How to Become Smarter: Simple Strategies for Success
Did you know that many people are led to believe that decades of schooling equate to intelligence? In reality, becoming smart may be simpler than you think!
“So you want to become smart? In most of the world, you’re told that it takes 12 years of school plus 4 years of college plus 6 years of graduate school to become smart, but what you actually become is homeless.” [verify]
The Misconception About Education and Intelligence
In today’s world, we’re often told that formal education is the sole path to being considered “smart.” We imagine 12 years of schooling, 4 years of college, and 6 years of graduate school as a fixed requirement for intelligence—and yet, many graduates struggle to find meaningful work afterward. On the flip side, those who bypass traditional routes, relying on self-directed learning and real-world experience, sometimes flourish. This contrast highlights a key truth: intelligence isn’t awarded by credentials, but by how we pursue learning and apply it in life.
The Importance of Learning Useful Skills
When we say we want to get smarter, what we really mean is that we want practical skills—abilities that solve real problems, generate income, and earn respect. Whether it’s coding, negotiation, or creative design, skills drive success more than abstract knowledge alone. Unfortunately, much of the advice on “becoming smart” is vague or inspirational, targeting an audience of VIPs rather than everyday learners. We crave specific, actionable strategies—steps we can take immediately to build valuable skills and demonstrate our competence in work and conversation.
Critique of Vague Advice on Becoming Smarter
It’s common to see clickbait lists promising a genius-level brain with little more than blueberries, black coffee, or Mozart on repeat. While these suggestions aren’t harmful, they’re insufficient on their own. Real improvement demands active learning—questioning what you read, tackling challenging problems, and seeking feedback. Instead of chasing quick hacks, focus on strategies that require engagement: outlining complex ideas in your own words, doing targeted exercises, and reflecting on mistakes. By rejecting empty “brain food” mantras and embracing deliberate practice, you build durable intelligence.
The Role of Reading in Intelligence
Reading is one of the most powerful ways to expand your mind and vocabulary. Fiction exposes you to dialogue, narrative flow, and emotional context, enhancing your empathy and reading speed. But nonfiction is where you acquire concrete facts, frameworks, and examples you can deploy in conversations and decision-making. For instance, instead of parroting a common myth about human evolution, you might say:
“Crazy how we evolved from chimpanzees, right? It turns out that humans and chimpanzees actually evolved side by side from a common ancestor.”
This version invites dialogue, shows humility, and makes you sound both smart and approachable. Incorporate active reading methods like SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) to retain more from every page and sharpen your critical thinking skills.
Teaching Others to Enhance Your Own Knowledge
One of the best ways to deepen understanding is to teach. Explaining concepts to someone else forces you to organize your thoughts and identify any gaps. Use the Feynman Technique: pick a topic, write an explanation as if to a beginner, then refine it until it’s clear. When you teach without condescension—framing information as a shared discovery rather than a lecture—you earn respect and reinforce your own learning. This approach turns every conversation into a micro-classroom for both parties.
The Significance of Practice in Learning
Knowledge alone won’t stick; you must use it. The old saying “practice makes perfect” captures this: practice cements neural pathways, turning theory into habit. If you learn a new cooking technique, try it immediately. If you study a formula in physics, work through a related problem. When you can’t practice physically—say you read about jump-starting a car—you can still rehearse mentally: visualize yourself popping the hood, connecting cables, and listening to the engine roar to life. Mental practice primes your brain, so when the real moment arrives, you act confidently.
Why Textbooks Are Effective for Learning
Textbooks get a bad rap for being dry, but they’re powerful tools for serious learners. Unlike articles or videos, textbooks present distilled, logically organized information paired with practice questions that simulate real-world applications. They challenge you to recall facts under “exam” conditions, reinforcing memory just as a teacher would with a pop quiz. If you can’t solve a problem, you flip to the appendix and review. For anyone committed to deep learning, textbooks offer an S-tier format—pure content, structured drills, and no distractions.
Putting It All Together
Improving your smarts is more accessible than it seems. It boils down to these principles: choose practical skills, engage in focused learning, leverage reading to gain knowledge, employ practice immediately or mentally, and teach what you learn.
Actionable Takeaway:
Pick one skill or subject today—find a concise textbook or targeted resource, read a chapter using active methods, then practice or teach its core ideas immediately.
So, what will you start learning first? How will you practice and share that new knowledge? The journey to becoming smarter starts with your next deliberate action.