The most critical skill in the modern era is “Learning how to learn.” As Cal Newport often suggests, the true test of mastery is the ability to teach others. This philosophy was personified by Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist known as “The Great Explainer.” Feynman had a unique ability to strip away the complexity of high-level physics and make it understandable to almost anyone.

His process has since been distilled into a 4-step framework known as the Feynman Technique.

1. Choose a Topic and Start with a Blank Page

Pick a subject you are curious about—either something entirely new or something you want to understand more deeply.

  • Take a blank sheet of paper and write down everything you currently know about the topic.
  • As you research, continue adding to this page. Compare your new insights with your existing mental models.
  • Watch your “knowledge map” grow from that initial blank page as you fill in the gaps.

2. Teach it to a Child

Albert Einstein famously said: “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” Try to explain the concept to a 10–12-year-old.

  • The Rule: Remove all technical jargon. Use plain, everyday language.
  • If you cannot explain it simply, it is a sign that you don’t truly grasp the core of the subject yet. Jargon often hides a lack of understanding.

3. Review and Refine

Write out your simplified explanation and identify the “friction points.”

  • Where did you struggle to find a simple analogy?
  • Where did your logic feel shaky?
  • Go back to the source material to fill those specific holes. Refine the explanation until the narrative is seamless.

4. Organize and Transmit

Organize your thoughts into a coherent story and share it with someone—perhaps a friend or a colleague.

  • Pay close attention to their questions. If they ask something you can’t answer, that is your “knowledge gap.”
  • Use that feedback to return to Step 1 and deepen your research.

The Barrier: The “Illusion of Knowledge”

The common thread among experts like Feynman is a commitment to Simplicity.

Often, people use complex terms and “buzzwords” to mask their own confusion or to avoid admitting they don’t know the answer. Admitting “I don’t know” is the most important step in the learning process.

Complexity is easy; simplicity is the true mark of mastery.