

241: Scott Young | Ultralearning Your Way To Skill Mastery
7 snips Aug 22, 2019
Scott Young, author of 'Ultralearning' and host of his own podcast, shares his incredible journey of mastering the MIT computer science curriculum in just 11 months. He discusses the concept of ultralearning and reveals how historical figures like Benjamin Franklin leveraged it for mastery. Scott critiques common language learning tools like Duolingo, emphasizing the necessity of immersion for real conversational skills. He also highlights the value of self-directed learning over traditional education, challenging the status quo in skill acquisition.
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MIT Challenge
- Scott Young completed MIT's four-year computer science curriculum in 12 months using free online resources.
- He focused on passing final exams and completing programming projects, demonstrating learning without formal enrollment.
Degrees vs. Skills
- Degrees serve as a hiring filter, but employers primarily value skills.
- Scott's MIT Challenge proves that alternative learning paths can provide necessary skills without formal degrees.
Immersion vs. Exposure
- Jordan Harbinger learned German by immersion during high school.
- Scott Young's exchange in France, where he primarily interacted with English speakers, highlights the limitations of casual exposure.