The Feynman Technique: How to Learn Anything Faster

Today we're going to learn about the Feynman technique and how to learn anything faster. Now let's begin. Are you looking for one technique to supercharge your learning? Well, this technique can help you learn faster, memorize more, and master subjects like you never could before. This innovative strategy was pioneered by Richard Feynman. He's a Nobel Prize-winning physicist in the mid-1900s. Feynman was a front-runner in quantum mechanics and particle physics. He's one of the founders of quantum mechanics and introduced the concept of nanotechnology.

But Feynman did not earn his academic prowess by chance. Feynman created a technique so he could learn better than everyone else. He wouldn't just absorb more information. He wouldn't memorize more vocabulary words. Feynman's technique revolves around a deeper understanding of subjects you want to master. Using his own technique, Feynman won the Nobel Prize in 1965 for his work with quantum electrodynamics.

The Four-Step Feynman Technique

At the core of Feynman's astounding scientific genius is a four-step process that anyone can learn. So what is that process? What is the Feynman technique? Let's start with a general overview and then we'll get into the finer details. The Feynman technique breaks the learning process into four broad and repeatable steps. You use these four steps to learn, well, almost anything. The technique itself is based on a simple observation: Feynman noticed that there are two types of knowledge. Many people know what things are called, but very few people understand them.

Throughout our schooling, we're taught to memorize titles, terms, and names. Many of us have a long bank of buzzwords stored within our memories. When we try to explain something, we reference and use all of the complicated words that we've learned. Now, most of the time, those words communicate the gist of what we're saying, but they don't fully explain the concept. Yet the other person believes you, or rather, they believe that you're smart enough to know what you're talking about. But the truth is, neither of you fully grasp what you're saying. You're using that complicated terminology like a crutch. You're compensating for your deficits in knowledge.

Now, Feynman distinguishes between this kind of knowledge, which we'll call "knowing," and a new kind of knowledge, which we'll call "understanding." To understand something is to explain the concept so anyone could also understand it. That's why the focal point of Feynman's technique is simplification. To truly understand a topic, you must teach that topic to someone who knows nothing about it—someone with zero background on the subject that you're discussing. If you can't explain that subject to a complete amateur, then there are gaps in your understanding, according to Feynman.

Step 1: Choose What You Want to Learn

How do you use the Feynman technique to learn what you want to learn? The Feynman technique uses four easy steps to help you study, strengthen your knowledge, or tackle confusing subjects. The first step is choosing what you want to learn. Take out a blank sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. At the top of the page, write down the subject that you want to understand.

Let's say, for example, you want to learn how gravity works. Anyone can say the Earth has gravity, but could you explain how gravity functions? Why does it exist? Where does it come from? That's the goal of the Feynman technique. By the end of this process, you'll gain a complete understanding of whatever subject you choose. But for now, just write down the name of your concept on that sheet of paper.

Step 2: Write a Simple Explanation

Step two is where most people realize just how little they understand. In step two, you're going to write a simple and clear explanation of your subject. Don't use fancy terminology, and do the best that you can with the knowledge that you currently have. Now, if you haven't realized it already, concise explanations are hard to write. It takes time and a deep understanding to explain your subject with one simple definition.

That's why the Feynman technique is so successful. Unless you understand a subject completely, then you'll struggle to write a successful explanation. Once you've written your explanation, it's time for step number three. Read your explanation from start to finish. Are you noticing gaps in your understanding? Does your definition make sense? Are there areas where you got stuck or you didn't know what to write? Step three teaches you two important things.

Step 3: Identify Gaps in Understanding

First, it shows you what you do understand. All the concise parts of your explanation demonstrate a partial understanding of your subject. If you made it that far, then you're well on your way to mastering this topic. Many people, when challenged to explain a subject, have no clue where to start. If that sounds like you, that's okay too. You don't have to understand your subject to use the Feynman technique. This strategy is specifically designed to increase your knowledge over time. No matter how well you did, just move on to step four.

Step 4: Fill in the Gaps

Step four is the most critical part of the learning process. Once you've discovered the holes in your understanding, you should return to the source material. Re-read, find new sources, and listen to explanations that experts give on your subject. As you're reading and listening to others, you may stumble upon a startling realization.

When you practice the Feynman technique, you learn to differentiate between "knowing" and "understanding." When you listen to other people talk, you can tell whether or not they understand what they're talking about. Many people mask their misunderstandings with complicated, vague, and often meaningless jargon. Why? Because they want to sound intelligent. At the end of the day, we all want to sound intelligent, right?

Understanding vs. Knowing

But that illusion rarely represents the person underneath. If you can't wrap your head around the subject, then they may not understand the subject either. You may find that people aren't as intelligent as you thought. They copy and recycle on a regular basis, but most of the time, that's all it takes to sound smart. Other people are fooled by big words and fancy terminology, and the user falls for the same tricks. They believe they understand what they're saying, even if they don't. In day-to-day conversations, the Feynman technique gives you a sharp ear for cover-ups and nonsense.

You'll distinguish between those who know and those who understand because you've discovered what real understanding looks like. Ah, but more importantly, you'll learn when you don't understand what you're talking about. That, in itself, is a rare skill mastered by the world's most intellectual individuals. They can recognize the gaps in their knowledge. Few people know this, but recognizing when you're wrong is more valuable than recognizing when you're right.

Repeat and Refine

Now let's get back to our four-step process. Let's say you've spent some time on step four. You've been re-reading and re-learning. You filled the gaps in your understanding. Now you want to see how much new knowledge you've absorbed. The Feynman technique is designed to be repeated. When you've learned more information, you go back to step two. You rewrite your initial explanation and just like before, you pretend that you're teaching the subject to someone who knows nothing about it. Keep your language simple and your concepts clear. This is really important.

When you repeat the process, start your explanation from the beginning. Don't just fill in the empty spaces that you left the first time around. Why is this important? Well, as your understanding becomes clearer and clearer, you'll discover better ways to phrase and explain your subject.

Example: Explaining Gravity

Let's go back to our first example: how does gravity work? At first, it may make sense to explain gravity like this: Gravity is a downward force created by the Earth. Step three, however, exposed you to new knowledge. You gained a better understanding of gravity, so during step four, you explain gravity a little bit differently. This time, you say gravity is a force created by any object with mass that pulls other objects toward its center. Not only is this explanation more accurate, it's also easier to understand. As you relearn and review, your explanations will get better and more concise.

If your definition isn't clear enough, then start again. Learn more, dive deeper, and try to explain your subject over and over. The further you push your understanding, the more expansive your understanding will become. You may discover that one Feynman technique branches into another. As you're investigating gravity, for example, you find out that you don't quite understand what mass is either. So you start from step one, write "what is mass" at the top of the page, and then you try your hand at a simple explanation.

Creating a Web of Understanding

Just like that, the Feynman technique connects and branches into a web of explanations. If you can explain and define every concept in that web, then you've moved one big step closer to mastering your subject. The Feynman technique is one of the most universal mental models out there. It's great for academic learning, but that's not all it can do.

You can use the Feynman technique to organize and explain your goals. Why do you want to achieve something? Why have you chosen your career path? Each of these questions could be a subject that you know but you don't understand. So you write an explanation, you make it simple and concise, and then you figure out the gaps in your understanding. For many people, that process provides motivation and clarity, which push them in the right direction.

Decision Making and the Feynman Technique

You can also use the Feynman technique to make decisions. When faced with a complicated choice, use this method to clearly explain your options. By boiling down your options, you may discover an answer. So if you're ever faced with something confusing, something you know but you don't understand, remember this four-step process. The Feynman technique is a universal strategy to resolve your misunderstandings and develop true intellectual mastery.

Step	Description
Step 1	Choose What You Want to Learn
Step 2	Write a Simple Explanation
Step 3	Identify Gaps in Understanding
Step 4	Fill in the Gaps

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