Learning How To Learn (available on Coursera here [0]) and its companion book[1]. That course seriously improved how I learn new topics and has paid dividends many times over since then.

[0] https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Learning-How-Learn-Spending-Studying/...

This reminds me a brilliant article [1] by Barbara Oakley, who has a _superb_ course on Coursera on "Learning How to Learn" [2].

In this article, Barbara talks about how memorization helped her with Mathematics, a subject that she had previously struggled with. In particular, this line stands out to me

> Continually focusing on understanding itself actually gets in the way.

[1] https://nautil.us/how-i-rewired-my-brain-to-become-fluent-in... [2]https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn

P.S: Her book is really good too https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Numbers-Science-Flunked-Algebra/...

[Update: Apparently she wrote a book based on the course—https://www.amazon.com/Learning-How-Learn-Spending-Studying/...]