Author: Jim Kwik
Genre: Self-help
Publisher: Hay House Inc. (April 28, 2020)
Publication Date: April 28, 2020
ISBN-10: 1401958230
ISBN-13: 978-1401958237
ASIN: B082ZQDH63
Price: $12.99 (Kindle)
Being a mother to a high school student made me wonder how I can help my child in becoming successful in school. Tons of readings, lessons, homework, and project can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, learning how to learn is not taught in the school, and students are left to their own devices.
I wonder if it's possible for a student, to accomplish all schoolwork with great success and without too much stress. I read Limitless hoping that I could find answers.
It is written by Jim Kwik, a famous brain coach who improved his mental performance using the strategies he created. He suffered from a brain injury when he was a young child making him difficult to learn in school. How he conquered his learning difficulties showed that it's possible to improve how our brain functions.
What stops us from advancing to a higher level higher than where we are now are the labels that we put on someone or something. I'm not smart. It's difficult. It's too late. Kwik said that learning how to learn unleashes our superpower to change the way we see these things.
In Part I, Kwik talks about the brain and how it works. Our brain has superpowers but we are knocked out by 4 big villains of advanced technology, which are digital deluge, digital distraction, digital dementia, and digital deduction. There's just too much information and notifications that distract us from doing what matters. In remembering things, we rely too much on applications to remind us of birthdays, things to do, and other events that weaken our muscle memory. Aside from that, we also rely on the opinions of others that we couldn't make our own. Social media also gives rise to a comparison culture that causes depression in some people.
Amid these challenges, change is possible throughout our lives, and so our brain is not fixed. Although our brain can be influenced by our genes and our environment, we can choose to change the way how it functions.
Another important point raised in the book is the importance of our digestive system which is the second brain of our body as it has nerve cells in its walls. Our mood, health, and thinking are affected by our digestion. That's why we need to eat well by choosing the right kinds of foods to consume. Kwik included foods and recipes that are good for the brain.
In the last three parts of the book, Kwik talks about the three-part limitless model (mindset, motivation, and methods) that can help us rewire our brain to become limitless.
Our mindset is our mental attitudes and tendencies that influence our responses to whatever happens to us. One way of changing our mindset is to challenge our beliefs by naming them, getting the facts, and creating new ones.
Motivation is the second element in the limitless model that includes purpose, energy, small simple steps, and flow. Our purpose makes us understand the reason for our goals. Paired with energy and small steps and habits, our purpose propels us to move forward despite the challenges along the way until we reach the finish line.
One important thing that increases our motivation is to reach the flow state. Flow happens when you are comfortable and feeling rewarded as you concentrate on your tasks that are not too challenging or too easy. Time flies so fast or slow as actions unfold naturally and effortlessly. This is one way of getting things done.
The methods are the last element of the limitless model. Kwik talks about the science of accelerated learning and meta-learning that increase your focus, how to study better, how to memorize effectively, and how to read fast.
All in all, this book contains tips that are easy to understand but somehow difficult to do. For example, to read fast takes a lot of practice and I wonder when do we develop this skill? Does it take days, months, or even years? But then, if a student starts doing it not, after a few years, becoming a fast reader is not far from reality. On the other hand, I like the memorization tips. One example is making a story out of the information to make it easier to memorize. We applied this technique in remembering the different scientific attitudes.
It was fun creating Zombie the Scientist, the details in the drawing and their meanings:
- halo - angel =honest
- open skull=open-minded
- critical situation = critical-minded
- rashes= rational
- big muscles = work hard
- magnifying glass = curious
- sound block [we should've drawn a gavel on it] = suspend judgment
- innovative car = innovative
- paints = creative
With the right understanding of our mind, motivation, and methods, anyone, not just students, can accomplish a lot of things without too much stress and frustration. It's just a matter of getting a hang of it and this book, Limitless, teaches you how.