The hottest Learning Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

2 Questions for You

The American Peasant • 2555 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Asking clear questions helps start conversations better. It allows you to understand what someone really needs right away.
  2. Understanding students' goals in classes helps tailor the teaching approach. This way, you can mix in production techniques or focus on traditional methods based on their interests.
  3. Using direct questions in any interaction makes communication smoother. It helps you get to the point without unnecessary details.

Advanced Math for Kids: Geometry and Algebra Are Secretly the Same

Kids Who Love Math • 83 implied HN points • 24 Mar 26
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Algebra can describe geometry: coordinates give points, equations like y = x make lines, and formulas like x^2 + y^2 = 25 make circles.
  2. Geometry and algebra are two languages for the same ideas, so switching between pictures and equations helps you understand and solve problems in physics, graphics, and engineering.
  3. A simple hands-on way to see this is to plug numbers into equations and plot the points so kids can watch shapes like parabolas and circles appear and build intuition.

The One Thing I Use AI For That Actually Makes Me Smarter

The Algorithmic Bridge • 371 implied HN points • 23 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. Using AI for one focused task can genuinely make you smarter by amplifying your thinking instead of replacing it.
  2. A personal, candid style—more "me" and real—can make a guide feel more useful and practical than typical how‑tos.
  3. There’s a free preview available, and a paid subscription unlocks extra weekly content like news commentary and additional how‑to guides.

How to Survive the AI Age: A Concrete Guide

The Algorithmic Bridge • 891 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. Don’t obsess over vague “AI skills” — pick one tedious task at your job and use AI to solve it, aiming for competence fast instead of mastery.
  2. Protect yourself and your thinking: separate your finances from your identity so a job change isn’t an identity crisis, keep one regular task AI-free, learn core skills yourself first, and know when to stop using AI.
  3. Get perspective and act on reality: talk to people who survived past industry collapses to see the transition’s shape, and remember employers’ beliefs about AI matter more than your own—adapt accordingly.

Education Links, 3/9/2026

In My Tribe • 273 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Sustained success comes from focused fascination rather than vague "follow your passion" advice — true curiosity is what you can stick with longer than your competitors without burning out.
  2. Graduate students who identify as more "woke" report much higher interest in politics and engage in political discussion with peers far more often than less "woke" students.
  3. The academic publishing system is rent-seeking because taxpayers fund research but then pay to access it; putting papers in the public domain and making peer review transparent would eliminate that double payment.
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The Knowledge Illusion

In Bed With Social • 416 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. AI can provide quick answers, but this doesn't lead to real understanding. It's important to engage in learning actively to truly grasp the knowledge.
  2. The value of knowledge is changing with technology. While access to information is easier now, it can lead to shallow thinking if we rely on AI too much.
  3. Learning should be about growth, not just getting answers. We should use AI to inspire deeper questions and foster our critical thinking instead.

Human excellence, historical innovation, & AI for playing Go strategies

The Strategy Toolkit • 26 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Intense early specialization often makes teenagers stand out but doesn’t reliably produce the top adult performers.
  2. Many true elites are late bloomers who keep broader interests longer and peak later, benefiting from diverse experience.
  3. Possible reasons for this pattern include finding the right fit over time, enhanced learning from varied activities, and lower risk from avoiding early narrow specialization.

5 Ways to Stop AI Cheating

The Honest Broker • 34143 implied HN points • 28 May 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. AI cheating is a big problem in schools right now, and many believe it's worsening fast. Students often use AI tools to do their work instead of learning.
  2. An old-fashioned education style, like the one at Oxford, could help stop AI cheating. This system relies heavily on handwritten work and face-to-face discussions with teachers.
  3. The Oxford method is tough and demanding, encouraging real understanding and preventing cheating. If used more widely, it could ensure students truly learn and earn their degrees.

Psychology’s Greatest Hits (Part 3/3)

Living Fossils • 20 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🔬 Science Learning
  1. The most reliable psychology comes from explicit, quantitative, testable models—like laws of learning and signal detection—that make precise predictions and connect to other sciences.
  2. Thinking about how minds evolved and work in real environments explains many supposed “biases” and shows family and kinship profoundly shape behavior. Simple heuristics are often fast, frugal, and adaptive rather than errors.
  3. Psychology needs clear, specific, and measurable claims that fit with other disciplines; vague or unfalsifiable ideas lead to error, so healthy skepticism and rigor matter.

IPAKIANS UNITE! ALL-IPAK WEBINAR/CONFERENCE - "FIRELIGHT" - THIS SATURDAY 10/12 6PM - 10PM ET

Popular Rationalism • 158 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. There's a webinar called 'Firelight' happening on October 12th from 6 PM to 10 PM ET. You can join either through a live audience on Zoom or watch it online.
  2. The event features various speakers who will discuss important topics around knowledge, critical thinking, and personal empowerment. It's aimed at those feeling disillusioned by traditional education.
  3. Attending could help you learn about holistic health, public health insights, and more, all while being part of a community that values truth and intellectual freedom.

My Next Decision Making Class is Launching on November 18th!

Thinking in Bets • 138 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. A decision-making class starts on November 18th and will run for three weeks with live zoom sessions. It’s designed to help people make better decisions using a structured process.
  2. You'll learn what makes decision-making hard, like cognitive biases, and how to work better as a team when making choices.
  3. The course includes interactive sessions and projects, and past students found it transformative and beneficial for both personal and career growth.

The Stamina Gap

The Ruffian • 768 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Deep, sustained focus — cognitive endurance or mental stamina — is becoming a scarce and valuable skill because modern life mostly rewards short, fast mental tasks.
  2. Less advantaged people often have lower stamina and therefore fall behind as tasks drag on, but quiet, independent practice (even via cognitive games) can build endurance and improve outcomes, and classroom norms and policies strongly affect who gets that practice.
  3. AI and other convenience tools can speed up thinking but also replace the effort that trains slow, deep thinking, so over-reliance risks eroding the very capacity needed for hard, complex work.

@adlrocha - We are not scared of AI, we are scared of irrelevance

@adlrocha Weekly Newsletter • 194 implied HN points • 08 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. The real fear around AI is becoming irrelevant rather than the technology itself. Learning first principles and developing taste helps you adapt and know when to trust or override AI.
  2. Relying on vibe-coding and AI agents can create shallow work and false progress, so don’t outsource all your thinking. Keep practicing deep problem-solving and creative thinking to stay useful.
  3. Software engineering is moving up the stack toward systems thinking and domain expertise, so context matters more than raw implementation skill. Become a generalist who reclaims time to think, cultivates taste, and keeps learning new foundations.

When life is a metaphor

SPARC '24 JC Blog • 199 implied HN points • 27 Aug 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to personal growth. Trying new activities and meeting different people helps you learn more about yourself.
  2. Learning can happen in unexpected ways. Sometimes, you realize you've grown just by reflecting on your experiences rather than actively studying something new.
  3. Creating a supportive social group can inspire creativity and curiosity. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals makes it easier to explore new ideas and develop your passions.

Modern Meditations: Immad Akhund

The Generalist • 740 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
💼 Business Learning
  1. Constant learning is the core skill—learn new domains, talk to experts, and treat excellence as the result of daily grinding and perseverance.
  2. Constraints are valuable: more resources don’t always speed things up, and growing headcount too fast can reduce productivity, so prefer measured, sustainable scaling.
  3. Be optimistic about long-term progress while thinking big—study history to understand patterns and imagine bold projects like space habitats and new immersive tech.

Working memory: one of the most important things to understand about learning

The Bell Ringer • 519 implied HN points • 19 Jul 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Working memory is crucial for learning because it helps us hold and process information. Understanding how it works can improve teaching methods.
  2. Many teachers in the U.S. aren't trained on working memory, which limits their ability to support students effectively. Better training can help teachers use this knowledge in classrooms.
  3. Memorizing basic facts, like math facts, is important for building a strong foundation in learning. When students know these facts, they can focus on more complex problems.

Replay: What parents should know about the science of learning

The Bell Ringer • 339 implied HN points • 02 Aug 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Understanding how children learn can help parents support their education better. It's important to know what methods work best for different types of learners.
  2. Staying involved in your child's education can make a big difference. Regular communication with teachers and participation in school activities can help children succeed.
  3. Encouraging a growth mindset in children is key. Teach them that making mistakes is part of learning and that effort leads to improvement.

Does Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) improve academic outcomes?

The Science of Learning • 219 implied HN points • 12 Aug 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) helps students with their emotions and relationships but it's unclear if it boosts academic performance. Some studies show positive impacts, while others do not.
  2. Different schools use SEL in varied ways, making it tough to gauge its true effectiveness. This inconsistency leads to mixed results in research about SEL's benefits.
  3. There's no strong evidence that SEL reduces the achievement gap or promotes equity in education. More focused studies are needed to really understand SEL's long-term effects.

Can You Really Learn the Humanities in 52 Weeks?

The Honest Broker • 7480 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. You can learn the humanities in a year by following a structured plan with about 250 pages of reading each week. This makes it manageable and not overwhelming.
  2. The course covers a wide range of topics, including literature, art, and music, allowing you to explore human culture broadly.
  3. It's flexible; you can do it at your own pace and even join a reading group if you want to learn with others.

My weekly tech industry intake routine as a Staff Engineer

High Growth Engineer • 642 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. Staying updated on industry trends helps you make better decisions at work. Regularly reading articles can keep you informed and improve your skills.
  2. Organizing your reading materials into a special inbox can make it easier to find important articles. Using tools like split inboxes and email groupings can really cut down on your reading time.
  3. Taking action after reading is crucial. Simply saving what you've learned or adding tasks based on it can help you retain more information and apply it effectively in your job.

New Is The New Black

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1612 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. Trying new things can be hard, but it's essential for learning. Embrace the unfamiliar instead of being afraid of it.
  2. When you feel lost while learning, take a break. Clearing your mind can help you reset and make connections later.
  3. When you start to understand something, slow down and think carefully. This moment is special and deserves focus.

How I Take Notes

The Honest Broker • 22840 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Good note-taking can lead to unexpected wins, like winning a wine-tasting contest.
  2. There are three levels of note-taking: marking up the book, summarizing the book, and writing your own ideas.
  3. Note-taking is a valuable tool for personal growth and development, applicable to various careers and fields.

Seizing the moment

Becoming Noble • 2093 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. The education system can be seen as a risk to freedom, as it conditions individuals to align with the state and managerial control.
  2. State-supported education aims to disconnect the young from traditional loyalties and mold them into supporters of the regime through certification.
  3. Challenging the current educational system's suppression of independent learning is crucial to combat bureaucratic expansion and foster self-governance.

Childhood and Education #11: The Art of Learning

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2060 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Tracking in schools helps kids learn better by grouping them based on ability, not just age. This way, each child gets the support they need to thrive.
  2. Reading early and often is really important for kids. It opens up their world to more learning and makes parenting easier.
  3. The way schools teach math often makes it harder for students to enjoy and understand the subject. We should focus on teaching it in a way that keeps kids engaged and wanting to learn.

Final Call

Classical Wisdom • 2004 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. The Essential Greeks Course begins tomorrow
  2. Previous students found the course intellectually thought-provoking and enlightening
  3. Excellence is a habit, so take advantage of this final call

The Tale of the Strawberries

Cremieux Recueil • 507 implied HN points • 13 Nov 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Trends can look similar, but the reasons behind them can be very different. Just because two places produce more strawberries doesn't mean they do it the same way.
  2. Measurement invariance is important. This concept means you can’t just compare numbers across different times or places without understanding how they were measured.
  3. Not all trends matter equally. Sometimes the reasons behind the changes are significant, and other times they might not be. It's essential to dig deeper to understand what the numbers really mean.

Bringing the science of learning to parent night

The Bell Ringer • 79 implied HN points • 23 Aug 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Many teachers believe that parents are not involved enough in their children's education. They feel that more engagement from families could lead to better support for students.
  2. Parents want to learn how to help their kids succeed in school, especially through understanding learning science. This can strengthen the partnership between parents and teachers.
  3. Schools are starting to share effective learning strategies with parents, like metacognition and retrieval practices, which can help kids study better and improve their overall learning experience.

The School Bell Rings: Time for Class

Musings on Markets • 1778 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Learning finance can be accessible! You don’t need a fancy background, just some curiosity and a bit of effort.
  2. Understanding the basics, like how money flows in businesses and what financial terms mean, is super important. It sets you up for success in finance classes.
  3. There are different ways to learn. You can choose free online classes or paid ones, depending on what fits your time and budget best.

Soft Skills books for developers

Elevate • 1909 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Master the art of deep focus to boost productivity and reduce distractions.
  2. Optimize for high-leverage activities by prioritizing tasks that drive significant outcomes.
  3. Cultivate a growth mindset to view challenges as learning opportunities and embrace feedback.

Cultivating a state of mind where new ideas are born

Escaping Flatland • 2889 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Great ideas are fragile and can be easily killed by external influences like coworking spaces or groupthink.
  2. Solitude is crucial for creativity, allowing for the development of unique perspectives and groundbreaking work.
  3. Creative individuals are willing to linger in confusion, surfacing new questions rather than rushing to answers.

Against the hydraulic analogy

lcamtuf’s thing • 4081 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. The hydraulic analogy, which compares electrical circuits to water systems, is often misleading. It can create confusion, especially when learning complex components like semiconductors.
  2. While analogies can aid in understanding, they need to remain accurate as you learn more advanced concepts. The hydraulic analogy can break down and lead to misunderstandings.
  3. When students encounter flaws in the hydraulic analogy, it may cause them to forget the basics and start over, making the learning process harder than it needs to be.

Tormented by an Urn

rachaelmeager • 535 implied HN points • 04 Jun 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. The Polya urn model, though simple at first glance, reveals the complexity of statistics and emphasizes the importance of understanding problems deeply before attempting to solve them.
  2. Teaching and learning in math are not just about facts; they require creativity and passion to engage students, much like how poets perceive deeper meanings in their art.
  3. There is a strong connection between the arts and sciences, where both disciplines can benefit from understanding each other, and students should learn foundational concepts in both to grasp the complexities of the world.

How Math Textbooks Are Written (and How to Choose One)

Kids Who Love Math • 335 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Choose math books written by passionate individuals. These authors really care about making math enjoyable and understandable for kids.
  2. Avoid textbooks written by committees because they often lack clarity and focus. They try to cover too many topics and can make learning feel overwhelming.
  3. Look for books that prioritize deep thinking and problem-solving. The right book should inspire a love for math and be well-structured for motivated learners.

🚀 FP! Week In Review, Briefly #14

Faster, Please! • 274 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. AI can be a great tool for learning, but we need to be careful how we use it. If schools just add AI to their old ways of teaching, it might lead to shallow learning instead of deeper thinking.
  2. Using technology in classrooms should not mean just giving kids devices without guidance. Schools should teach students how to think critically rather than distracting them with screens.
  3. Some teachers are going back to simple methods, like writing and discussions, to help kids engage more deeply. The goal is to use AI to boost thinking skills, not just for quick answers.

Resist Summary

The Map is Mostly Water • 2942 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. We read too many summaries instead of diving deep into topics. This can make us miss the detailed understanding that comes from exploring original sources.
  2. Writing from your own experience and observations is important. It helps create richer and more interesting content than just summarizing others' ideas.
  3. Using AI for quick answers can simplify things, but it might prevent you from understanding complex ideas. Building a deeper understanding requires slow and careful thinking.

Workshop announcement: demand estimation

Scott's Substack • 904 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Upcoming workshop in late February and early March on demand estimation by Ariel Pakes and Jeff Gortmaker.
  2. The workshop will cover demand estimation methods in applied microeconomics and bridge between reduced-form and structural frameworks.
  3. Attendees will get hands-on experience with practical exercises and training using a python package for estimating demand.