I REALLY need to Improve General Knowledge

[sssg4]

I am a 25 yr old prof and one of my new years resolutions is to improve my general knowledge. My geography, mathematics and knowledge of, for example, measurements, science etc is appalling. I am really keen to improve this as it is such a gremlin for me. If anyone has any suggestions of any books, courses, anything-please let me know. Any ideas very much appreciated!

Sarah

[andy-hughes]

Read as much as you can. Concentrate on the 'quality' daily newspapers which will give you news, and comment and analysis on what's going on.

Try to get a good encyclopedia, your local reference library will have access to one, and just dip in at random, and read what you find.

Use the Net to research areas on which you feel your knowledge is weakest.

If you make up your mind to take on an enqiring nature, as you have done, you will find your knowledge will increase daily, because you will be open to information, and keen to absorb it.

Finally, you could do a lot worse than trawl all the dicvisions of this site as often as you can - I've learned loads from being on here!

[rampart]

There are a series of study booklets called Cliffs Notes (put that in google). You can read about all the classics very quickly. They are very interesting.

[joko]

buy the board game trivial pursuit and read the question cards. you can test yourself or get someone else to just play a guessing game without the board and pieces

[Loosehead]

I'm curious as to how you became a Professor without picking up knowledge on the way. There is no direct correlation but people with qualifications are often the sort of people that also absorb knowledge. Have you just not been interested in the past. I know some people who are, what I call, impervious to knowledge, it seems it's almost painful for them to have knowledge made available, I find it very weird as I'm like a sponge.

[Loosehead]

ah sorry, senior moment! prof = professional, I get it!

Professional what?

[spacechimp]

click randomly on the hyperlinked words on wikipedia.org, reading every page as you go.

[fo3nix]

I'd agree with everything Andy said. For science, popular science books are great. Specifically the mr tompkins books, feynman ones,etc.

Loosehead: I did the same thing.

[Grunty]

Also, try to keep references for facts that you pick up. If you are ever questioned about what you say, as happens in Answerbank sometimes, it is useful to be able to quote the source. It is not very convincing to say 'I read it several years ago, but I can't remember where'. For example I have a collection of thousands of sources, which are indexed on my computer. Unfortunately I only get challenged on the ones that are missing.

[Supernick]

I'm absolutely convinced that reading a paper every day is really good for you. I only read a tabloid on weekdays, but even they are going to be packed with loads of information.

A felt that after university my job didn't really tax my mind enough, and genuinely worried that I might become less intelligent so started setting myself challenges. I learnt every capital city in the world (good for pub quizzes), and loads of other bits and pieces. Currently pinned to my desk is a map of all the seas in the world, and next up is the succession of monarchs from 1066 onward. Some of the time it doesn't always stick, but the majority does, and it keeps me on my toes. Good luck

[MrsJo49155]

you can learn loads on here! If you've got a bit of spare time go to google and type in general knowledge and see what comes your way.

There are also millions of quiz trivia books on the highstreet and if you have discount bookshops in your area you can usually pick them up really cheaply (because most people trawl the internet now!)

Good luck with your learning and I look forward to seeing your knowledgeable replies on here very soon ;O)

[Kingaroo]

I have often turned to the children's section of the library when I want to know the basics about something. When my kids were little, I learned more than I ever wanted to know about dinosaurs and the different kinds of construction vehicles. I have checked out children's books for a quick read to solve office arguments about hibernating animals, constellations, etc. Children's encyclopedias and the non-fiction section are very helpful in explaining things without assuming the reader knows anything. They give very good descriptions to help the reader picture abstract ideas (for example, if the sun was the size of a basketball, the earth would be the size of a walnut a mile away -- or something like that, I don't remember now.) You should be able to find things about measurement, geography, and all kinds of basic science. The Eyewitness series is wonderful, with photos from all kinds of sources, and not at all childish. The Magic Schoolbus books also have a tremendous amount of info in an easily absorbed format, though more kid-oriented. Good luck and bon voyage on your adventures in learning!

[Kingaroo]

Also, if you aren't the reading sort and that's what has held you back till now -- watch television documentaries on science and history! If you live in the US, there are many shows on Public Broadcasting (National Geographic, Nova, etc.), and of course many special interest cable channels. You can also check out many of these shows at the video store, and maybe at your local library.

[funkymoped]

Guinness book of hit singles...

or Guinness book of (anything you choose)

amazing for general knowledge.

[desertrat]

Wikipedia and the web in general are good places too look. Be careful about accepting things at face value though as not everything you read will be accurate or true. Its always best to check several sources for information about a particular topic. I subscribe to focus magazine which comes out once a month. It covers a variety of science type topics in an easy to read way.

[gammaray]

You need to develop the ability to soak up information like a sponge. Useful. useless, pointless or meaningless it doesn't matter all information has a use, somewhere. AB is a great place to hoover up information. The trick then is to recycle it and trot it out with confidence so it sounds like it's you that is the font of all knowledge!

[CT]

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
IF you look here every day at the picture that is posted you'll get a picture with a little description of what is going on. Use the archives to find loads of cool pics, each with an explanation of that picture. Have a look every day and learn some things about the universe.

[WoWo]

Watch University Challenge and Mastermind. That gives you plenty of facts to recall later.

[isca]

Get Sky TV, Stick it on the documenatry channels, Make Brew, Roll Joint then watch and learn!

[WendyS]

Reading a quality newspaper is a must, as is general reading. The history and travel section of your local library will provide you with a wealth of interesting topics, as will a good atlas of the world. Perhaps a cork noticeboard fixed on the wall of your loo could be a place for pinning informative news items which you could absorb during those sedentary moments. Change them every month. Perhaps you could also copy out short poems and pin them there so that you could learn them off by heart, as well as copies of measurement conversion tables,etc. Also keep a copy of quiz books in your loo library and always have a book of this nature in your bag to read on the bus or train. Treat it seriously, as if you're mugging up for an exam and gradually some of the learning process will start to stick.