In a Reddit AMA, someone asked Elon how he's able to learn so fast.
His response?
"It is important to view knowledge as sort of a semantic tree--make sure you understand the fundamental principles, ie the trunk and big branches, before you get into the leaves/details." -Elon
His response?
"It is important to view knowledge as sort of a semantic tree--make sure you understand the fundamental principles, ie the trunk and big branches, before you get into the leaves/details." -Elon
"View knowledge as sort of a semantic tree..."
That got me thinking, and I realized that it's the same for books.
There are 3 types of books (at least when it comes to non-fiction):
β’ Trunks π³
β’ Branches πΏ
β’ Leaves π
Here's what I mean...
That got me thinking, and I realized that it's the same for books.
There are 3 types of books (at least when it comes to non-fiction):
β’ Trunks π³
β’ Branches πΏ
β’ Leaves π
Here's what I mean...
1) Trunk books π³
These books provide the general knowledge base around a subject. A 30,000-foot view of a subject in a sense.
Two history trunk book examples:
β’ "The Lessons of History" by Will & Ariel Durant
β’ "Sapiens" by Yuval Noah Harari
These books provide the general knowledge base around a subject. A 30,000-foot view of a subject in a sense.
Two history trunk book examples:
β’ "The Lessons of History" by Will & Ariel Durant
β’ "Sapiens" by Yuval Noah Harari
2) Branch books πΏ
These books dive deeper into the subject and perhaps cover a certain time period or event.
Two history branch book examples:
β’ Leningrad: The Epic Siege of World War II by Anna Reid
β’ An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa by Rick Atkinson
These books dive deeper into the subject and perhaps cover a certain time period or event.
Two history branch book examples:
β’ Leningrad: The Epic Siege of World War II by Anna Reid
β’ An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa by Rick Atkinson
3) Leaf books π
These books go into a finer level of detail and can focus on a more specific time frame or a single individual.
Two history leaf book examples:
β’ Grant by Ron Chernow
β’Β Frederick Douglas by David W. Blight
These books go into a finer level of detail and can focus on a more specific time frame or a single individual.
Two history leaf book examples:
β’ Grant by Ron Chernow
β’Β Frederick Douglas by David W. Blight
You can apply the 3 books framework to any non-fiction genre.
Here's leadership:
π³ = Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse
πΏ = The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
π = Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Here's leadership:
π³ = Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse
πΏ = The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
π = Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Tip for identifying leaf books:
These books tend to consist of a single idea that is summarized in the book's title or can be summarized in a single sentence.
Ex:
"Start With Why" by Simon Sinek
β’ Start by explaining why you do what you do, then the how and what.
These books tend to consist of a single idea that is summarized in the book's title or can be summarized in a single sentence.
Ex:
"Start With Why" by Simon Sinek
β’ Start by explaining why you do what you do, then the how and what.
Bonus examples:
"Mindset" by Carol Dweck
β’ Have a growth mindset, not a fixed one.
"Choose Yourself" by James Altucher
β’ Don't wait for approval from gatekeepers, choose yourself and start doing what you love now.
"Mindset" by Carol Dweck
β’ Have a growth mindset, not a fixed one.
"Choose Yourself" by James Altucher
β’ Don't wait for approval from gatekeepers, choose yourself and start doing what you love now.
So if you're interested in exploring a new topic, think of the books you want to read in terms of trunks, branches, & leaves.
Might also help to create a mental visual of your knowledge tree & see how the different sections connect to one another.
What do you think of this tip?
Might also help to create a mental visual of your knowledge tree & see how the different sections connect to one another.
What do you think of this tip?
β’ β’ β’
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