What Is The Secret of Studying On One's Own?

Abstract

After the overthrow of the "Gang of Four," we often come across newspaper reports about certain young people making outstanding achievements by arduously pursuing studies on their own. They include, for example, Qian Guoxin, Cao Nanwei, Xu Lida, and others, all of whom have given us great encouragement. I am an employed young person and am studying mathematics and physics on my own. But I always feel the effort is of little avail and beset with problems. First, I am short of time and unable to use to my best advantage the time at my disposal. Second, I don't know how to choose appropriate books; sometimes I read whatever I can lay my hands on and often end up getting half the result with twice the effort. Third, I cannot retain in my mind what I have studied and tend to forget things previously learned. Besides, many questions are too difficult for me to figure out, thus dampening my interest. I find pursuing studies on one's own a difficult job and once thought of giving it up. On second thought, however, I cannot resign myself to this setback. I wonder whether the above-mentioned young people know the secret of self-study. It is my sincere wish that you can find for me a young person who has distinguished himself through studying on his own and ask him to discuss in detail his experience in this regard.