7 Mental Models for Learning to Understand More Than the Bare Minimum

Mental models provide structure and guidance regarding the way the brain processes information.

In the internet age, acquiring information is simple. You can find what you need to know at the click of a button. But becoming competent in a field – that is, choosing a subject and studying every facet of that topic – requires a more strategic approach. Going on a blind quest for knowledge is futile.

Happily, several mental models can guide you in your pursuit of knowledge. They expose common cognitive pitfalls and offer adaptable strategies for reaching your learning goals. These techniques will propel your learning beyond merely memorizing the bare essentials; they will “tattoo what you’re learning in your brain.”

Before embarking on your learning journey, determine the limits of your knowledge and identify common knowledge.

A human tendency is to believe you know more than you do. Billionaire investors Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger recognized this foible and developed what they call “the circle of competence.” By humbly identifying what you don’t know, you’ll avoid making bad decisions in areas you know...