A Mind For Numbers by Barbara Oakley Ph.D -- Summary

“The secrets to learning anything you want”

“What school should have taught you about studying, learning and self growth.”


This book is a summary of the original book "A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)" that was written by Barbara Oakley Ph. D. compiled for you so that you can take away the major ideas and change your life in the shortest amount of time possible. This book is for you if you want to devour the greatest books even with a busy schedule. It makes for a great companion and guide to the original book.


A Mind for Numbers shows you that real learning is not just about extreme focus, but also about taking breaks and relaxation. Oakley gives you principles on how to actually study that will seem counterintuitive to many, but will empower you and help you succeed at studying any subject.


Oakley grew up hating numbers. Math and Science were her worst subjects. She was so bad at technology that she always failed math courses and hardly knew how to work a television remote control.


Eventually, on an ROTC scholarship she graduated from the University of Washington with a major in Russian, a language she says she chose at the spur of a moment. Somehow she found herself a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps where she had to master radio and “telephone switching systems.”


At this point she didn’t know what to do. If she continued she’d be an inferior lieutenant who could not handle technology and if she quit she would be unemployed or an office clerk with a degree in Russian.


Since she did have the GI bill which would pay for school, she decided that she would go back to school and re-learn math and get a degree that was in more demand. Oakley admits that while it was super hard in the beginning, like pulling teeth, eventually she earned her bachelor’s in electrical engineering, then a master’s in computer engineering and finally a doctorate in systems engineering. Now she is a professor of engineering.


Oakley, someone who grew up hating math found it in herself to re-learn everything she struggled with. Now Oakley wants to show you just how easy learning really is.