A Mind for Numbers
How to Excel at Math and Science
by Barbara Oakley · first published 2014
80% recommend18% neutral1% critical
Why HN recommends it
Practical guide to learning how to learn, covering focused vs diffuse thinking, recall over rereading, and Pomodoro-style pacing. Suits anyone who struggled with math or wants to learn technical subjects faster.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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 ma
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Learning How To Learn (https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn) and Barbara Oakley's book A Mind For Numbers. Completely changed my approach to studying and learning, and my academic efforts after taking it were tremendously better than before. Also related: highly recommend Anki. It feels like magic when the…
on “Ask HN: What things do you wish you discovered earlier?” ↗…no connection to anything. I developed a strong dislike for LA, if not outright fear and hatred. This from someone who majored in math at university. I later learned from reading Dr Oakley's book, _A Mind For Numbers_, that this is a perfect recipe for not mastering a subject. I was sabotaging my own learning by approaching it from the point of view of something to be despised. It was many years later after reading…
on “Gilbert Strang Teaches Linear Algebra” ↗Dr Oakley also wrote "A Mind for Numbers", which is essentially this course in text form. The book is great as a a basis for the theory of learning, and dives into the same content (diffuse vs focused thinking, skimming chapters before reading…
on ““Learning How to Learn,” the most popular course on Coursera” ↗A key insight, that I got from Barbara Oakley's "A Mind for Numbers", was a way to avoid procrastination. The secret was to trick your mind. Don't think, "I have to do two hours of study." Just say to yourself, "I will study for 10 minutes." The mind says, "That's easy,…
on “How to Study: A Brief Guide” ↗I recommend the meta-cognition course: Learning how to Learn. https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn The primary instructor, Dr. Barbara Oakley, wrote the book, _A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)_ that isn't just about learning math.
on “Ask HN: Recommend me a course on Coursera” ↗…collection of intuitive, insight-generating explanations on a variety of math topics, from basic to advanced) - Coursera's Learning How To Learn course - https://www.coursera.org/course/learning - A Mind for Numbers book - http://www.amazon.com/Mind-For-Numbers-Science-Flunked-ebook... (the book used in the course above) I hope this helps. A few basic, general tips for developing insight is to think about applications.…
on “Ask HN: What is the right way to learn Mathematics?” ↗…experience to starting a career. School is not the only way, but I personally would bet on it as the better outcome. Do not let math be a deterrent. You can learn it. Check out Barbara Oakley's book A Mind for Numbers and read Lockhart's Lament. It does not have to be an impediment. Finally, as you mentioned there are a lot of resources online. MIT Open courseware has a lot of awesome resources, especially the intro…
on “Ask HN: How do I become a Software Developer?” ↗…anyone is going to retain long term memory playing Viva Forever while reading Donald Knuth's TAOCP but it's just MO. If you want a more indepth look at the topic, you should try out Barbara Oakley's "A mind for numbers". Touches briefly on these kinds of background distraction while reading/learning.
on “Ask HN: How would you manage listening to music while reading books?” ↗…lecture form, "Learning How To Learn" covers the same topics, and is free from Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn It's taught by Barbara Oakley, and the content of her book "A Mind For Numbers" is complementary to "Make It Stick."
on “The Benjamin Franklin method for learning more from programming books” ↗Learning about how you learn can be a great first step! I highly recommend the aptly titled Coursera course “Learning How To Learn” [0] with Barbara Oakley. She also has an accompanying book “A Mind For Numbers”, which has much of the same information in it. I’ve worked through both and found them very enjoyable and useful, and I occasionally review my notes on them (with a short quiz, of course!) to refresh…
on “Ask HN: How do you learn? Is there a faster/efficient way to Learn?” ↗A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra) by Barbara Oakley How Not to be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking by Jordan Ellenberg I'm not sure but I heard Little Brother…
on “Ask HN: Book Recommendations for Teenagers” ↗Ha, I know what you mean! I found the information extremely valuable, but I do agree that the production value leaves a lot to be desired. I'm not sure if you've read her book A Mind For Numbers, but it has largely the same information (without nearly as many clipart zombies).
on “Ask HN: What's the most useful skill you ever learned?” ↗I feel like I am similar. I have been reading A Mind for Numbers- How to Excel at Maths and Science by Barbara Oakley and it goes in to how to develop focus and how to learn. I find it pretty applicable to software development. It has been pretty good and something…
on “The Surprising Number of Programmers Who Can’t Program” ↗…in 2019. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/33942804-phillip-rhode... Out of those, which ones would I pick as "the best"? Hmm... I guess I'd single out the following for mention: Non-fiction: A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science - Barbara Oakley On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - Stephen King CustomerCentric Selling - Michael Bosworth The Prime Solution: Close the Value Gap, Increase Margins,…
on “Ask HN: What were the best books you read this year? (2019)” ↗…sleep, play with the kids). Then when you re-enter focused mode, you are fresh and your brain often presents solutions uncovered during your diffuse time. This concept is articulated really well in "A Mind for Numbers": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693655-a-mind-for-numb...
on “Cultivate the Skill of Undivided Attention, or “Deep Work” (2019)” ↗