autodidacts
People teaching themselves
Autodidacts are people who teach themselves, acquiring knowledge or skills through self-directed study rather than formal instruction.
The term carries admiration for intellectual initiative: Lincoln was a famous autodidact who read law books by candlelight.
An autodidact in one field may be formally trained in another.
Educated without instructors
- self-educationIndependent pursuit of knowledge
- independent studySelf-directed academic project
- curiosityDesire to learn
- booksBound written works
online courses · libraries · tutorials · self-directed · self-instruction · resourcefulness · motivation · discipline
Broadly knowledgeable scholars
- Benjamin FranklinColonial American polymath statesman
- Leonardo da VinciItalian artist-scientist-engineer
- Abraham LincolnCivil War era leader
- apprenticeshipLearning trade through employment
correspondence courses · public libraries · night school · bootstrapping · reading circles · Malcolm X · Frederick Douglass · self-taught artists
Abilities with direct application
- hands-on learningEducation via direct participation
- trial and errorLearning through repeated attempts
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
- tinkeringCasual, unskilled adjusting
Desire from within oneself
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- deep divesThorough, extensive investigations
hyperfocus · questioning authority · skepticism · growth mindset · grit · self-discipline · autonomy · resilience
self-taught
Educated without instructors
- self-educationIndependent pursuit of knowledge
- independent studySelf-directed academic project
- curiosityDesire to learn
books · online courses · libraries · tutorials · self-directed · self-instruction · resourcefulness · motivation · discipline · MOOCs
polymaths
Broadly knowledgeable scholars
- Benjamin FranklinColonial American polymath statesman
- Leonardo da VinciItalian artist-scientist-engineer
- Abraham LincolnCivil War era leader
apprenticeship · correspondence courses · public libraries · night school · bootstrapping · reading circles · Malcolm X · Frederick Douglass · self-taught artists
practical skills
Abilities with direct application
- hands-on learningEducation via direct participation
- trial and errorLearning through repeated attempts
- experimentationSystematic testing of ideas
tinkering · skill acquisition · deliberate practice · mentorless
intrinsic motivation
Desire from within oneself
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
deep dives · hyperfocus · questioning authority · skepticism · growth mindset · grit · self-discipline · autonomy · resilience · determination
- intellectualsscholar, intellectual, academic, thinker, philosopher
- intelligentsiaintellectuals, professors, intelligentsia, academics, philosophers
- Non-academic learnersself-taught
- patronspatrons, borrowers, cardholders, members, users
- life hackers
- nonexpertslaymen, laypeople, laypersons, laywomen, laity