Page 24 - A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science

Thirteen-year-old Magnus Carlsen (left), and legendary genius Garry Kasparov playing speed
chess at the “Reykjavík Rapid” in 2004. Kasparov’s shock is just beginning to become apparent.

We’re going to be touching on some of the main themes of the book in this
chapter, so don’t be surprised if you have to toggle around a bit in your thinking.
Being able to toggle your thinking—getting a glimpse of what you are learning
before returning later to more fully understand what’s going on, is itself one of
the main ideas in the book!

NOW YOU TRY!

Prime Your Mental Pump
As you first begin looking at a chapter or section of a book that teaches concepts of math
or science, it helps to take a “picture walk” through the chapter, glancing not only at the
graphics, diagrams, and photos, but also at the section headings, summary, and even
questions at the end of the chapter, if the book has them. This seems counterintuitive—
you haven’t actually read the chapter yet, but it helps prime your mental pump. So go
ahead now and glance through this chapter and the questions at the end of the chapter.
You’ll be surprised at how spending a minute or two glancing ahead before you read in
depth will help you organize your thoughts. You’re creating little neural hooks to hang your