10 Best Ways to Grow General Knowledge

The sheer amount of information in the world today can seem overwhelming to some people, but there are plenty of ways to develop your general knowledge. Whether you’re hoping to impress friends and family at dinner parties or simply become smarter in the workplace, these 10 best ways to grow general knowledge will help you learn more about all kinds of topics, from pop culture to history to science and beyond. Check out these tried-and-true techniques today!

1) Read non-fiction

Fiction may be great for escapism, but non-fiction is where you’ll learn something new. It’s a simple fact: You can read 100 books of fiction and not gain any generel knowledge, but if you read 10 books of non-fiction then you'll have an education that will open up a whole world of possibilities for your future. Don't neglect reading in your spare time - it's one of the best ways to grow knowledge. Here are some other things you can do.

2) Use flashcards

Flashcards are great for learning new information, but they can also be used as a tool for review. You could make flashcards on your phone or tablet, write them out with a pen and paper, or print them off. Flash cards are convenient because you can just carry them around with you wherever you go and work on them in your spare time. By studying on-the-go with flashcards, your brain has to work harder and process new information faster than if you were simply reviewing at home or at school. This makes flash cards ideal for effectively growing general knowledge.

3) Play trivia games online

One of my favorite things to do is play trivia games online. It can be extremely rewarding and addicting, but it's also an awesome way to make knowledge because you're constantly learning new things. There are tons of free trivia games online that you can play and I highly recommend trying out a few different ones before settling on your favorite. My go-to game is QuizUp because there are tons of topics and it's easy to set up competitive matchups with people from around the world. If you don't have time for trivia, try a game like QuizUp when you're commuting or traveling for work--you might just learn something!

4) Memorize common formulas

You never know when a question will pop up on a test or quiz that has something like x in it. Without any other context, you might be completely stumped. But if you have memorized common formulas, it won’t matter. You can simply apply them to whatever is given and come up with a solution quickly—that is, as long as you remember which formula goes with which problem. If you are having trouble memorizing formulas because they seem so arbitrary, try grouping them together by similarity in alphabetical order. This way, words related to geometry will appear before words related to calculus in your mind. And don’t forget that it doesn’t hurt to use flashcards!

5) Take regular quizzes

A fun way to keep your brain agile is by taking regular quizzes on general knowledge. They're a great way to make knowledge more accessible, while making it fun and challenging at the same time. There are plenty of sites out there dedicated solely to quizzes like these, including (but not limited) to: QuizUp , Geeks Who Drink , Trivia Crack , and Two Truths and a Lie . Keep a few of these bookmarked for when you have down time at work or find yourself with idle hands—you'll be amazed at how quickly time passes when you're trying to answer questions about everything from 20th century wars, fruits & vegetables, grammar rules, and animals.

6) Do general knowledge puzzles

One way you can grow your general knowledge is by doing crossword and other puzzles. Though you might feel silly starting out, it’s an incredibly effective method for building up your intelligence over time. If you want to make brainteasers a daily habit, put them on your calendar like any other task – check out some of our tips on how to keep yourself on schedule with daily work and tasks. Every day that you complete one of these puzzles, add another one in its place until they become second nature. Soon enough, you’ll be able to answer even complex questions from memory alone.

7) Have discussions with friends

Talking about what you know is one of the best ways to grow your general knowledge. You’ll remember more from a conversation than from reading, and you’ll also be able to discover gaps in your own knowledge—what you don’t know but wish you did. Because when it comes to learning, ignorance is indeed bliss. So take advantage of these endless opportunities by asking friends questions and really listening when they answer. Practice makes perfect: After some time, sharing conversations will become as natural as breathing. You might even find yourself without anything left to ask—in which case, it’s time for step two... Observe everything: The human body is an incredible thing—it knows exactly how long each part should be before regenerating itself.

8) Keep a journal

One of the best ways to gain knowledge is to jot down your thoughts and experiences. By keeping a journal, you will not only be able to see your progress, but you will also record ideas for later use. Make it a habit every day to read something interesting in your field of study, then write about it in a journal as soon as possible afterwards so that you don’t forget what you read. If possible, find a way at work or home where everyone can keep their journals – people who share similar goals tend to hold each other accountable for their actions and often end up learning from one another’s strengths and weaknesses over time.

9) Scan newspapers and magazines regularly

Scanning is a quick and easy way to keep up with current events. By reading newspaper and magazine articles, you’ll learn more about how your industry functions in addition to broadening your horizons on other topics. Also, it doesn’t take long—just 15 minutes a day can make all of the difference in your knowledge bank. To start scanning regularly, set aside some time each day (even if just for 15 minutes) when you can read through news articles online or browse through magazines at your local bookstore. Once you get into a habit of scanning regularly, you’ll see just how much new information you pick up!

10) Check out TED talks

TED is an incredible organization that offers a slew of videos on basically any topic you can think of. From The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer to Why I'm Leaving Goldman Sachs by Greg Smith, TED has something for everyone. The talks are all relatively short (around 20 minutes) and most are highly engaging and very informative. Most importantly, they don't require you to read a lot of text or sit in front of your computer for hours at a time; they're also perfect if you just want some background knowledge before a dinner party or small talk with friends. Just pop one up on your laptop at work or watch it before bed (just make sure no one's looking over your shoulder!).