Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning

In a world where learning is essential for success, most of us unknowingly adopt ineffective learning strategies. “Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning” by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel, challenges common learning myths and provides research-backed strategies for effective learning. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or lifelong learner, this book offers invaluable insights into how to learn in a way that ensures deeper, more precise, and longer-lasting retention.

Table of Contents

Who May Benefit from the Book

Students aiming for better academic performance with less wasted effort
Teachers and trainers seeking effective methods to enhance retention
Professionals engaged in continuous learning or skill development
Parents helping children build lasting learning habits
Self-learners interested in evidence-based study strategies

Top 3 Key Insights

Retrieval practice is more effective than rereading. Testing yourself strengthens memory and improves recall.
Spaced and mixed practice boosts retention. Spreading and interleaving study sessions aids understanding.
Effortful learning changes the brain. Struggles during learning lead to stronger, more lasting memories.

4 More Lessons and Takeaways

Desirable difficulties enhance learning. Challenges like self-quizzing or solving before learning deepen understanding.
Avoid illusions of knowing. Familiarity with material isn’t the same as true comprehension—test yourself to check.
Learning styles are overrated. Research shows that using effective strategies is more important than catering to learning preferences.
Growth comes through deliberate practice. Pushing beyond comfort zones, getting feedback, and practicing with intention builds expertise.

The Book in 1 Sentence

Effective learning feels hard, but that effort is what helps the knowledge truly stick and become useful over time.

The Book Summary in 1 Minute

Make It Stick overturns many myths about learning. Most people rely on passive strategies like rereading and highlighting. But research shows these methods offer little long-term benefit. Instead, retrieval practice—actively recalling information—builds stronger memory. Spaced repetition and mixing different topics in one session, known as interleaving, help the brain form deeper connections. The book emphasizes that struggle in learning is not a sign of failure—it’s a sign that the brain is working. It also debunks learning styles and promotes evidence-based approaches for students, professionals, and educators. Learning improves when you quiz yourself, reflect, and take breaks between sessions. Difficulty makes learning stick.

The Book Summary in 7 Minutes

Learning often feels best when it’s easy. But that ease is misleading. Make It Stick shows that real learning happens when things feel tough. The brain strengthens through effort, not repetition.

Understanding Learning

Learning is a complex process that involves more than just absorbing information. Effective learning must be retained in memory so it can be applied when needed. However, many of the strategies we commonly use are counterproductive. “Make It Stick” debunks these myths and presents a more effective approach to learning.

The 3-Part Learning Process

To understand how learning occurs, it’s essential to recognize that it involves at least three stages:

Encoding: This is the initial stage where new information is received by the brain in the form of chemical and electrical charges. These are encoded into memory traces, which are then held in short-term working memory. Most of these traces are forgotten unless reinforced.
Consolidation: In this stage, the information is transferred to long-term memory. The memory traces are reorganized and connected to past experiences and knowledge, giving them meaning and strengthening the mental traces.
Retrieval: This is the process of recalling information from long-term memory. Retrieval not only reinforces memory traces but also reconsolidates them, connecting the new learning with existing knowledge.

For learning to be effective, we must anchor new material firmly in long-term memory, link it with a wide range of cues for easier recall, and develop mental models that capture real understanding. These steps are crucial in transforming raw information into knowledge that can be applied in various contexts.

Making Learning Stick

Throughout “Make It Stick,” the authors emphasize key ideas and strategies by presenting them in different contexts, enhancing readers’ learning and retention. They classify learning strategies into ineffective and effective categories, providing empirical evidence for their conclusions.

The Problem with Rereading and Highlighting

Most learners believe rereading, highlighting, or cramming helps them remember. These methods make information feel familiar but don’t lead to deep learning. Familiarity tricks the brain into thinking it understands something when it doesn’t.

Ineffective Strategies

Common but ineffective learning strategies include:

Massed Practice: This involves cramming information through intense repetition in a short time. Although it might provide short-term retention, it does not lead to long-lasting learning.

Effective Learning Strategies

Here are some of the most effective strategies recommended by the authors:

1. Retrieval Practice

Retrieval practice involves recalling concepts, facts, or events from memory, which significantly enhances learning compared to merely re-reading materials. This strategy, also known as the “testing effect,” helps solidify knowledge and skills in long-term memory.

Self-testing is more effective than review. It forces the brain to retrieve information, strengthening the memory trace. Flashcards, practice quizzes, and writing summaries from memory are useful tools. Each recall attempt boosts retention.

Ineffective Strategy	Effective Alternative
Rereading	Self-testing
Highlighting	Writing from memory
Cramming	Spaced repetition

Application:

Pause during learning to recall what you’ve learned and how it relates to what you already know.
Use quizzes or self-testing to reinforce learning.
Regularly quiz yourself on both new and past materials to master a topic. Review your answers and correct any mistakes to reinforce accurate knowledge.

2. Spacing, Interleaving, and Variation

These three related techniques make retrieval practice more effortful and effective:

Spacing: Spread out retrieval sessions over time instead of cramming. This allows for better consolidation of knowledge.
Interleaving: Alternate between different topics or leave regular intervals between practices. This approach helps to build connections between different pieces of information and improves the ability to apply knowledge in various contexts.
Variation: Change the type and context of your retrieval practices. This enhances your ability to integrate related ideas and skills into meaningful mental models, making you more adaptable in real-life scenarios.

Other Learning Strategies

Here are additional effective strategies to enhance learning:

Desirable Difficulties Improve Learning

Make It Hard on Purpose

Difficulty is not a sign of failure. Struggle makes learning deeper. These are called “desirable difficulties.” Examples include:

Trying to solve a problem before being taught
Writing summaries from memory
Reflecting on what you’ve learned

These forms of effort force the brain to encode information more strongly.

The Role of Neuroplasticity

Effortful learning leads to brain changes. Each challenge strengthens or creates new neural pathways. This process improves problem-solving and mental agility.

Avoiding the Illusion of Knowing

Metacognition Matters

Many learners overestimate their understanding. They mistake familiarity for mastery. The book explains cognitive biases such as hindsight bias and fluency illusion.

How to Check True Understanding

Self-test regularly
Teach the content to someone else
Apply knowledge in new situations

These actions give feedback and reveal gaps in learning.

Debunking Learning Styles

What Research Shows

People often believe they learn best visually, auditorily, or kinesthetically. But research finds no strong evidence supporting the benefits of tailoring learning to these preferences.

Focus on What Works

Instead of focusing on style, focus on strategies. Retrieval, spacing, and interleaving help everyone, regardless of how they “prefer” to learn. The book encourages moving away from the learning styles myth.

Deliberate Practice and the Growth Mindset

Building Expertise

To improve a skill, practice with purpose. Deliberate practice means:

Focusing on weaknesses
Working just beyond your comfort zone
Getting immediate feedback

This process, used by experts in all fields, leads to mastery.

Growth Mindset in Action

Believing you can get better through effort builds resilience. A fixed mindset says “I’m not good at this.” A growth mindset says “I can improve with practice.” This belief fuels persistence.

Getting the Most from “Make It Stick”

Are you ready to implement these strategies and improve your learning? “Make It Stick” offers detailed tips and examples to help you apply these methods in real-life situations. Whether you’re a student, educator, or lifelong learner, the responsibility for effective learning rests with you. Tailor these strategies to your goals and circumstances for the best results.

Apply one new strategy at a time—like self-testing or spacing your sessions. Try it for a week. Then reflect and add more. Use this book as a guide, not just a read.

Applications in Real Life

In Classrooms

Teachers can make learning stick by:

Using low-stakes quizzes
Mixing review material with new content
Encouraging reflection and self-testing

In the Workplace

Trainers should:

Use scenarios and simulations
Space out learning over time
Encourage knowledge sharing among peers

For Self-Learners

Use flashcards, spaced repetition apps, and teaching others. Write your own explanations and test yourself without looking at notes. Learning becomes more effective with reflection and intention.

About the Authors of “Make It Stick”

Henry L. Roediger III is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Washington University, with a focus on human learning and memory. He has published three textbooks and over 200 articles and chapters. Roediger holds a B.A. in Psychology from Washington & Lee University and a Ph.D. from Yale University.
Mark A. McDaniel is a Professor of Psychology at Washington University, with expertise in applying cognitive psychological principles to education. He has authored two books and over 200 articles and chapters. McDaniel graduated with an A.B. in Psychology and Mathematics from Oberlin College and received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado.
Peter C. Brown is an American writer with a background in both fiction and non-fiction.

“Make It Stick” Quotes

“Mastery requires both the possession of ready knowledge and the conceptual understanding of how to use it.”
“The elements that shape your intellectual abilities lie to a surprising extent within your control.”
“It turns out that much of what we’ve been doing as teachers and students isn’t serving us well, but some comparatively simple changes could make a huge difference.”
“Learning that’s easy is like writing in sand, here today and gone tomorrow.”
“Making mistakes and correcting them builds the bridges to advanced learning.”
“If you’re good at learning, you have an advantage in life.”
“The more effort required to retrieve (or, in effect, relearn) something, the better you learn it.”
“Mastering the lecture or the text is not the same as mastering the ideas behind them.”

Conclusion

“Make It Stick” is a game-changer for anyone serious about learning. By adopting the research-backed strategies presented in this book, you can transform the way you learn, ensuring that the knowledge you acquire is deep, precise, and long-lasting. Whether you’re a student aiming for academic excellence, a professional seeking mastery in your field, or a lifelong learner committed to continuous growth, “Make It Stick” provides the tools and insights to make your learning truly effective. Start applying these principles today and experience the difference in your learning journey.