The Speed Trap
We've optimized learning for speed. Speed-reading courses. 2x podcast playback. "Key takeaways" that distill books into bullet points.
But are we actually learning faster? Or just consuming faster?
Consumption vs. Comprehension
There's a crucial difference between consumption and comprehension:
Consumption: Information passes through your brain
Comprehension: Information changes how you think
You can consume a book in an afternoon. Comprehending it might take weeks—revisiting passages, connecting ideas, applying concepts.
The Forgetting Curve
Hermann Ebbinghaus demonstrated that we forget most of what we learn within days. The solution isn't learning more—it's learning better.
Techniques that improve retention:
- Spaced repetition
- Active recall
- Elaborative interrogation (asking "why")
- Teaching others
All of these take time. None are compatible with speed-learning.
Deep Work and Learning
Cal Newport's concept of deep work applies to learning. Shallow, distracted study produces shallow results.
Deep learning requires:
- Extended, uninterrupted time
- Active engagement with material
- Connection to existing knowledge
- Reflection and application
A Different Approach
What if we optimized for retention instead of speed?
Read fewer books, but read them twice. Take extensive notes. Discuss with others. Apply what you learn before moving on.
A single book, deeply understood, beats ten books skimmed.
Practical Shifts
Books: Read with a pen. Annotate. Summarize chapters in your own words. Revisit highlights monthly.
Courses: Don't binge. Take one lesson, practice it, then proceed. Implementation gaps kill retention.
Articles: Curate ruthlessly. Read fewer pieces, but engage deeply with the best.
The Compound Effect
Slow learning compounds. Each concept fully understood becomes a foundation for the next.
Speed learning gives the illusion of progress. Slow learning builds actual capability.
In a world racing to consume more, depth becomes an edge.