Speed Reading

If you want to build your own local development environment and you haven’t already studied computer science in school, then you’re going to have to read a lot of complex documentation.

Study math and physics. And not just nuclear physics. Study how to calculate the physics of load bearing structures. Figure out how to build machines that no one else thought of. Understanding math will help you understand the rules, the natural laws, governing whatever you are working on.

Most people say you can’t really learn math by reading a book, you have to practice solving math problems. My own experience has shown that that is probably true.

Understanding math will help you understand computer science and just about every other field of science and engineering. Study computer science in order to learn how to build your own platform for writing and telling your own stories. Be an artist, creating valuable, entertaining content.

People often say that Python is relatively easy to learn, so I start reading some Python documentation and it’s incredibly complex calculus and I’m like, wow, this is complicated. I’m almost finished reading a 1580 page textbook about neuroscience. When I finish that I will start reading the The Latex Companion, which is a two volume manual with about 800 pages in each volume.

I figure it is probably not practical to recommend that people read such huge documentation, but that is how I am learning how to use the tools. People usually just want to write a book, they don’t want to spend a huge amount of time learning how to write the book. You know, all the typesetting and formatting and all that?

One time, I read about Mastering Drupal 8. First, you learn how to install and configure Drupal 8 using Composer, Drush and Drupal Console. Then, in chapter 2, you start learning how to create a virtual environment. Wow! How many languages do I need to learn to build a website? Before you finish learning one language, you realize there is another language or languages that you need to understand to make the first one work right.

During 2025, I will be concentrating on learning Latex and Neovim. Latex for writing books and Neovim as my primary text editor. I will do all of my text editing in Neovim, which will help me learn the rather complicated “language” that you use to operate Neovim. I already have some experience with using Neovim and I have just barely looked at using Latex, so it will be an intense adventure.

Learn how to speed read. Practice reading without pronouncing the words in your mind. Just glance at each word or phrase and move on. Pay attention to what you’re reading, just don’t linger on any word or phrase. Keep moving forward. Try reading groups of words, rather than each individual word.

Leverage the volume of content, rather than focusing on memorizing lots of minute details. My Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook is 1136 pages long. The Learn PostreSQL manual I have is 615 pages long. You’ll never get them all read, if you linger and try to memorize too many details.

Just get the ideas and patterns imprinted in your long term memory. You’ll solidify the knowledge by using the software. You can always come back and read a manual again. I’ve done that more than once. When you find a really good manual, you may want to read it again. I’ve read the 1049 page A Practical Guild to Linux Commands, Editors and Shell Programming twice, from start to finish.

Reading these manuals will not make you a great Linux developer or administrator. It will definitely help you become one. Self-discipline is essential. Reading computer science is not the most interesting subject, at least for me it isn’t. I like writing stories about human nature and civilization.

I’ve always been interested in computers. It’s always been kind of like a second major for me. Improving human consciousness and advancing human civilization is my main interest. Nature is fascinating. Seek the truth, about everything you are interested in.

And make sure you add value to society. Have fun making the world a better place. Cultivate your creativity and produce something valuable, to trade in our one world wide free marketplace.

Watch a lot of videos. Video tutorials compliment your reading very well. Start at the base; math, physics and Linux. Once you get a good start learning Linux, start studying database technology and web servers. Shop around. Find a combination of tools that you like and learn that system.

Build your stack of computer, internet and artificial intelligence technology. Linux is the foundation. Learn C and C++. They’re the languages that Linux and KDE are written in. Figure out how to use Qemu, KVM and LXC and D. Then, HTML, CSS and Javascript. Then, WordPress, PHP and MySQL. Etc. Learn how to use iptables, nftables and ufw, the Uncomplicated Firewall

Get really good at using these few technologies. Don’t let yourself get distracted. You can explore other options after you have experienced building a high-performance local development environment and a small cluster of websites. Start with WordPress. You can build a website with very little knowledge about computer programming or website development. Let WordPress teach you how to build websites.

Put together a great system in your mind, write a business plan, then build it in your holistic home-office. Take notes. Write a book. Create more valuable content for the internet. Writing about what you learn, will help you learn it. Teaching is one of the best ways to learn something.

Of course, you’ll have to know something about the subject to teach it, but teaching is like afterburner for learning. Giving it away solidifies and amplifies the knowledge in your memory. I’m learning about the subjects I’m interested in, by writing about them.

Selfish ambition is the dark side of human nature. You’ve got to be productive. Be creative. Creativity is the one unified field in action. It is the most primal impulse in all natural history, including human nature. Exercise your creativity. Just like exercising makes you strong physically, exercising your creativity will improve your creativity.

Self-Improvement

Add value to society. Make sure everyone who trades with you, gets a good deal. Life on earth is a lifelong process of self-improvement. Everyone influences everyone. Be a positive influence on everyone you interact with.

Read the Sacred Writings of your religion. The Sacred Writings of humanity are the most important information. They are the difference between animals and civilized human beings. Universal education about our one common faith is the only way we are ever going to achieve a Class One civilization.

A Class One civilization is one global civilization. Baha’u’llah is the Founding Father of the Kingdom of God on earth. The Baha’i Faith is our one common faith. There is no alternative. When God says be, so it is.

God makes the rules. He reveals them through the Manifestation of God. Baha’u’llah is the Manifestation of God in this day and age. Faith is always voluntary. Family is essential. Exercise and healthy nutrition are vital, and creativity and productivity are good for you.

I mention the faith often in my stories because our civilization is disintegrating right before our very eyes. Swarms of drug zombies are plaguing our cities. Those people are our brothers and sisters, moms and dads and children. Corruption is rampant. Violence is spiraling out of control.

Religion is an indispensable feature of human nature and civilization. Religion is the Cause, civilization is one of it’s effects. Read the Sacred Writings of the religion of your choice every day.

Read some books about sales and marketing. Read the documentation for your trade, whatever that may be. Get really good at teaching and selling. Investigate pricing and negotiation. Learn How to Win Friends and Influence People, how to Think and Grow Rich.

Remember that selfish ambition is the darkside of human nature. It is a black hole, a bottomless pit, that can never be filled by taking or by gimmy, gimmy, gimmy. Productivity produces prosperity.

So, while reading is a form of consumption, make sure you give something in return. Give your teachers credit. Respect intellectual property rights. I’m not a big fan of private ownership of the truth, but I do want to be a professional story teller. And I want to write and tell true stories.

The main point of this story, is to encourage you to get in the habit of reading technical manuals and lots of supporting documentation. Watch lots of videos to compliment what you read. Improve yourself and help other people thrive in our brand new global, space-faring federation of self-governing nations.

Source: Bob Mccoy using Samsung Note 9
Source: Bob Mccoy using Samsung Note 9