Journey of Learning: Balancing Experience and Books

Written by Noom

A frosh at MUIC

We learn without truly knowing ourselves. Our knowledge mostly derives from experiences and books. Knowledge from experience happens when we engage in activities for an extended period. It can be either intentional or unintentional. Meanwhile, knowledge from books comes from reading. Although the acquisition methods may differ, both sources impart important knowledge. Relying solely on one of these sources cannot provide us with comprehensive understanding. If I were to choose only one, I would undoubtedly opt for experience.

Experience stems from doing. It helps us understand our actions and allows us to learn from our mistakes. We can never ascertain the appropriate speed of a car under different circumstances just by reading the manual; we need to drive the car ourselves to truly grasp its actual speed. Nonetheless, gaining certain knowledge through experience may require going through some trials and errors.

On the other hand, knowledge from books is acquired through reading. It usually comes from the author's knowledge or experience. By reading the autobiography of a famous businessman, we can learn the stories behind their success, which might help us improve or avoid problems without facing them firsthand. This method offers quick access to information, but it lacks practical experience, which can sometimes limit our understanding of the knowledge we seek to attain.

While experience may demand time, it is more efficient than reading. Through experience, we can explore more and understand our flaws, as the saying goes, "Learn by making mistakes." Experiencing things ourselves makes the knowledge more memorable, unlike reading, which can easily be misunderstood and forgotten. Moreover, relying solely on reading may lead to a lack of practical understanding, hindering our ability to apply or adapt the knowledge effectively. Therefore, what we do is what we truly understand best.