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Title: Always Loved It
Review: I was just writing an essay about the best way to learn (or teach) anything new. My main suggestion is always to start with the Big Picture. The brain doesn't want a lot of detail on the first plunge; the brain needs to see forest, not trees. Especially a young brain.I think the best place to start is a dictionary, then a concise reference encyclopedia, such as the Columbia.When I was a teenager, I loved taking on some new topic in this heavy tome. I knew I wouldn't be overwhelmed, that there'd be just the perfect short statement. Ahhh, so that's what X is! Okay, I can handle that...When that short statement seems easy, then you jump to a middle-level encyclopedia, then to the biggest one you can find, then a book. Each pass takes you deeper, and makes you feel more in command. Conversely, sometimes when you really know a topic, it's fun to see Columbia's short take--you might realize that what you already learned is skewered in some direction.
