#177: FASTER Method, the Taste of Banzo’s Sword & Dancing With the Pen
3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on Learning Fast & Slow
I. FASTER Method
The FASTER Method is a learning approach promoted by “brain coach” Jim Kwik in his book Limitless. It’s designed to help you learn quicker and retain information better. So naturally, the acronym begins with an F for forgetting:
Forget what you already know, do away with anything that is unimportant at the moment and could be a distraction and ignore your supposed limitations. In other words, clear your mind to focus on the task at hand.
Act, meaning be actively engaged and participate in the learning process. Take notes, ask questions and seek to understand deeply.
State refers to your state of mind, which you should manage so you are relaxed, focused and in a good mood. Change your posture, location or breathing to be able to tie positive emotions to what you’re learning.
Teach the material you’ve just learned to someone else. Reminiscent of the Feynman Technique, this step reinforces your understanding and retention.
Enter your learning goals and intentions into a schedule and calendar. This is to make sure you don’t forget what you want to work on and learn.
Review and revise the information you learn regularly. Spaced repetition helps strengthen memory recall over time.
I think there are some excellent ideas in there. But sometimes, the wish to find a catchy and fitting acronym seems to make your framework unnecessarily complicated.
II. The Taste of Banzo’s Sword
The Taste of Banzo's Sword is a Japanese short story about learning humility and wisdom by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki.
A young samurai named Matajuro Yagyu is determined to become a master swordsman. He heard of a great sword master named Banzo who lived in the mountains. Matajuro decides to seek out Banzo and become his apprentice. But he’s initially rejected.
Banzo tells Matajuro that the training would take many years. Impatient and eager, Matajuro promises to work very hard and asks how long it would take if he trained day and night. Banzo’s reply is disheartening. It would take ten years. Still unsatisfied, Matajuro vows to work twice as hard…in which case his training would take 30 years.
Matajuro decides to stay and follow Banzo’s teachings nonetheless. However, Banzo has Matajuro perform only menial tasks. Cooking, cleaning and chopping wood. Matajuro is confused but obeys.
One day, without warning, Banzo attacks Matajuro with a wooden sword. Matajuro barely manages to dodge. His master continues these surprise attacks every day, forcing Matajuro to remain constantly alert and improve his reflexes. Without him realising it, this unpredictable training hones Matajuro's instincts.
Years pass and one day, Banzo announces that Matajuro’s training is complete. Matajuro has become a master swordsman through dedication and Banzo’s unconventional methods.
So what’s the message here? The best way to learn is through necessity and patience.
III. Dancing With the Pen
Dancing in all its forms cannot be excluded from the curriculum of all noble education; dancing with the feet, with ideas, with words, and, need I add that one must also be able to dance with the pen?
—Friedrich Nietzsche
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Have a great week,
Chris
themindcollection.com