Curious Questioning
Approach every subject with the assumption that you do not understand it well enough, then ask questions until you do. Feynman's relentless curiosity drove him from physics to biology to safecracking.
Steps
When you encounter something you don't understand, write it down instead of moving past it
Ask 'why?' or 'how does that actually work?' at least three times before accepting an answer
Research the question yourself before asking an expert
Seek out subjects you know nothing about and let yourself be a complete beginner
Keep a running list of unanswered questions and revisit them periodically
Practitioners
Related Systemsin Learning & Growth
Mirror Writing Notebook
Keep detailed cross-disciplinary notebooks that connect disparate fields. Leonardo da Vinci's method for fostering creative breakthroughs by linking art, science, and engineering.
Thought Experiments
Explore ideas by running vivid mental simulations. Einstein imagined riding a beam of light — and discovered relativity. Your imagination is a laboratory.
Reading 80 Books Yearly
Read voraciously and widely. Stephen King reads 70-80 books a year because he believes reading is the creative center of a writer's life.
Patient Observation
Immerse yourself in your subject for extended periods without rushing to conclusions. Jane Goodall spent years simply watching before she understood chimpanzee society.