Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler What people are saying about Pragmatic Thinking and Learning This book will be the catalyst for your future Patrick Elder Agile Software Developer By following Andy’s concrete steps, you can make your most precious asset—your brain—more efficient and productive Read this book, and what Andy tells you to You’ll think smarter, work better, and learn more than ever before Bert Bates Cocreator of Head First, Brain Friendly Books I’ve always been looking for something to help me improve my learning skills, but I’ve never found anything as effective as this book Pragmatic Thinking and Learning represents the best way to help you become an expert learner, improve your skills, and teach you how to improve your work efficiency by learning fast and easily Oscar Del Ben Software developer I love books that explain that context matters This book does— and helps you understand why From the Dreyfus model (a source of many “aha’s” for me) to explaining why experiential training works (the wall climbing story), Andy writes with humor and with tact so you can learn from reading and organize your own thinking and learning Johanna Rothman Consultant, author and speaker Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler Download at Boykma.Com This is an accessible and insightful book that will be useful to readers in many fields I enjoyed reading it! Dr Patricia Benner Professor and Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco Finished reading the beta last night I loved this talk at NFJS (and the herding racehorses one), and to have it in book form— spectacular All of this material has really changed my life! Matt McKnight Software developer This has been fun, and I’ve learned a lot—can’t ask for more than that Linda Rising International speaker, consultant, and object-oriented expert Download at Boykma.Com Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler Download at Boykma.Com Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler Pragmatic Thinking and Learning Refactor Your “Wetware” Andy Hunt The Pragmatic Bookshelf Raleigh, North Carolina Dallas, Texas Download at Boykma.Com Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks Where those designations appear in this book, and The Pragmatic Programmers, LLC was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial capital letters or in all capitals The Pragmatic Starter Kit, The Pragmatic Programmer, Pragmatic Programming, Pragmatic Bookshelf and the linking g device are trademarks of The Pragmatic Programmers, LLC Information contained in this book is intended as an educational aid only Information is not intended as medical advice for any individual condition or treatment, and is not a substitute for professional medical care Every precaution was taken in the preparation of this book However, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages that may result from the use of information (including program listings) contained herein Our Pragmatic courses, workshops, and other products can help you and your team create better software and have more fun For more information, as well as the latest Pragmatic titles, please visit us at http://www.pragprog.com Copyright © 2008 Andy Hunt All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher Printed in the United States of America ISBN-10: 1-934356-05-0 ISBN-13: 978-1-934356-05-0 Printed on acid-free paper P3.0 printing, April 2009 Version: 2009-8-3 Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler Download at Boykma.Com For my wife and children, and for everyone who becomes what they think Download at Boykma.Com Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler C ONTENTS Download at Boykma.Com Report erratum Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler this copy is (P3.0 printing, April 2009) C ONTENTS Download at Boykma.Com Report erratum Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler this copy is (P3.0 printing, April 2009) Contents Introduction 1.1 Again with the “Pragmatic”? 1.2 Consider the Context 1.3 Everyone Is Talking About This Stuff 1.4 Where We’re Going 1.5 Grateful Acknowledgments Journey from Novice to Expert 2.1 Novices vs Experts 2.2 The Five Dreyfus Model Stages 2.3 Dreyfus at Work: Herding Racehorses Sheep 2.4 Using the Dreyfus Model Effectively 2.5 Beware the Tool Trap 2.6 Consider the Context, Again 2.7 Day-to-Day Dreyfus This 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Prepared exclusively for Alison Tyler Flow and Racing Is Your Brain Your Dual-CPU Modes Capture Insight 24x7 Linear and Rich Characteristics Rise of the R-mode R-mode Sees Forest; L-mode Sees Trees DIY Brain Surgery and Neuroplasticity How Do You Get There? Get in Your Right Mind 4.1 Turn Up the Sensory Input 4.2 Draw on the Right Side 4.3 Engage an R-mode to L-mode 4.4 Harvest R-mode Cues 4.5 Harvesting Patterns 4.6 Get It Right 13 16 17 18 19 23 25 27 29 37 43 50 53 55 57 58 63 67 75 80 82 83 85 85 87 92 104 114 122 Download at Boykma.Com ... student learns The learning is always up to you It’s my hope that Pragmatic Thinking and Learning can help guide you through accelerated and enhanced learning and more pragmatic thinking That is,... science, neuroscience, and learning and behavioral theory You’ll see surprising aspects of how our brains work and see how you can beat the system to improve your own learning and thinking skills We’re... wall climbing story), Andy writes with humor and with tact so you can learn from reading and organize your own thinking and learning Johanna Rothman Consultant, author and speaker Prepared exclusively