How do I become smarter?

PM_Me_OK · 2015-10-21T04:36:48+00:00

Read more. Search for things to read and search this exact question here on reddit, (not in this sub) and on Google. I don't have any friends at the moment either, but its okay because I've got myself and I don't feel lonely because I'm here with me lol. Might sound kinda dumb haha but its true...but just try to learn things and become the best person you can. r/theredpill and r/nofap are good for self improvement. Search for self improvement subreddits and stuff.

monzzter221 · 2015-10-21T05:49:32+00:00

You want to be smarter? There are two components to that.

One is biological. You can't really help that, aside a good diet and don't eat lead paint. Genetics you cannot change. But don't discount the power of the food you put in your body.

The second one is pretty simple. Behavior.

Learn things. It exercises your mind for understanding and critical thought. It doesn't have to be anything special. Follow wikipedia links for a couple hours. Keep going for a little while.

Think things through and make good decisions. Don't be prideful, rash, emotional in your decision making. Really look at yourself and really look at the potential consequences of your options.

You really can just "be" smart. Just a little self reflection and effort to control your behavior is all it takes. You won't change your genetics but you can put your smarts a good many points higher and you just might see that is all it takes to be above average.

Dreamtrain · 2015-10-21T06:29:08+00:00

This should tell you everything: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5kxiJYJNVA#t=1m09s

PillScarlet · 2015-10-21T14:48:58+00:00

There are different kinds of intelligence. Apart from genetically inherited intelligence (how quickly you can grasp new, complex ideas etc), there's the intelligence of experience and knowledge which can be increased by reading and education.

As I get older I realise most important of all is the concept of emotional intelligence. Being able to decline a short term fleeting pleasure for a long term gain. Being organised, disciplined, committed.

I know plenty of guys that are nowhere near as 'smart' as me, but are doing better in life because they have stronger impulse control and the ability to stick to a long term plan.

In short, I wouldn't worry too much if I was you. Be thankful for what you have and make the best of it. There's something for everyone out there.

SparkyTemper · 2015-10-21T11:41:35+00:00

You wrote two complete sentences with no spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors. Your smarter than a good percentage of the English speaking world already.

Sepean · 2015-10-21T17:09:46+00:00

Learn stuff.

Dixit's Art of Strategy

Greene's 48 Laws of Power

Kahnemann's Thinking Fast and Slow

Malhotra's Negotiation Genius

Navarro's What Every Body is Saying

Mitnick's Art of Deception

If anything of those books stick it will give you a HUGE boost in understanding what goes on around you and how to play to your advantage.

RojoEscarlata · 2015-10-21T22:06:26+00:00

Start reading

https://youtu.be/J4v_34RRCeE

“genius" aren't born, they are made.

nicechallenge · 2015-10-22T18:10:07+00:00

Delay instant gratification, read, learn a new language, meditation, debate with yourself, but the most important is to never stop learning because your brain is like a muscle.

noobster_2020 · 2015-10-23T06:19:22+00:00

read plenty o' books. And learn a foreign language. And don't forget to learn to cook. Women love it when an awesome meal fo' 'em.

Remember that it is you attempting to improve!

Keep it real!

cmkinusn · 2015-11-08T00:44:34+00:00

Take up books that expand your vocabulary. Seriously, expanding your vocabulary and your understanding of the vocabulary you already posses are proven ways to increase your intelligence. Your mind literally expands its ability to think when it has more words, your conscious mind gains access to those points in your imagination that you could never reach with words or thoughts before.

One way that I think about it is this: words are what encode your neurological processes into a format that your conscious brain can understand. (Might not be correct in a full sense, but it helps me understand our brain better) Expanding your vocabulary allows you to encode more of those processes and to more efficiently encode in general.

formlessphilosophy · 2015-12-27T12:43:22+00:00

Here is my advice as a dumb person (child) who became smart:

1) Read lots of books (not internet surfing). Maybe try for one book a month to begin with. I read about a book a week. Personally I prefer non-fiction such as philosophy, business, economics, self-help, and psychology.

2) Try to think very rationally. Study a bit philosophy and psychology. Be skeptical and very thorough in your reasoning skills. Try to break concepts down to first principles so that they are obvious/self-evident. Think a lot. Ask yourself questions a lot.

3) Conversation with intelligent people. Try and make friends with smart people and have conversations with them. If you don't already have access to them, meet them. Talk and talk and talk and talk.

rhys5584 · 2016-03-25T01:45:22+00:00

r/nootropics

Thuren · 2015-10-21T04:43:34+00:00

Being smart and being intelligent are completely different things. There are lots of intelligent, but dumb people and it's better to be smart than to be intelligent.

To be smart you have to be a bit courageous and confident in your thinking. If you know car salesmen are really good at manipulating, a smart person finds a way to mitigate that fact so that they can decide what's best for themselves. Like waiting a week before they buy big stuff.

A dumb person would allow the salesmen to manipulate them so that they get to do that short term decision (like getting a cool but overly expensive car) without having to feel responsible. Read up on cognitive dissonance.

Being smart is more of a choice. Intelligence is a trait you are born with, make the best with what you've got.

Roelland · 2015-10-21T20:44:24+00:00

What I don't get is your wish to become smarter.

Eventually it doesn't give you any more friends. It doesn't make you in interesting person just because you know so much. Instead of becoming smarter, look at how you become happy with your life. I'm not saying it's an easy road; the stress, the isolation, the self-pity. I'm trying to say this without being it a cliche; it's going to be good eventually.

If you want a concrete tip: do the things you love, with passion and (most importantly) without shame. If you like videogames: search on what it takes to make a great videogame. Learn about map design, narratives and the human behavior. You like reading books or want to read more books? Watch an explanation about your favorite books (Crashcourse Literature)

But still... being smart doesn't make you a better person. Sometimes it's the opposite; To much information about the world can make you sad. I don't want to encourage you by that last sentence, but i think you want to be smart for the wrong reasons; being liked by others because you know so much. Just focus on yourself and what you love the most. If you want to be smart, do you own thing with passion. So kick the fucking door in, and live you own life. Because you do that, you will find the people who will love you.

Title	How do I become smarter?
Author	noobster_2020
Upvotes	20
Comments	35
Date	October 21, 2015 3:51 AM UTC (8 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/becomeaman
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/becomeaman/comments/3pl84r/how_do_i_become_smarter/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/becomeaman/how-do-i-become-smarter.137622 https://theredarchive.com/post/137622