Obviously as we get older our brain isn't as quick to learning new things compared to when we were younger. At what age do you guys think our brain starts going on cruise control? I ask this because I'm 22, and I am doing all sorts of things to become a smarter individual, such as buying and reading new books to increase my vocabulary. I want to write, for example, like one of the posters here on Clutchfans, goes by the username Hmm. How does one even talk like that? But reading these books still don't seem to help, I still write like an average person. Is having a large vocabulary a skill that you learn when you're in middle-high school? Is it too late for me? Or am I reading the wrong books? Am I reading the wrong way? Should I write down notes and look up every word I don't understand? Should I do word of the days every day? Help Clutchfans!
There is a difference between smarts and knowledge. IMHO, smarts don't come with age, knowledge does. You either have smarts or you don't. That being said, don't hurt yourself in your endeavors. The world needs morons just like they need smart people.
I would say you have three years left. Nearly all of the greatest discoveries were made by the age of 25. Then, you can console yourself with gaining "wisdom," like oldsters me and codell do.
I got so depressed recently when I realized that I had reached the age at which Einstein wrote his first three groundbreaking papers.
You stop getting smarter when you settle or give up. Don't make the mistake of limiting yourself for whatever reason- age, weight, height, etc. It's never too acquire and use new knowledge.
Exactly! I've seen 85yr olds graduate from college - Your brain continues to learn until you stop using it. If you continue to read, do puzzles, etc you'll be one sharp old man. As far as writing...Writing well is not due to knowledge, but practice and technique. Take some creative writing classes at night at the local Community College. That will help tremendously. Good luck.
I have to agree with this. When in high school I used to think that as long as I study hard, I wouldn't have problems with whatever I would choose to study further. When I enrolled in a university, I realized it's not that simple - there are people that study 3-4 times as much as I do and yet have more problems than I do, and there are people that don't study as much as I do and are clearly smarter than me. The knowledge is about the same but smarts definitely differ.
There is no age at which you stop getting smarter. As you learn, you use experiences and theories to intelligently decide on things. Sometimes you make mistakes, but unless you enjoy making them, you will not make them often or the same way. You will continue to learn, record stuff you learn in your brain, remember it better if you use it often, use your memory, use your reasoning, and therefore always get smarter. This is what makes us different from animals in general. Some people are mistakenly answering "At what age do you stop LEARNING" instead of "getting smarter." To answer that question: You NEVER stop learning as long a you're alive. Every second your brain absorbs a new bit of information it didn't have before.
Your brain function can begin to decrease at 20. Do a daily puzzle, or read a book, or play a musical instrument... That will keep your brain activity up, and you won't become a foppotee. (YESSS! I saved a word!)
As you get older, it's harder to pick things up. I don't know if that's what you mean by "smarter." Obviously, the more you learn, the more you know, the smarter you are. So by definition, you never stop getting smarter until you start forgetting stuff. Your knowledge may become outdated, but it's not like you lose it.
So none of you feel like, whenever you're around a smarter person, want to be even smarter than you are now? Or is that just me? I get fascinated whenever I'm smart people and "I'm like ****. I need to get better."
If by smarter, you include more experienced, you keep getting more until your brain functions start to deteriorate structurally. I don't think I am expanding exponentially anymore, like really understanding quantum mechanics or learning to use calculus equations, but, I can predict the Texans offensive plays before they run them.
I recently download a dictionary and thesaurus app. on my phone to help with my vocab, and started reading more. It has helped thus far.
