Reading lists

Questions About Reading Order in New Topics

1. How much does reading order actually matter when starting a new subject?

   • Given low initial retention, does sequencing make a real difference?

2. What’s the optimal tradeoff between:

   • Reading foundational/great works first (high quality but low comprehension)
   • Starting with simpler/introductory works (better comprehension but possible misconceptions)

3. How do we measure the risks of:

   • Missing key insights from great works due to poor initial comprehension
   • Getting turned off a subject from poor initial materials
   • Developing bad mental models from oversimplified texts

4. What evidence exists for different approaches?

   • Do people who start with great works eventually understand them better?
   • Does starting with simpler materials create lasting misconceptions?
   • What do empirical studies on learning sequences show?