Learning is deeper and more durable when it’s effortful. Learning that’s easy is like writing in sand, here today and gone tomorrow. (Make it stick)
One of my favourite books about learning and study techniques is Make it Stick (2014) by Peter Brown, Henry Roediger and Mark McDaniel. It completely transformed my understanding of what it takes to learn effectively. This book is truly special for three key reasons:
It challenges conventional wisdom about learning. Like many people, I had always assumed that rereading, highlighting, and cramming were the keys to academic success. But “Make it Stick” presents compelling scientific evidence that these popular study techniques are actually much less effective than we think. The book opened my eyes to the illusions of mastery that can arise from passive learning strategies, and it convinced me of the need to adopt a whole new approach.
It offers specific, actionable strategies for more powerful learning. What I love about “Make it Stick” is that it doesn’t just tear down ineffective study habits; it also offers concrete, research-proven techniques to replace them. From retrieval practice to spacing to interleaving, the book is packed with tools and tips I could apply immediately. And the illustrative examples and engaging storytelling really brought these techniques to life.
It is inspiring for lifelong growth and learning. Perhaps most importantly, “Make it Stick” has reshaped my whole conception of learning. Rather than a finite process of information absorption, the book frames learning as a never-ending journey of effortful mastery and self-improvement. This mindset embraces challenges, mistakes, and setbacks as invaluable opportunities to grow. And it’s a path that remains open to all of us, no matter our age or ability level, as long as we have the right tools and attitude.
Make it Stick is a must-read for anyone who wants to become a better learner—not just in school but in all areas of life. The book has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf, and I know I’ll be returning to it again and again for inspiration and practical wisdom. This book is for you if you want to take charge of your learning and tap into your full potential.
I loved reading “Make it Stick” because of the way it brings its principles to life through vivid stories and real-life examples. From a medical student’s struggles to a rookie pilot’s training regimen, the book is filled with relatable stories that illustrate the power of its ideas in action.
What’s more, the authors practice what they preach. They skillfully interleave the book’s key concepts, revisiting them from different angles and in different contexts throughout the chapters. This spacing and interleaving of ideas engages the reader and serves as a meta-lesson in the very techniques the book advocates.
The most effective learning strategies are not intuitive. Two of the most powerful are retrieval practice and spaced practice. (Make it stick)
Key takeaways for effective learning
Practice retrieval: Quiz yourself frequently on what you’ve learned instead of just rereading the material. Recalling information from memory strengthens learning much more than restudying. Use flashcards, practice tests, etc.
Space out practice: Spread your retrieval practice over time rather than massing it all together. Allowing some forgetting between practice sessions makes learning more effortful but results in longer-term retention.
Interleave different problem types: When studying different types of problems or examples, mix them up rather than focusing on one type at a time before moving on. Interleaving builds discrimination skills.
Embrace difficulties: When the study practice requires more effort, the difficulties slow down initial performance but lead to greater long-term learning. View challenges as desirable for growth.
Generate answers before you’re ready: Trying to solve a problem before being shown the solution leads to better learning than the reverse, even if errors are made. Struggle first, then learn from feedback.
Use elaboration: Find additional layers of meaning in new material by relating it to what you already know and explaining it to yourself or others in your own words. Builds stronger memory traces.
Reflect on your learning: After practising or when a lesson is over, take a few minutes to review what went well, what didn’t, and what to do differently next time to improve. Builds metacognition.
Calibrate your understanding: Use quizzing and practice testing to identify areas of weak mastery. Know where you stand and focus your study efforts accordingly. Avoid illusions of knowing.
Rereading text and massed practice of a skill or new knowledge are by far the preferred study strategies of learners of all stripes, but they’re also among the least productive. (Make it stick)
Learning myths and ineffective strategies
Myth: Rereading is an effective study strategy Reality: Rereading creates illusions of mastery through familiarity but does not actually strengthen long-term learning or recall. Retrieval practice, such as self-quizzing, is far more effective. Instead: Put away material after reading it once and practice recalling the key ideas from memory. Only reread after practising retrieval, and space out rereading sessions over time.
Myth: Massed practice is an efficient way to learn Reality: Massing practice (e.g. cramming) produces short-term fluency and feelings of mastery that are soon forgotten. Spacing out practice produces better long-term learning. Instead: Start studying early and space out practice sessions over time. Interleave different topics or types of problems in each study session.
Myth: Focusing on one skill or topic at a time is the best way to master it Reality: While blocked practice creates short-term performance gains, interleaving different skills or problem types produces better long-term learning and transfer. Instead: Study-related skills or topics in parallel and alternate between them during practice, even if it feels less productive in the moment.
Myth: Getting things right and avoiding errors is the goal of learning Reality: Making errors and struggling to correct them can strengthen learning so long as immediate feedback is provided. Errors are a natural part of striving for mastery. Instead: Treat errors as opportunities for reflection and improvement. Seek challenges, maintain a growth mindset, and view difficulties as desirable for learning.
Myth: Students know what study strategies work best for them Reality: Students often favour strategies like rereading and mass practice that create short-term fluency but not long-term mastery. They are often unaware of more effective strategies. Instead: Train students in the effective strategies of retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving, and elaboration. Encourage metacognition and self-monitoring to avoid illusions of mastery.
Myth: To learn something, just get exposed to it many times Reality: Repeated exposure creates familiarity but not necessarily durable learning. Effortful processing and retrieval is needed to encode material into long-term memory. Instead: Focus study time on recalling information from memory, solving problems, and generating original explanations and examples. Strive to understand, not just memorize.
Adopt study strategies that introduce “desirable difficulties” and avoid strategies that create short-term fluency at the expense of long-term learning. Spacing out effortful retrieval practice over time and interleaving different skills or topics produces more durable and flexible knowledge and skills in the long run. Learning how to learn effectively is a critical skill for lifelong growth.
Rereading has three strikes against it. It is time consuming. It doesn’t result in durable memory. And it often involves a kind of unwitting self-deception, as growing familiarity with the text comes to feel like mastery of the content. (Make it stick)
Actionable advice and useful practices
Retrieval Practice: After each lecture or study session, put away your notes and write down the key ideas from memory. Check your recall against your notes and textbook to verify accuracy and identify gaps.
Spaced Practice: Break your study sessions into shorter, spaced-out blocks rather than cramming. Aim to revisit material after a few days, then after a week, and after a few weeks, gradually extend the intervals.
Interleaving: When working on practice problems, mix up different types of problems within each session rather than focusing on one type at a time. Also, regularly alternate between studying different subjects.
Elaboration: As you read or listen to new information, pause periodically to ask yourself questions like: How does this relate to what I already know? What are some examples of this concept? How would I explain this to a friend?
Generation: Before looking up the answer to a question or the solution to a problem, take a few minutes to generate an attempt on your own. Wrestle with the material before receiving the explanation.
Reflection: After completing a practice session or mock test, take time to analyze your results. What went well? What kinds of mistakes did you make? What do you need to work on, and how will you adjust your studying?
Calibration: Use low-stakes quizzes and practice tests to check your understanding. Identify areas of weakness and target your studying to improve them. Don’t assume that familiarity equals mastery.
Mnemonic Devices: Create mental “hooks” to help you remember key bits of information. Use vivid mental images, catchy phrases, or memorable acronyms to associate with important concepts.
Teaching others: Take on the role of instructor and teach the material to a classmate, study partner, or even an imaginary audience. Explaining the concepts out loud in your own words is a powerful form of retrieval practice.
Growth Mindset: Embrace challenges, struggles, and even failures as opportunities to learn and improve. Cultivate a passion for stretching yourself and pushing beyond your comfort zone. View mastery as a journey, not a destination.
The key is to make your learning effortful, to get frequent feedback on your understanding, and to adjust your strategies based on your performance continually. With consistent practice and reflection, you’ll be well on your way to making your learning stick!
A single, simple quiz after reading a text or hearing a lecture produces better learning and remembering than rereading the text or reviewing lecture notes. (Make it stick)
Conclusion
Learning is a skill, and like any skill, it can be improved with the right kind of practice. Don’t settle for passive, ineffective studying techniques that leave you feeling stuck and overwhelmed. Take control of your learning by using proven strategies like retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving and elaboration. Use the power of desirable difficulties and view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth. Stay curious, stay persistent, and never stop striving to expand your knowledge and abilities.
By the time I turned the final page, I realized that the book’s lessons had truly stuck with me. “Make it Stick” is not just a book about learning; it’s a shining example of effective teaching in itself. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to upgrade their learning strategies and tap into their full potential.
