Feynman Technique: How To Learn Faster By Explaining
“We now accept the fact that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast of change. And the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.” — Peter Drucker
THINKING TOOL
The Feynman technique is a four-step process developed by Richard Feynman to learn any subject. Does not matter how hard the subject is. This theory rejects the traditional way of memorizing facts without grasping their meaning and favors real comprehension. It is an effective problem-solving and learning framework developed by the physicist who was noted as someone who could explain complex topics in simple terms. The method emphasizes clarity and simplicity through teaching and/or explaining concepts.
At the core of the Feynman technique is a systematic process of breaking down complex ideas down to their simplest form. This is done in aim of boosting comprehension. The crux of the matter is, if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t really understand it. The Feynman technique leverages the principle that teaching is one of the most effective ways to learn and reinforce a concept as a learner, meanwhile acting as an aid to address gaps in understanding. Where you start pulling out unneeded, complex terms, is where you lack knowledge.
It works because it shifts you from passive consumption—reading, listening, skimming—to active engagement through explanation and teaching. The technique also serves to block your ego. You are clearly shown what knowledge you lack. The illusion of understanding or competence cannot thrive when you know what you don’t know. You find out by being enforced to explain complex topics simply. Distilling dry knowledge into valuable, digestible insights is hard stuff. By virtue of articulating information in your words, you drill it into memory. And, thankfully, the technique works universally: science, philosophy, business strategy, and even cooking.
Feynman believed learning a skill or concept should be an active process of trial and error, discovery, and free inquiry. His theory was learning with intention. Choose. Simplify. Teach. Identify gaps. Repeat. Think of it like building a tower. Every concept is a brick. As you understand and explain each one, you add them to the tower. That “tower” is your memory bank. You probably recall a moment when somebody asked you to explain a concept and you froze. Mind went blank. When you are forced to demonstrate your knowledge, you realize you understand a lot less than you think. This is what the Feynman technique is all about: don’t fool yourself into thinking you have mastered a subject when you are, at best, an amateur.
Real life implications of the Feynman technique:
Education: teachers can use the technique to break down complex topics into clear, relatable explanations, helping students grasp abstract concepts, or ask their pupils to do so to facilitate learning;
Business: managers, executives, and entrepreneurs can use it to refine their business strategies, ensuring they communicate them clearly to employees, investors, or customers—explaining a business idea simply is harder than it sounds;
Medicine: medical professionals—doctors, surgeons, nurses, counselors—can explain diagnoses or treatments to patients in simple, non-technical, no-jargon terms, building understanding and trust with their unfortunate visitors;
Writing: writers can simplify complex, technical, or abstract ideas for broader audiences, making their work more accessible and thus impactful;
Public speaking: explaining concepts clearly in a presentation ensures your audience connects with your message, regardless of their background—your listeners shouldn’t need your diploma to understand you.
How you might use the Feynman technique as a thinking tool: (1) choose a concept to learn, a topic you wish understand deeply, writing it down at the top of a blank page; (2) teach it to a toddler—or a beginner—or someone entirely unfamiliar with the subject, using simple language and avoiding technical jargon, ensuring the explanation is accessible; (3) identify gaps in knowledge when explaining, the areas where your understanding is incomplete or unclear, or you start to use technical jargon, and hit the books again to fill in the missing pieces; (4) refine and simplify, reworking your explanation until it is concise and easily understandable, stripping away the unnecessary details—the aim is clarity over sophistication; (5) optionally, test it; teach it to someone else again—or pretend that you are—to reveal further areas of improvement. Pro tips: (1) be honest about gaps, not glossing over sections you cannot explain; (2) use analogies and metaphors to make abstract ideas concrete and resonant; (3) iterate, going through multiple Feynman learning cycles; (4) use visual aids, like diagrams, charts, and sketches, helping organize information; (5) practice aloud or person-to-person to reveal flaws that may not be obvious in writing.
Where you might exploit the Feynman technique: (1, learning) use it to prepare for exams, presentations, or work tasks; (2, problem-solving) use it to break down complex problems into manageable bits; (3, communication) use it to simplify and clarify your message, whether you’re pitching a business idea or presenting research findings; (4, mentoring) use it to teach junior colleagues or peers with simplified language; (5, personal growth) use it to explore personal beliefs or philosophical concepts, clarifying why you think or act a certain way. Albert Einstein did say “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Teaching is a learning tool. So learn. By teaching.