The hottest Learning Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

A curriculum for the AI age

State of the Future • 34 implied HN points • 26 Mar 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. The current education system is outdated and doesn't prepare kids for a future dominated by AI, which will take over many jobs. We need to rethink education to emphasize skills that AI can't replicate.
  2. Key human skills like authentic presence, accountability, and emotional intelligence will be essential as we move away from traditional work roles. These are things that make us truly human and can't be replaced by machines.
  3. We should focus on educational approaches that develop children's emotional and social skills, such as Montessori and Waldorf. The goal is to help kids find purpose and meaning, rather than just preparing them for jobs.
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My Class About Causal Inference

By Reason Alone • 42 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Teaching causal inference helps students understand the relationship between cause and effect in social sciences. It's important to make complex ideas relatable to engage younger audiences.
  2. Using visual aids, like graphs, can enhance understanding of complicated topics, especially in a classroom setting. Students can connect better with the material when it’s presented visually.
  3. Recommended readings and real-world examples, like the draft lottery, can spark curiosity in students. Sharing interesting studies can help them see the relevance of these concepts in everyday life.

Math is a Language. This is how you should learn it. [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 99 implied HN points • 14 Jun 22
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Math is a language that helps express complex ideas in quantifiable ways, and understanding it is crucial for technical careers like AI and Engineering.
  2. Many people struggle with Math because they try to learn topics without understanding the context around them, similar to trying to learn a language without knowing any words or sentence structures.
  3. Learning Math effectively involves treating it like learning a language, starting with simple 'sentences' for specific situations, practicing, and gradually branching out to more complex ideas.

The Art of Stupid

The Palindrome • 5 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. It's okay to feel confused when learning something new. Embracing that feeling can actually help you learn better.
  2. Asking simple or 'stupid' questions is important for understanding. Don't be afraid to seek clarity on things you don't get.
  3. Worrying about how you look to others can hold you back. Focus on gaining knowledge instead of keeping up appearances.

In praise of glorious messes

Sunday Letters • 139 implied HN points • 19 Jun 22
🎭️ Culture Learning
  1. Learning something new, like playing music or coding, starts small and takes time. It's okay to be a beginner and learn one step at a time.
  2. Making mistakes is part of the learning process. Embracing those messy moments helps you improve and grow in any skill.
  3. Staying open to learning keeps your mind fresh. Allowing yourself to struggle a bit can lead to wonderful discoveries.

Learn Skills For Free

Day One • 359 implied HN points • 22 Jun 20
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Self-education is valuable for personal growth and development.
  2. Taking action is crucial for seeing significant changes in your life.
  3. Learning a skill can open up opportunities for success, and it's possible to start for free.

GRANTED: Better arguments and new books

Granted • 79 implied HN points • 30 Jul 22
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Impostor syndrome can be reframed as a growth mindset by acknowledging one's current abilities and the potential for improvement.
  2. Learning how to argue better can strengthen relationships and improve critical thinking skills.
  3. Engaging in small debates can be a valuable opportunity for personal growth and preparation for larger discussions.

Escaping High School

Skunk Ledger • 195 HN points • 04 Jun 23
🚌 Education Learning
  1. High school offers a unique opportunity for personal growth and learning.
  2. Focus on creating meaningful work and projects instead of just participating in activities.
  3. Set yourself up for success by developing skills, building meaningful relationships, and exploring your interests.

Mastering the Craft: Why Reading Other People's Code Makes You Code Like A Pro

Weekend Developer • 39 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. Reading code written by experienced programmers exposes you to different techniques and approaches, enhancing your problem-solving capabilities.
  2. By studying established best practices in code, like proper organization and naming conventions, you develop good coding habits from the start, resulting in more maintainable and readable code.
  3. Understanding complex systems through reading code helps you build crucial skills for professional software development, such as the ability to work with large codebases and collaborate effectively with other developers.

The Worst Outcome is a Mediocre Success

Pivotal • 154 HN points • 21 Sep 23
💼 Business Learning
  1. Startup experimentation is about learning from clear successes or failures, not mediocre results.
  2. The danger of a mediocre success is the lack of clarity on whether a strategy can be scaled or needs to be changed.
  3. It's important to design experiments with well-defined outcomes to avoid the messy middle of mediocre success.

Paper Summary: The Koha Code - A Biological Theory of Memory

Sigil • 19 implied HN points • 29 Dec 23
🔬 Science Learning
  1. The Koha model proposes that dendritic spines are computational units that scan for specific temporal codes in the brain.
  2. Excitatory and inhibitory neurons can form neural circuits that use lateral inhibition to suppress other neurons.
  3. Dendritic spines change shape to amplify or dampen signals, encoding temporal patterns and competing to become the 'winning neuron'.

Why 97% Fail to Learn Software Engineering

Brain Bytes • 19 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. Imposter Syndrome can make you doubt your abilities as a beginner coder, but it's important to set small, achievable goals, seek feedback, and believe in yourself.
  2. Creating a structured roadmap with daily tasks and clear goals is crucial for effective self-teaching in programming. It helps in visualizing progress and staying on track.
  3. Balancing theory with implementation by working on real projects is key. Dedicate time to writing code, fixing issues, and consistent practice to become a proficient programmer.

How To Identify A Good Programmer

Morad’s Substack • 7 HN points • 24 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. Passion is a key indicator of a good programmer - they should be enthusiastic about programming, even outside of work.
  2. Good programmers love learning and are self-teaching, constantly exploring new technologies without needing formal training.
  3. Intelligence is crucial for a good programmer - they are smart, have various interests, and usually start programming before university or formal education.

The Rubber Duck Method for Debugging [Technique Tuesdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 13 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. The Rubber Duck Method is a powerful tool for debugging code, helping identify both logical and runtime errors as you explain your code to a rubber duck.
  2. Speaking out loud while explaining your thought process can help you make connections and insights, preventing your brain from skipping steps and making more errors.
  3. In interviews, treating your interviewer as a rubber duck by verbalizing your thoughts can improve your problem-solving skills and communication, impressing the interviewer.

Games as Training

David Friedman’s Substack • 143 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Games like bridge, chess, and Diplomacy can be viewed as training exercises for skills like coordination, tactics, strategy, and commitment.
  2. Playing games can help develop real-world skills like finding your way around environments and accomplishing goals.
  3. Some games are designed specifically to teach skills, such as computer programming or the principles of mutual advantage over conquest.

The Carnot Belief Engine

Data People Etc. • 177 implied HN points • 08 May 23
📖 Philosophy Learning
  1. Belief engines like Twitter manipulate beliefs through structured processes.
  2. Changing beliefs involves expanding to new ideas and compressing back to defaults.
  3. Learning processes, like machine learning, follow cycles of expansion and compression.

Linear Inequalities [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 30 Aug 22
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Linear Inequalities are crucial in math for coding, although they may seem trivial at first.
  2. Linear Inequalities help codify bounds and constraints efficiently, aiding in filtering out bad solutions and narrowing search spaces.
  3. Practicing breaking down real-life situations into equations and inequalities is key to mastering Linear Inequalities.

How I Remember Everything When Learning to Code

Brain Bytes • 19 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Implement what you learn through hands-on practice to bridge theory and application in programming.
  2. Practice Just-In-Time Learning by acquiring knowledge only when it immediately becomes valuable to you.
  3. Don't strive for perfection; focus on understanding the core 20% of information that brings 80% of the results in programming.

Time Flies When You Love What You Do

Humanities in Revolt • 99 implied HN points • 24 Mar 22
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Loving your work can make time pass quickly and bring a sense of fulfillment.
  2. Teaching and learning can create unique, meaningful experiences that transcend time.
  3. Engaging in the humanities can lead to personal growth, critical thinking, and sharing valuable insights with others.

My Cup Runneth Over

Investing 101 • 46 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Learning
  1. It's really important to figure out what you believe and why you believe it. By understanding your beliefs, you can make better decisions in life.
  2. Learning isn't just good for personal growth; it's also important for keeping a free society. When people are informed, they can make better choices as citizens.
  3. When exploring ideas, try to do so based on your own research instead of just following popular trends. This way, you can discover unique insights that others might overlook.

Asking the dumb questions

Sunday Letters • 159 implied HN points • 08 Nov 21
🚌 Education Learning
  1. When you're new to a situation, it's good to watch and listen first. This helps you learn more about what's going on.
  2. Asking 'dumb' questions can be really powerful. They often bring up thoughts that others on the team might be too shy to voice.
  3. Encouraging new team members to ask questions keeps the team flexible and open to change. Celebrating these questions can help everyone grow.

Take my Infinity final exam!

Infinitely More • 35 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🚌 Education Learning
  1. The Cantor-Hume principle connects with Euclid's principle, and there are different views on whether they agree or conflict. It's a topic worth exploring in depth.
  2. Understanding potential and actual infinity is important in calculus, especially when dealing with infinite series. This distinction affects how we solve mathematical problems.
  3. The continuum hypothesis and the axiom of choice raise interesting questions in philosophy and mathematics, showing how these concepts challenge our understanding of infinity and choice.

The zigzag theorem

Infinitely More • 33 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. The zigzag theorem states that when you create a zigzag pattern in a rectangle, the triangles formed below this pattern take up exactly half the area of the rectangle.
  2. Even if the zigzag lines sometimes move backward without crossing, the triangles will still cover half the rectangle's area due to how the bases and heights of the triangles are calculated.
  3. This theorem is interesting because it holds true even if the zigzag involves an infinite number of lines.

Thinking together about not-knowing.

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 59 implied HN points • 04 Jan 23
🚌 Education Learning
  1. People often face decisions with incomplete information, which is called not-knowing. It's important to develop skills to navigate unknown situations well.
  2. The series aims to explore how to think clearly about not-knowing and improve decision-making in both personal and professional contexts.
  3. Understanding not-knowing can lead to better happiness and innovation. Learning to embrace uncertainty is essential for adapting to a complex world.

Some Thoughts on Teaching Introductory Economics

Economic Forces • 11 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
🚌 Education Learning
  1. Introductory courses often try to cover too many topics too quickly. It’s better to focus on fewer topics so students can really understand them well.
  2. Teaching simple frameworks like supply and demand can help explain complex ideas like price controls. This method makes it easier for students to learn and apply economic concepts.
  3. There are both obvious and more hidden costs to price controls, like rent control. Understanding these costs can be complex, but it’s crucial for a deeper understanding of economics.

Math for kids outside of the Calculus Sequence

Kids Who Love Math • 111 HN points • 07 Aug 23
🚌 Education Learning
  1. There's a clear path from arithmetic to calculus in math education, but kids who advance too quickly may face challenges in a traditional school setting.
  2. Instead of just accelerating through the math curriculum, consider enrichment to explore topics outside the typical sequence like statistics, probability, and mathematical finance.
  3. Parents can support their kids in exploring enrichment math by learning alongside them, finding tutors or math circles, and utilizing resources like books and educational videos.

✂️200k Tech Layoffs,🔧 Top10 Skills in 2025,🤹 GenZ Career Gaps,🧑‍🏫 Learning Quotient

Work3 - The Future of Work • 19 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
💼 Business Learning
  1. Connecting risk-free capital with hiring sprees can lead to layoffs and damage a company's brand, culture, and long-term growth.
  2. Artificial Intelligence will assist workers in their tasks rather than completely replacing them in the future.
  3. Employers are seeking individuals with a high Learning Quotient (LQ) who can think quickly, problem-solve, and adapt to changing technologies.

How to stay motivated while learning Java?

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. When learning Java, start by writing code as if you're in a procedural language to ease the transition
  2. Writing unit test cases is important to become a seasoned Java programmer; it helps validate your code
  3. Refactor your code by breaking logic into simpler methods, identifying and grouping methods/variables into classes, and reviewing your code for improvements

ABEND dump #4

Bit Maybe Wise • 19 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. HTTP/2 requires headers to be lowercase for requests and responses.
  2. Focus on producing good work efficiently rather than striving for perfection.
  3. Culture within an organization is more impactful than its strategy.

Process: Your Power, Your Control

Side Maker • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Learning
  1. Before starting a new project, create a new email specifically for it to save time later on.
  2. In order to be better at building and selling, start small and understand the process thoroughly.
  3. Collect all actions taken, organize them, and explore the project from a potential buyer's perspective to gather valuable feedback.