Learn how to learn out loud

It's more complicated than you might think

Think of a topic of interest to you. One you'd like to learn really well. Or even a book you'd like to feel like you understand fairly well, but you know it's a difficult one. What are your options?

1. Don't even read it. Just read the cliff notes for the book or the Wikipedia article for the topic.

2. Read the book or pick up a book on the topic.

3. Find a lecture online or in person about the book or topic.

4. Find some prompts and write out your reflections on the book or topic.

5. Book time to digest out loud what you've read and listened to/watched starting with a juicy kick off question.

6. A few or all of the above.

But, how do you digest something out loud? We all know how to read, listen, watch, write. And we all know how to talk. But is talking about a book for long enough to enjoy a stroke of insight as simple as talking? Can’t you just go to a book club?

We've all been lectured. We've all been in conversations in which people talked the whole time or talked at us for most of it. We've also been in long jumping around boring conversations in which nothing is learned or enjoyed. We just don't get anywhere and it sucks. Total waste of time. We've also been in conversations that are super short and it's all too rushed to get through even a few turns of the conversation. It feels like what's the point. (Nearly all my meetings at work are 30 minutes and they often feel very rushed so I experience this nearly every workday.)

Reading, listening, watching, and writing are all simpler than conversing with someone else. They're essentially solo activities. When you add people, complexity always ensues. Multiple people interacting with each other is a dynamic situation. It can be hard to balance all this complexity to have a rich insight-filled conversation.

This is where the art of dialogue comes in.

A book club, but a real dialogue and super epic locale

But before we get into the how, let's expand on the what. In a conversation, to digest a work of art or a topic you've eaten a lot of information about, your main aim is to take away a deeper understanding of the book or topic. To think for yourself and with the help of someone else who's also familiar with the book or topic. And to experience the pleasure of conversation and learning and insight (in fact, studies show your whole brain lights up with activity when experiencing creative insight).

To have a conversation with all these outcomes I recommend the following

1. Carefully choose your space

2. Carefully choose the amount of time

3. Carefully choose a kick off question

4. Carefully notice how many and how much people are talking

5. Care for the silences

6. Keep in mind that there can be phases and types of conversation, knowing where you are in which type can help you to course correct to get out what you're seeking.

Over the next few posts I'll go in depth on each of these ingredients for learning out loud. See you there.

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• Reach out to me just for fun! - tommy@extragrad.com