You finally gather the motivation to delve into a technical book about a topic you’re unfamiliar with—perhaps web development, machine learning, or cybersecurity. It’s a daunting task, and despite investing countless hours, you feel overwhelmed. At times, the challenge may even threaten to derail your progress.

However, integrating this new subject matter with your existing areas of expertise can significantly ease the learning curve. By interleaving your study sessions, you begin to notice the connections and analogies between your prior knowledge and the new material.

Gradually, the barrier to entry for the new subject starts to diminish. Insights from one domain can shed light on another. A breakthrough moment may occur while exploring a different topic, illuminating something that previously seemed inscrutable. As you transfer your existing knowledge, you find yourself better equipped to navigate this unfamiliar terrain. Principles that apply in one programming language often hold true in others, for instance.

Think of your knowledge as building blocks: the more you combine and integrate your learnings, the more impactful they become. This approach not only aids comprehension but also reinforces your memory of what you’re learning.