Grok

Grok (What)

The slang term “grok” means to deeply and intuitively understand something, so much so that it becomes part of who you are.

Rationale

Here are some reasons why grokking things is worthwhile:

  1. It feels awesome to grok something. It fills one with appreciation and amazement.
  2. It equips you for skilled application.
  3. It equips you for teaching or explaining.
  4. It reduces something to its core; its essence; its fundamentals.
  5. You remember something basically forever.

How Grokking Works (Biology)

When we learn information (acquire knowledge), our brains grow and connect brain cells (neurons). In simple terms, all learning involves this rewiring of the brain. The cause of this rewiring is repetitions of experiences done with the proper methods. That is, all learning is caused by repetition, but not all repetitions cause learning.

The best method for learning is called Deliberate Practice (DP) which can be described as focused, effortful, systematic repetitions with feedback and rewards.

So, if any brain performs proper repetitions, it will grok the information. Grokking itself is when the information has been incorporated into the long-term memory of your brain.

How to Grok Something

Repeat the following actions over and over for length time period: weeks, months, or years. Keep each iteration simple, especially when you first encounter a new idea. Be super patient and easy on yourself because some things are hard to figure out.

  1. Figure out what the idea means.

    1. Get one or more high-quality explanations.
    2. Explain it in your own words.
    3. Write it down.
    4. Connect it to your everyday world.

  2. Apply the idea in the everyday world and get rewards.

  3. Teach or explain the idea to others.

  4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 over and over.

    1. Keep exploring explanations from others to ensure alignment.
    2. Keep distilling the idea down to its essence.
    3. Measure your level of grok.

Measurement (Level of Grok)

Deep understanding (grokking) means that you can explain, teach, apply, and remember something. The information has become part of who you are because it is hardwired into your brain through the process of neuroplasticity.

Thus, to measure your level of knowledge or how well you understand something, measure along the following dimensions:

Utility: Gauge how well you have connected the information to your everyday world in the sense of being super-useful and worthwhile.

Explain: Gauge how well you can explain this information to anyone, ranging from a child to a world-class expert.

Apply: Gauge how well you can apply this information. For example, if you grok statistics, you will be very good at applying statistics in the real world. If you grok guitar playing, you will be a good, excellent, or awesome guitar player. Application should be easy, almost automatic.

Teach: Gauge how well you can teach this information to others such that they “get it.”

Love: Gauge your level of regard for the information. Do you feel in love with it?

Remember: Gauge how well you can teach, apply, explain, and answer questions about the material from memory.

Examples

  1. A person who groks problem-solving is really good at solving problems, can explain how they do it, and can teach others how to problem solve.

  2. A person who groks winemaking makes really good wine and can teach others how to make great wine.

  3. A person who groks computer programming finds programming really easy to do, almost boring. Their peers recognize this person as being in the top 5%, one of the best around. The person can teach others about object-oriented programming, testing, packaging, and so forth.

Facts

  1. The word “grok” was coined by Robert A. Heinlein for his 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land.

  2. Grok is a slang term commonly used in computer science.

  3. Grok is explained online:

    1. Wikiquote
    2. Wikipedia

  4. The two main outcomes of learning are:

    1. Knowledge: Grokking information which means
    2. Performance: Doing something well.

  5. I started using the term “grok” because I realized that I did not understand the things I was teaching as a college professor. I wanted to have a word that captures what it means to understand something deeply. And, of course, I want to share how wonderful it is to really figure out something