If learning feels harder than it should, it’s not you—it’s the system you were handed.
In a world that changes this fast, knowing how to learn has become the skill that shapes every other skill. And that’s exactly what General Assembly’s Chief Learning Officer, Dr. Jeffrey Bergin, set out to demystify in his new book, Already Smarter.
Learning how to learn
We’ve all heard it before: you just need to learn something new. But no one ever tells you how to actually do it.
That’s where Dr. Jeff (as we like to call him) comes in. His book, Already Smarter tackles what most of us assume we know, but were never formally taught—how learning really works.
Part research, part roadmap, Already Smarter breaks down the science of learning into more than 100 practical strategies drawn from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and educational theory.
Learning is the bridge that takes us from where we are today to where we want to go tomorrow.
That same belief—that learning is a bridge to possibility—has shaped how GA approaches education from day one. We don’t just teach technical skills. We teach people how to think critically, solve problems, and keep learning long after a course ends.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress—learning how to learn smarter, faster, and with more intention.
Learning isn’t a talent—it’s a toolkit
Already Smarter isn’t just for career changers or lifelong learners—it’s for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, distracted, or overwhelmed by everything they “should” be learning.
This book is for people who no longer want to accept the premise that being unfocused or unmotivated is a fault of their own, rather than a symptom of not having the proper tools and support.
It’s a reminder that learning isn’t about willpower. It’s about design. Creating systems and habits that make growth possible—and more importantly—sustainable. That principle sits at the core of GA’s approach to education, too: meeting learners where they’re at, and giving them the structure, feedback, and community to keep moving forward.
Learning that grows with you—and beyond you
At its core, Already Smarter is about transformation—not just understanding how you learn, but using that insight to help others learn, too. The book begins with self-discovery, guiding readers to identify their learning patterns and habits, and ends with how to support learning in teams, workplaces, and communities.
It’s the same philosophy that guides every GA experience. From our AI and data programs to design and leadership training, effective learning goes beyond memorization—it’s built through reflection, practice, and connection.
The real power of learning
Already Smarter leaves you with a simple truth: learning isn’t something you master once and rely on forever. It’s a lifelong skill you keep shaping, refining, and rebuilding as the world moves forward. And the better you understand your own mind—how it absorbs, adapts, and grows—the more control you have over where your career (and life) goes next.
That’s what we believe at GA, too. When people learn how to learn, everything else gets easier: picking up new tools, navigating change, leading teams, reinventing your path. It’s the kind of skill that never expires—and only gets more valuable with time.