Apr 2, 2023

The Feynman Technique: How to Learn Anything

Richard Feynman was known for his ability to convey complex ideas in simple, elegant ways. The Feynman Technique is a learning method that prioritizes simplicity to build depth of understanding. Learn how to use this technique to learn anything.

PERSONAL_GROWTH TEACHING

Sahil Bloom

Exploring my curiosity and sharing what I learn along the way. Gave up a grand slam on ESPN in 2012 and still waiting for it to land.

Member of Business & Startups

How to learn anything.

The Feynman Technique: pic.twitter.com/LaTclIRYHz
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
The Feynman Technique is a learning method that prioritizes simplicity to build depth of understanding.

It takes its name after Richard Feynman—an American theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 1965 for his groundbreaking work in quantum electrodynamics.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
Richard Feynman was certainly intelligent.

But there are a lot of intelligent people in the world.

Feynman's true genius was noted as his ability to convey complex ideas in simple, elegant ways.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
He observed that complexity and jargon are often used to mask a lack of deep understanding.

Hence “The Feynman Razor” that I’ve written about:

If someone uses a lot of complexity and jargon to explain something to you, they probably don’t understand it. pic.twitter.com/z6H16bO8wj
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
The Feynman Technique is a learning framework that requires you to develop a deep understanding of a given topic.

It involves four key steps:

1. Set the Stage
2. ELI5 (Explain It To Me Like I'm 5)
3. Assess & Study
4. Organize, Convey & Review

Let's cover each step:
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
Step 1: Set the Stage

What’s the topic you want to learn?

Starting with a blank page, write the topic at the top and jot down everything you know about it.

Read & research the topic.

Add any new learnings or insights as you develop them.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
Step 2: ELI5

Here's where it gets unique:

Attempt to explain the topic to someone without a base understanding of it (i.e. a “child”).

On a blank page, write down everything you know about your topic—but pretend you are explaining it to a child.

Use simple language!
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
Step 3: Assess & Study

Reflect on your performance. Form an honest assessment.

How well were you able to explain the topic to a child? Where did you get frustrated? Where did you turn to jargon?

These are the gaps in your understanding!

Read and study more to fill them.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
Step 4: Organize, Convey & Review

Organize your elegant, simple language into a clear, compelling story or narrative.

Convey it to a few others, then iterate and refine accordingly.

Review your new, deep understanding of the topic.

Remember: Simple is beautiful.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
The Feynman Technique is a powerful framework for learning anything.

The best entrepreneurs, investors, and thinkers have leveraged this technique—whether they know it or not!

Their common genius: the ability to abstract complexity and convey ideas in simple, digestible ways.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
It's easy to overcomplicate and intimidate—we all know people who try to do this.

But don't be fooled—complexity and jargon are often used to mask a lack of deep understanding.

Be better.

Use the Feynman Technique: Find beauty in simplicity. pic.twitter.com/6Z2e5PMBF1
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
To summarize the Feynman Technique:

1. Set the Stage
2. ELI5 (Explain It To Me Like I'm 5)
3. Assess & Study
4. Organize, Convey & Review

Follow me @SahilBloom for more and RT the first tweet below to share it with others! https://t.co/R6Pqfh7uAg
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
Just tried using this framework during bath time, but it turns out explaining it to a 10-month-old is significantly more difficult than explaining it to a 5-year-old.

Oh well. Onward! pic.twitter.com/R5AmiUFC8i
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
In the 1960s, the National Training Laboratories Institute developed a pyramid model to represent the retention rate of information from various activities.

Takeaway: Teaching > Reading

I’ll share more in a future newsletter. Join 300,000+ others here. https://t.co/32basvHgSr pic.twitter.com/5IDMl4IabB
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
Teaching is a real life hack for learning.

When you're trying to learn something new, attempt to teach it to a friend or family member.

See what questions they ask and how those questions expose the gaps in your knowledge.

Study more to fill in those gaps.

It works.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
Related: The Curse of Knowledge

Experts often make the flawed assumption that others have the same background and knowledge on a topic as they do.

It makes them unable to teach or lead in an effective manner for those still coming up the learning curve.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023
Richard Feynman was an example of the Paradox of Effort in action.

You have to put in more effort to make something appear effortless.

Effortless, elegant performances are often the result of a large volume of effortful, gritty practice.

Simple is not simple.
— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) April 2, 2023