Page 220 - A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science

remain childlike. This means that we sometimes can become frustrated, a signal
to us to take a breather. But our ever-present inner child also gives us the
potential to let go and use our creativity to help us visualize, remember, make
friends with, and truly understand concepts in math and science that at first can
seem terribly difficult.
In a similar way, we’ve found that persistence can sometimes be misplaced
—that relentless focus on a problem blocks our ability to solve that problem. At

the same time, big-picture, long-term persistence is key to success in virtually
any domain. This kind of long-term stick-to-it-iveness is what can help get us
past the inevitable naysayers or unfortunate vicissitudes of life that can
temporarily make our goals and dreams seem too far to grasp.
A central theme of this book is the paradoxical nature of learning. Focused
attention is indispensable for problem solving—yet it can also block our ability

to solve problems. Persistence is key—but it can also leave us unnecessarily
pounding our heads. Memorization is a critical aspect of acquiring expertise—
but it can also keep us focused on the trees instead of the forest. Metaphor allows
us to acquire new concepts—but it can also keep us wedded to faulty
conceptions.
Study in groups or alone, start hard or start easy, learn concretely or in
abstract, success or failure . . . In the end, integrating the many paradoxes of

learning adds value and meaning to everything we do.
Part of the magic long used by the world’s best thinkers has been to simplify
—to put things into terms that even a kid brother or sister can understand. This,
indeed, was Richard Feynman’s approach; he challenged some of the most
esoteric theoretical mathematicians he knew to put their complicated theories in

simple terms.
It turned out they could. You can, too. And like both Feynman and Santiago
Ramón y Cajal, you can use the strengths of learning to help reach your dreams.

AS FEYNMAN CONTINUED to refine his safecracking skills, he befriended the
professional locksmith. Through time and talk, Feynman gradually swept away
superficial pleasantries, digging deeper and deeper so that he could understand
the nuance behind what he saw to be the locksmith’s utter mastery.
Late one night, at long last, that most valuable of arcane knowledge became
clear.