Lack of education becoming apparent

[Maltesters]

I'm hoping to get some tips of how to better my general knowledge. The older I get, the more apparent my lack of knowledge becomes.

Further education after High School was never an option for me. I grew up in a very toxic, abusive household so education was never a priority.

Despite my disadvantaged start in life I've done okay for myself. I have a good job and a fairly stable life however I have always longed for a profession, something I can be confident in and proud of. A degree/profession might be an option in the future but it's not something we can budget for at the moment. I don't know what I would even study so I'd need to do a ton of research first before I could consider choosing a subject.

Dh is an educated professional and when we chat the gaps in my knowledge are becoming more and more visible. I find that I really struggle to hold a conversation with him or with anyone because I really don't know a lot. The problem is that I don't know what I don't know and I don't know how to fix this.

I try to read up on news and research anything that I don't understand but I'm really struggling. I am really clueless on everything basically and I'm incredibly embarrassed by how little I know.

Can anyone suggest some books to read or topics that I could look up to help me? I have no idea where to begin really. I'm so sick of feeling unintelligent and unable to join in conversations because I don't have a clue what people are talking about.

I think I might be mixed up with what I was trying to ask.

I don't particularly know what a degree entails, I do know you study a particular subject but I assume they cover a range of topics? I really just associate a degree with intelligence so I assumed a degree would be the way forward.

I guess what I'm looking for short term is a way for me to brush up on every day general knowledge. I'm embarrassed to admit that I have no knowledge on subjects like economics, politics, history and probably many more topics that I can't think of.

I have tried to pick up some books at the library but I've never really known where to start or what to research. I've noticed some fantastic suggestions that I will take note of and work my way through.

@Jonny1265 some great suggestions there thank you.

@ElizabethinherGermanGarden pod casts are a great idea. I've just downloaded the BBC sounds app to have a look. Things like this is exactly what I've been looking for.

@gingerhills I've never experienced or studied any of the things/people you've mentioned. I'm going to check out some of the titles you mentioned. I've always heard of people mention Shakespeare etc but it's not something I've ever got my head around. Something for me to look into.

@resipsa Thank you. I've always been massively self conscious of my writing skills.

@Changechangychange This book sounds ideal thank you. I'll add it to my list.

@DelphiniumBlue Thanks for your reply.
I've been wanting to read some novels but I've never really known where to start. I have taken note of your suggestions and I will start to work my way through them.

The novel course sounds really interesting. I had no idea that something like this existed! I would definitely benefit from something like that.

The Week junior is really good for simple and easy to understand chunks of general knowledge.

theweekjunior.co.uk

And listen to radio 4.

It will go in by osmosis.

I find anything o hear of that I don't know about, I try to Wikipedia it.

@boyblue can you recommend any? I don't know a lot of historical figures so wouldn't know where to begin.

I would try the book bad science it is easy to read but also emphasises critical thinking and not accepting 'facts' at face value. This any then be applied to numerous different topics.

@KirstenBlest. I recently read a book on how to code. Found it pretty interesting so I'm looking to build up my knowledge in that area. I know the basics around computers so I've been considering something along those lines. I still have a long way to go before I could even consider a degree but it's something I will look into.

Horrible histories songs!!

Obviously technically for kids but they are fabulous.

Watch general knowledge quizzes. If you find out something interesting look it up to read a bit more about it. My dad used to have a ‘this day in history’ type book that I found endlessly fascinating as a kid, I’d spend ages reading it. Also liked atlases, not sure why, but I know a lot about places because of it.

If listening is your thing, then definitely listen to radio 4. You’ll pick up loads.

@EdithWeston Very interesting. It explains a lot.

Bill Bryson books are very funny and full of great information (he has done a lot of travel books but also ones on Shakespeare, history of science, the history of home / domestic living, the universe and the body). The audio books are very very good (on audible).

A bit of an odd suggestion but I really enjoyed Clarissa Dickson Wright's book on the history of english food (audio book narrated by her) and it's full of interesting facts about British history, culture and how food is tied into that (eg she explains about how eating mint sauce with lamb is likely to be an influence from the middle east dating back to the crusades).

Someone on the Ukranian threads was recommending BBC Newsround as an introduction to new topics - I read the Chernobyl 35 year story on there yesterday and it was quite good. I also like using Wikipedia to look things up.

I agree with those who are saying you don't need a degree - DH left school at 16 (after a terrible education - his school was awful), is profoundly dyslexic (so doesn't read much) and he's very interesting! He listens to a lot of podcasts, radio, watches news and cultural stuff on the TV, pre covid we would go to concerts, ballet, musicals - education is more than just university.

I dont think education or lack of is such a big deal. I'm all for bettering yourself through continuous learning but I've met people who left school at 15 who seem to know everything and people with masters degrees who its wonder they can put their own pants on. Being knowledgeable isnt about education its down to the individual, reading is a great way to improve knowledge or these days podcasts are fantastic.

@godmum56 You are spot on. I am bothered by what I don't know. It's more that I don't know what I don't know.

I often find myself googling things in general chit chat with others because I have absolutely no clue what they are on about. Or I'm googling things I've seen on the TV or googling how to pronounce words because I continuously mispronounce them as I've learned them through reading. I feel like a bit of a dunce trying to keep up a lot of the time.

There's some great suggestions on here though so I'm feeling really confident that I will be able to better my knowledge already.

Tha's great @Maltesters. It can be a great career, and there are other roles in the field like Technical Architect, Project Manager and so on that it is useful to have an understanding of the development life cycle.

As this is MN I'll add that it is often overlooked as a family friendly career, but it can be flexible.

I don't think you'd need to wait a long time to consider doing a degree. You don't need a degree but it will help you get interviews

You will need knowledge of some maths but a course would cover those - things like logic. The ability to code is the main thing

@RishiRich Some great suggestions there. Noted and thank you. Also thanks for the confidence boost, it's comforting when I hear others perspectives.

@LIZS this is awesome! Thanks.

OP, as a PP has said, you write really well. There have been some great suggestions here- Radio 4 is the source of most of my random knowledge!

Two things come to mind. Firstly, I feel like you are clearly an intelligent woman who has a good job and success in her own right. Perhaps you're feeling a lack of what was described on my PGCE as "cultural capital"? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_capital

But I also feel there's a confidence issue, as I'm sure many people with degrees don't know much about the history of Eastern Europe for example in the context of the Ukraine. And many wouldn't have the self awareness/determination to go "I don't fully understand the Ukraine's, I'm going to read up on it" like you have.
I have a cousin who went to uni and has been brought up very middle class whereas my aunt, her mum, is from a very working class background. My cousin has a lot more confidence about her own opinions about cultural stuff, whereas my aunt is very hesitant to venture an opinion. I think they're both intelligent women with interesting things to say but my aunt lacks confidence because she didn't have a formal education. I hope that makes sense- basically I think you should try to have more belief in yourself!

Definitely radio 4, also a subscription to The Week - potted knowledge of everything current affairs! Ted talks & podcasts.

Op I really hear you. I grew up in a toxic environment and it was all a bit Neanderthal.
I think you are already on the right track. You are obviously insightful and perceptive, you have a curiosity to learn which will take you far.

I went to university at 29 and that helped with my knowledge and confidence. I’ve also learned bucket loads from radio 4. It can be over detailed and a bit obsessed with certain topics ( had to turn it off a lot over Brexit!), but it’s an education while you clean the house

I often find myself googling things in general chit chat with others because I have absolutely no clue what they are on about. Or I'm googling things I've seen on the TV or googling how to pronounce words because I continuously mispronounce them as I've learned them through reading. I feel like a bit of a dunce trying to keep up a lot of the time.

Me too. I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable and educated but sometimes linking a sound to a word you've read isn't obvious

The Reith Lectures on AI are on now (BBC Sounds)

Great thread!

[quote Maltesters]@godmum56 You are spot on. I am bothered by what I don't know. It's more that I don't know what I don't know.

I often find myself googling things in general chit chat with others because I have absolutely no clue what they are on about. Or I'm googling things I've seen on the TV or googling how to pronounce words because I continuously mispronounce them as I've learned them through reading. I feel like a bit of a dunce trying to keep up a lot of the time.

There's some great suggestions on here though so I'm feeling really confident that I will be able to better my knowledge already.[/quote]
Can I suggest that in order to feel more comfortable with what you don't know, that you make some interim decisions about stuff you should know that is important like life skills, stuff that you don't know that you might like to know and stuff that you don't care about and don't have to care about. the categories will kind of change through life....you don't need to know about looking after a cat until you need to look after one....but it divides the knowledge up a bit and can make it feel less overwhelming.

YouTube is great if you want to know how to fix things.
Wikipedia has some excellent stuff on it both in the humanities and science.
Look out for atlases and encyclopaedias in charity shops, I have one of each in the loo...always a good place to sit and have a quick read of something.
I've also pinned maps up in the loo too! Love maps, totally fascinating things!
Audiobooks can be down loaded for free from the library, you'll find both fiction and nonfiction, if you have a commute to work have a listen to a book.
Radio 4 has some very informative programs, and it's the only reason I don't thoroughly resent paying my TV license!
And of course mums net; I've learned so much from the feminist board I feel in a much stronger place to counter arguments with my children around various current topics.
Finally I return to Wikipedia i while back I wanted to know about the Crimea war, I ended up down a rabbit warren of information, including a fascinating history of the Ottoman Empire through to the making of modern Europe. I think I read for about an hour every evening for nearly a month! Unfortunately I've only retained a teeny tiny bit of what I read