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.
insights INSIGHT
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.
question_answer ANECDOTE
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.
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Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career
Scott Young
James Clear
In 'Ultralearning,' Scott H. Young presents a strategy for acquiring skills and knowledge in a self-directed and intense manner. The book incorporates the latest research on effective learning methods and includes stories of other ultralearners such as Benjamin Franklin, Judit Polgár, and Richard Feynman. Young outlines nine key principles for successful ultralearning projects, including metalearning, focus, directness, drilling, testing, retrieval, intuition, and experimentation. These principles help readers learn efficiently, concentrate on their goals, and convert knowledge into practical skills. The book is designed to help anyone improve their career, studies, and life by mastering new skills quickly and effectively.
How Benjamin Franklin, chess grandmaster Judit Polgár, and Nobel Laureate physicist Richard Feynman used Ultralearning to rise to the top of their fields.
How Scott used ultralearning to absorb the entire MIT four-year computer science curriculum in 11 months and learned four languages in one year!
The biggest mistakes you're probably making when trying to learn something new.
Why school isn't the only place where intense learning is possible.
How our brains process languages and why some of our most popular learning options (like Duolingo) may not be optimal.
The Jordan Harbinger Show 
