Ultralearning

Careers now shift with the economy and with every new wave of technology, and staying ahead means never stopping learning. Scott Young argues that the people who thrive will be those who can pick up new ideas, subjects and skills quickly and deeply, and he calls this approach ultralearning.

Young draws on current research into what makes learning effective, and on the stories of people who have taught themselves in extraordinary ways. Benjamin Franklin, chess champion Judit Polgar and physicist Richard Feynman appear alongside lesser-known figures such as Nigel Richards, who won the World Championship of French Scrabble without speaking French. Young also documents the methods he has used himself.

His case is that this is not a trick reserved for fiercely independent self-taught types. Anyone can use it to move ahead in a career, in their studies or in daily life. The book looks at the subculture of ultralearners, lays out nine principles found in every successful project, and shows how to plan and carry out your own, without teachers or huge tuition bills.

The goals can be as varied as becoming fluent in one language or ten, covering the equivalent of a college degree in far less time, or combining several skills to build a product or business from nothing.