix several modes in your learning process. For instance, if you want to learn how to play basketball, listen to a college coach explaining the rules of basketball on YouTube (explanation), watch people play at the park (observation), and trying shooting around yourself (experimentation). Using more than one input mode will make for a stronger understanding and help with memorization2) Don't Cram For ExamsCramming (packing long hours of practice in a short period of time) can feel like an effective study method but it's not. A much more effective strategy is to do distributed practice (spacing out your practice sessions over longer periods of time). It's more effective to study for one hour, five times a week than to cram five hours into a single day. Spacing out your studying sessions will give your brain time to process what you learned and consolidate new memories. So the next time you have an exam, make sure to space out your study sessions instead of waiting till the last couple of days.3) Spend More Time Practicing SoloAs Pablo Picasso said, "Nothing can be accomplished without solitude." In studies carried out by Dr. Ericsson (famously known for coming up with the 10,000-hour rule), all of the students agreed that the most important factor for improvement was solitary practice.Practicing alone develops discipline, focus, and allows us to get more done without having distractions around us. World-class performers spend long hours practicing alone, even those in team sports. Kobe Bryant was famously known for his work ethic of getting into the gym hours before the official team practice session began. Whatever your craft, find time to practice or study in solitude.

✅ Actionable Advice:

1) Mix and match your learning modes.

• Combine observation, imitation, explanation, and experimentation.

• Using more than one mode will make help you understand and learn the skill faster.

2) Don't cram for your exams.

• Cramming feels like a productive study strategy but it isn't.

• It's much more effective to space out your study sessions (ex: 1 hour per day over 5 days is much better than 5 hours in one day).

3) Spend more time practicing in solitude.

• Practicing in solitude is a key ingredient for mastering any skill.

• Whatever your craft, whether a team sport or not, find time to practice or study in solitude.

🎧 Podcast Update:

My most recent podcast was with John David Mann–the coauthor of over 30 books including The Go-Giver, The Latte Factor, The Slight Edge, and many more bestselling books. Here are a few highlights from our podcast:

• How Reading More Books Will Make You A Better Writer

• How Traditional Book Publishing ACTUALLY Works

• 6 Tips For Overcoming Writer's Block

📖 Reading Lesson:Why read books?Reading:• Reduces stress• Improves memory• Boosts brainpower• Expands vocabulary• Increases self-esteem• Enhances writing skills• Improves concentration• Brings new perspectivesPlus it's fun!

⭐️ Weekly Quote:Read books from 5-9 so that one day you can read books from 9-5.(source)

🙏 Support:This week's newsletter is made possible by Scribd.Scribd is the Netflix of books. You get unlimited ebooks AND audiobooks for just $9.99 a month. That's right, you can read all the ebooks your heart desires and listen to as many audiobooks as you wish. This is an incredible offer you don't want to pass on.You can sign up for a FREE 30-day trial here.

Thank you for your support everyone, I'll see you next Sunday!Read on,Alex W.