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A Mind For Numbers
A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra) | Barbara Oakley
The companion book to COURSERA's wildly popular massive open online course "Learning How to Learn" Whether you are a student struggling to fulfill a math or science requirement, or you are embarking on a career change that requires a new skill set, A Mind for Numbers offers the tools you need to get a better grasp of that intimidating material. Engineering professor Barbara Oakley knows firsthand how it feels to struggle with math. She flunked her way through high school math and science courses, before enlisting in the army immediately after graduation. When she saw how her lack of mathematical and technical savvy severely limited her optionsboth to rise in the military and to explore other careersshe returned to school with a newfound determination to re-tool her brain to master the very subjects that had given her so much trouble throughout her entire life. In A Mind for Numbers, Dr. Oakley lets us in on the secrets to learning effectivelysecrets that even dedicated and successful students wish theyd known earlier. Contrary to popular belief, math requires creative, as well as analytical, thinking. Most people think that theres only one way to do a problem, when in actuality, there are often a number of different solutionsyou just need the creativity to see them. For example, there are more than three hundred different known proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem. In short, studying a problem in a laser-focused way until you reach a solution is not an effective way to learn. Rather, it involves taking the time to step away from a problem and allow the more relaxed and creative part of the brain to take over. The learning strategies in this book apply not only to math and science, but to any subject in which we struggle. We all have what it takes to excel in areas that don't seem to come naturally to us at first, and learning them does not have to be as painful as we might think! From the Trade Paperback edition.
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keithmalek
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Mehso-so

This book provides the reader with useful instructions on how to learn anything, not just math and science. However, I've already read other books on learning and memorization techniques, and there wasn't much in here that I didn't already know.

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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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keithmalek
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karybeca
Pickpick

Amazing!!!!! For everyone that wants to learn something in general!

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karybeca
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violabrain
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Pickpick

This book should be called “A Mind for Learning: How to Excel at Anything“ since the information in here is not specific to doing well in math and science. The information in here is in my area of expertise, so I didn‘t learn anything new, but this book should be required reading for all students. It distills the science on how the brain learns in the most straightforward, practical way I‘ve read yet. Highly recommended!

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MissMary
Pickpick

This audiobook was exactly what I needed to hear to help me reshape my thinking and approach especially in my Calculus class.

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CampbellTaraL
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Pickpick

The information in the book isn't necessarily revelatory, but the way Dr. Oakley lays it out makes it important. The book is also accessible; it cuts right to the point in clear language.

I really appreciate that the author was just as terrified of math in school as many of us were. Seeing her love math now, and have multiple engineering and science degrees, adds weight to her arguments. I wish every math/science teacher would read this book.

18 likes3 stack adds
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CampbellTaraL
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Happy Tuesday! The workday and family obligations are done, so now it's read/write time with supports. 😉

#readAllTheThings #writeStuff #fancyChocolates #wine

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CampbellTaraL
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An excellent pairing with my current #fiction read. Lots of praise for this book, I'm going in with high hopes!

#nonfiction #STEM #science #math

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Betty
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Congrats to @Kaye for her #50k
1. Truman 2. Memorial Day 3 Friday
4. 1974 5. 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall
6. Cheaper by the Dozen 7. 22 8. 6
9. one but I never need to pull it out, they know my name and type it in the computer
10. 47

AmyG Wow 47 states! 6y
Eggs A Truman baby like me 6y
Betty @AmyG I was fortunate to be born to parents who enjoyed summer drives. 6y
Kaye ✅thanks. #trumansgirls 6y
52 likes4 comments
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eris404
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Here's something fun- the Bookout app can generate an infographic about a book you've read.

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eris404
Pickpick

I read this book for a class and found it very useful and insightful. Although the title implies math, it explains concisely how we learn and create memories in general. It outlines strategies and techniques to study for comprehension (not just test taking), to handle procrastination, to create new habits, to improve memory, and to reduce performance anxiety. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to continue to learn in any setting.

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UnravledFox
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Pickpick

I only picked up this book because it was on sale for a dollar from audible one day. It was 1 of the 5 books I picked up that day in a truly random assortment of sale items and, it was.... Really good. I am finishing up school right now in Forensic Biology/Chemistry and this book actually had some great study suggestions. A Mind for Numbers teaches you how to grapple with difficult material, of any kind, and does it without being dry or dull.

Smrloomis Did you read the piece she wrote about going from #Russian to #engineering? Really interesting! http://m.nautil.us/issue/40/learning/how-i-rewired-my-brain-to-become-fluent-in-... 8y
UnravledFox I did not. I had actually never heard of her before this book, but she tells some of the story in the book so I will totally read that. Thanks for the link❤️ 8y
MrBook Nice review! 7y
8 likes1 stack add3 comments