A Personal Odyssey

Cheery Friday Greetings from Barb Oakley! 

Book of the Month

A Personal Odyssey, by Thomas Sowell. This fascinating autobiography provides a compelling look at the life and intellectual development of one of America’s most important and incisive thinkers. Sowell traces his remarkable journey from poverty in the Jim Crow South to becoming a renowned economist, writer, and social theorist. With his characteristic sharp analysis and independent thinking, Sowell reflects on pivotal experiences that shaped his worldview – from his childhood in Harlem to his time in the Marine Corps to his academic career studying under luminaries like Milton Friedman. What emerges is a portrait of a fiercely intelligent, principled, and uncompromising scholar who has never been afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. Sowell’s wry humor and keen observations make for an engaging read, while providing invaluable context for understanding the evolution of his influential ideas on race, economics, and society. This deeply personal account offers insight into not just Sowell’s life, but also the dramatic social changes of 20th century America. A must-read for anyone interested in the power of education, independent thinking, and intellectual courage to transform a life and impact a nation.

Special Opportunity: Test Drive the Next Generation of iDoRecall

Long-time readers of Cheery Friday know that iDoRecall is my favorite flashcard app. This past year, I’ve been working with their CEO, David Handel, MD, on the next-gen version. It’s now in beta, and we’re seeking 100 beta testers who’ve never used iDoRecall before. The first 100 to sign up will get three months free—no credit card required. Sign up here!

Spotlight: GiveInternet.org 

During my recent travels, I had the pleasure of meeting George Jibladze, the CEO of GiveInternet.org. I was impressed by their nonprofit mission and the meaningful work they’re doing. GiveInternet.org makes it easy for anyone to sponsor internet access, laptops, and educational resources for underprivileged students.

Working alongside partners like MIT Emerging Talent and the University of Geneva, GiveInternet.org reaches students in some of the world’s largest refugee camps and underserved communities—places like Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, India, and Georgia. Through their efforts, students gain the skills and support they need to pursue careers as developers, healthcare professionals, designers, and entrepreneurs.

A little help goes a long way, and with GiveInternet.org, even a small donation can make a real difference by providing young people with the tools they need to thrive. Let’s send a cheer their way for empowering these students to connect, learn, and grow.  If you give through this link, https://giveinternet.org/LHTL, donations will be matched up to $30,000.

Boost Your Piano Journey with Professional Pianist Monika Lozinskienė’s Practice Secrets!

Monika’s smart approach to piano mastery makes for fascinating learning.  In the video, she shares three game-changing techniques: tackling difficult passages first (like targeting specific muscles at the gym), using the Pomodoro method for focused 25-minute practice sessions, and employing mental practice through active recall. Her comparison of learning music to solving a puzzle makes complex pieces more approachable. Check out her Patreon for monthly free updates on professional piano life and catch her detailed insights in action! 

Is Speaking Multiple Languages Overrated?

Scott Young, who famously learned four languages in a year during his travels, has a thoughtful piece about whether speaking multiple languages is overrated in today’s world of AI translation. What I found particularly fascinating was his insight about maintenance – each language needs ongoing practice, and multiple languages create interference patterns with each other. It’s like trying to juggle different memory systems in your brain! Even more intriguing is his observation that while basic language skills are incredibly useful when you’re in a country, they’re much less valuable back home unless you reach a fairly advanced level. Want to dive deeper into the tradeoffs between learning one language well versus several languages adequately? Check out Scott’s engaging analysis.

When Good Intentions Go Awry: Teaching Kids About Unintended Consequences

Looking for a clever way to help kids understand how good intentions can sometimes lead to unexpected problems? As someone who’s studied the ways well-meaning interventions can backfire, I was delighted to discover The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible, a fascinating animated series that follows a castaway on a mysterious island called Corrumpo. Through Jonathan’s eyes, kids discover how seemingly helpful policies—like controlling food prices or forcing everyone to build bridges the same way—can create more problems than they solve. What I particularly love is how the series tackles complex topics like the tragedy of the commons and unintended consequences through engaging storylines kids can actually relate to. Want to explore these themes with the young people in your life? Check out this thought-provoking series.

That’s all for now. Have a happy week in learning!

Barb Oakley

• Uncommon Sense Teaching—the book and Coursera Specialization!
• Mindshift—the book and MOOC
• Learn Like a Pro—the book and MOOC
• The LHTL recommended text, A Mind for Numbers
• For kids and parents: Learning How to Learn—the book and MOOC. Pro tip—watch the videos and read the book together with your child. Learning how to learn at an early age will change their life!