The oldest and most effective method for intellectual cultivation is the 3-step process of reading material, thinking over the material, and writing (or talking) about the material.

Do that 3-step move over and over again for a few years and you’ll be amazed at not just how much new knowledge you’ve acquired, but also how much you’ve improved at key mental skills like learning, reasoning, summarizing, evaluating, drawing connections, and expressing yourself in a clear and persuasive manner.

Read. Think. Create. That’s the keystone habit of any great self-education program.