The 80-20 Learner

He claimed that eighty percent of any outcome or phenomenon is actually the result of just twenty percent of the causes.

These two examples show us that the 80/20 principle is a helpful starting point, but it’s really about helping us think more clearly about: What the most important task is What our absolute limits are What our goals are What our priority is—and what we don’t really care about

Highlight key passages: As you read, use colored pens to highlight key passages that encapsulate the main arguments or provide excellent examples.

Fail zero percent of the time and it leads to boredom and stagnation.

Applying the 80/20 approach to language learning could mean, for example, focusing on a curated list of the most commonly used words first, rather than on more unusual or uncommon aspects of the language.

What 80/20 Learning Really Means

It’s even better if you can identify unifying principles behind these smaller facts.

Prioritize and skim: Start by reading the conclusion or last chapter of the book to understand the author's main arguments or conclusions.

Understanding this principle helps you identify the key inputs that have the most impact and allows you to focus and optimize them.