LessWrong (30+ Karma) “Explosive Skill Acquisition” by Ben Goldhaber
Nov 30, 2025
Ben Goldhaber, a writer and commentator on rationality and self-improvement, shares insights on skill acquisition. He argues that intensive practice over short periods is far more effective than long, spaced efforts. Goldhaber illustrates this with his month-long writing challenge at Inkhaven, emphasizing immersion's benefits, such as varied contexts and rapid skill development. He explores the psychology behind commitment and its impact on self-identity, as well as the reasons many avoid intensive learning despite its benefits.
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Short Bursts Trump Slow Drip
- Intensive, short bursts of practice beat the same total hours spread thinly over long periods.
- Closely spaced practice chains learning rather than letting you relearn basics.
A Month Of Daily Writing
- Ben Goldhaber describes writing a post a day for a month (Inkhaven) and calls it one of his best self-development periods.
- He contrasts 30 posts in a month with 60 over five years to show accelerated progress.
Language Immersion Example
- He uses language immersion (living in Mexico) as a quintessential example of explosive learning.
- Immersion gives rich, real contexts that reinforce memory and use.
