Pragmatic Thinking and Learning

280 Pages·2008·7.53 MB·English

Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen
What people are saying about
Pragmatic Thinking and Learning
This book will be the catalyst for your future.
Patrick Elder
Agile Software Developer
By following Andy’s concrete steps, you can make your most pre-
cious asset—your brain—more efficient and productive. Read this
book, and do what Andy tells you to do. You’ll think smarter, work
better, and learn more than ever before.
Bert Bates
Cocreator of Head First, Brain Friendly Books
I’ve always been looking for something to help me improve my
learning skills, but I’ve never found anything as effective as this
book. Pragmatic Thinking and Learning represents the best way
to help you become an expert learner, improve your skills, and
teach you how to improve your work efficiency by learning fast
and easily.
Oscar Del Ben
Software developer
I love books that explain that context matters. This book does—
and helps you understand why. From the Dreyfus model (a source
of many “aha’s” for me) to explaining why experiential training
works (the wall climbing story), Andy writes with humor and with
tact so you can learn from reading and organize your own think-
ing and learning.
Johanna Rothman
Consultant, author and speaker
Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen
This is an accessible and insightful book that will be useful to
readers in many fields. I enjoyed reading it!
Dr. Patricia Benner
Professor and Chair, Department of Social and Behavioral
Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
Finished reading the beta last night. I loved this talk at NFJS
(and the herding racehorses one), and to have it in book form—
spectacular. All of this material has really changed my life!
Matt McKnight
Software developer
This has been fun, and I’ve learned a lot—can’t ask for
more than that.
Linda Rising
International speaker, consultant, and object-oriented
expert
Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen
Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen
Pragmatic Thinking and Learning
Refactor Your “Wetware”
Andy Hunt
The Pragmatic Bookshelf
Raleigh, North Carolina Dallas, Texas
Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their
products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book,
and The Pragmatic Programmers, LLC was aware of a trademark claim, the desig-
nations have been printed in initial capital letters or in all capitals. The Pragmatic
Starter Kit, The Pragmatic Programmer, Pragmatic Programming, Pragmatic Book-
shelf and the linking g device are trademarks of The Pragmatic Programmers, LLC.
Information contained in this book is intended as an educational aid only. Infor-
mation is not intended as medical advice for any individual condition or treatment,
and is not a substitute for professional medical care.
Every precaution was taken in the preparation of this book. However, the publisher
assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages that may result
from the use of information (including program listings) contained herein.
Our Pragmatic courses, workshops, and other products can help you and your team
create better software and have more fun. For more information, as well as the latest
Pragmatic titles, please visit us at
http://www.pragprog.com
Copyright © 2008 Andy Hunt.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America.
ISBN-10: 1-934356-05-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-934356-05-0
Printed on acid-free paper.
P1.0 printing, October 2008
Version: 2008-10-3
Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen
For my wife and children,
and for everyone who becomes what they think.
Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen
CONTENTS 8
Report erratum
Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen
this copy is (P1.0 printing, October 2008)
CONTENTS 9
Report erratum
Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen
this copy is (P1.0 printing, October 2008)
Contents
1 Introduction 13
1.1 Again with the “Pragmatic”? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1.2 Consider the Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1.3 Everyone Is Talking About This Stuff . . . . . . . . . 18
1.4 Where We’re Going . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
1.5 Grateful Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2 Journey from Novice to Expert 25
2.1 Novices vs. Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2.2 The Five Dreyfus Model Stages . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
2.3 Dreyfus at Work: Herding Racehorses and Racing
Sheep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
2.4 Using the Dreyfus Model Effectively . . . . . . . . . 43
2.5 Beware the Tool Trap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
2.6 Consider the Context, Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
2.7 Day-to-Day Dreyfus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
3 This Is Your Brain 57
3.1 Your Dual-CPU Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
3.2 Capture Insight 24x7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
3.3 Linear and Rich Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
3.4 Rise of the R-mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
3.5 R-mode Sees Forest; L-mode Sees Trees . . . . . . . 80
3.6 DIY Brain Surgery and Neuroplasticity . . . . . . . . 82
3.7 How Do You Get There? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
4 Get in Your Right Mind 85
4.1 Turn Up the Sensory Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
4.2 Draw on the Right Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
4.3 Engage an R-mode to L-mode Flow . . . . . . . . . . 92
4.4 Harvest R-mode Cues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.5 Harvesting Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
4.6 Get It Right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Prepared exclusively for Edwin Chen