Learn like a Pro

Science-Based Tools to Become Better at Anything

By: Barbara Oakley PhD, Olav Schewe

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

An audiobook for learners of all ages containing the best and most updated advice on learning from neuroscience and cognitive psychology.

Do you spend too much time learning with disappointing results? Do you find it difficult to remember what you read? Do you put off studying because it’s boring and you’re easily distracted? This book is for you.

Dr. Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe have both struggled in the past with their learning. But they have found techniques to help them master any material. Building on insights from neuroscience and cognitive psychology, they give you a crash course to improve your ability to learn, no matter what the subject is. Through their decades of writing, teaching, and research on learning, the authors have developed deep connections with experts from a vast array of disciplines. And it’s all honed with feedback from thousands of students who have themselves gone through the trenches of learning. Successful learners gradually add tools and techniques to their mental toolbox, and they think critically about their learning to determine when and how to best use their mental tools. That allows these learners to make the best use of their brains, whether those brains seem “naturally” geared toward learning or not. This book will teach you how you can do the same.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Essentials

"Learn Like a Pro is the book I wish I’d had when I was a student. It is jam-packed with practical, evidence-based advice for overcoming procrastination, strengthening memory, and reading more effectively. You’ll find a nugget of learning gold on every page." (Daniel H. Pink, number one New York Times best-selling author of When, Drive, and To Sell Is Human)

"If you want to learn how to learn, I can’t think of better guides than Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe. They transformed themselves from struggling students into master teachers, and they’ve written an unusually digestible, immediately useful book about how to build your knowledge, improve your memory, and boost your motivation to keep getting smarter." (Adam Grant, number one New York Times best-selling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife)

©2021 Barbara Oakley (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Great Study Strategies

I wish I had this book when I was in high school and college

MASTER AND GET RESULTS!!

This is a must have for a Powerful Brain. Master the Techniques,Become Great/Genius, Exceptional!!!

short and sweet

excellent book with helpful tips on learning and memorizing. it's straight to the point and explains every subject quickly.

The book is a gem.

I wish I had this book when I was a kid. The book is filled with practical guidance that you can begin to implement immediately.

Concise and well written

There are a lot of other books on this subject of becoming a better learner. But most focus too much on the research and too little on boiling it down to the facts and what matters when implementing the research into your own life.

Learn Like a Pro does a great job at explaining how you can apply these findings in a way that’s easy but not so simple that it wouldn’t make a difference.

I understand that some like to point out that the book is too simplistic and doesn’t offer anything for advanced learners.

I disagree and would counter that what this book teaches is, roughly speaking, as good as it gets unless you want to explore methods that are not well researched and too complex and require too much effort for the vast majority of learners to grasp, and wouldn’t offer anything more valuable than what is already written in this book.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning any subject. But I especially recommend this book to high school and college students who want to improve their learning experience and make their path towards a higher education more enjoyable and less intimidating.

It's a great book, helped me develop an IEP.

It relies heavily on the pomodoro technique. So if you have sufficient knowledge of that, you'll probably already know the contents.

Especially useful for self-learners

Audio: easy and clear. I am Brazilian, have ALTE C2 proficiency, and could hear most of the audio at 1.2 speed in a medium-noise context (home & kitchen with external noise)

Content: Comprehensive and systematic. The author walks us through practically 100% of modern neuro-cognition science, and gives us sound suggestions at each chapter. There are recapitulations at the end of the chapter and a short
review at the end.

I recommend the book to any learner/studier, especially if you are fond of authonomous studying.

Modern Learning Techniques

This is a great overview of the techniques and science behind learning. It is a good resource for lifelong learners and students of all subjects. Highly recommend.

Actionable Advice on Effective Learning

This book was fantastic at helping me understand a better way to learn. The authors take a scientific route to curb procrastination and more effectively remember the things you study for.

Excellent advice for getting the most out of study

Love it!!! Thank you, Barbara & Olaf, for sharing the secrets to success! Anything Dr. Oakley writes is worth reading.