Name: Don't Go Back to School
ISBN: 9780988949003

Kio Stark

A handbook for independent learners based on 100 ethnographic interviews, with guidance, how-to, and interviewee stories.

A Handbook for Learning Anything

Don't Go Back to School

Miguel 

Este libro no es sobre dejar la educación formal sino sobre maneras alternativas de educarse basada en historias exitosas. La parte más interesante está al final donde mencionan recursos y resumen todas las ideas.

Ellen Chisa

I'm a little bit split on this book - I think it depends on who you are, how you learn, and what you're looking for (which actually completely agrees with the premise of the book!) 

It's a really good start if you're looking to figure out how to teach yourself something for the first time. If you're looking for the practical, I'd start at the end (all the techniques) and then read all the anecdotes at the beginning to see how people applied them differently. Plus, then you can get to the end and re-read to see if you get something new out of it, or see the methods in a new light.

If you've already spent a lot of time thinking about education in formal and informal ways, you probably won't learn too much from the section at the end. It is a nice summary if you're looking for a refresher. The highlight is that case is really all the anecdotes about how different people have learned. Unexpectedly, I ended up being more fascinated with each of their individual areas than I did about the learning process - and kept hoping for more essays on every topic. In that way, it could be a catalyst for trying to learn something new in particular.

Plus it's a really nice, fun read that works well for short bursts (like being on the subway).

The reason I say I'm a bit split is that I finished the book and felt like I hadn't really started yet. I wanted a clearer "next step" (perhaps that's the linear learner coming out in me!) It could have come in advice about "well, how do I figure out what I want to learn?" because that's a big question on it's own. It could have come in some specific ways to reinforce what I'd just learned about learning, too. I haven't quite figured out what it was that was lacking, but I definitely got to the end and thought "okay, and?" (If you feel the same way and manage to put your finger on it better than I have, please let me know!)

ANYWAY. Despite my reservations with the end, I really enjoyed reading this. I think it will be a five-star experience if you haven't already spent tons of time on pedagogy, and refreshing/interesting if you have.

Don't Go Back to School A Handbook for Learning Anything

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