An autodidact is a person who teaches themselves rather than learning from teachers or formal schools. The word comes from Greek roots meaning “self-taught.”

Throughout history, many accomplished people have been autodidacts. Abraham Lincoln mostly educated himself by reading books borrowed from neighbors, since he had only about a year of formal schooling. The mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan taught himself advanced mathematics from a single textbook in India and went on to make discoveries that amazed professional mathematicians. Benjamin Franklin left school at age ten but continued learning on his own, eventually becoming a scientist, inventor, writer, and statesman.

Being an autodidact requires enormous curiosity and discipline. Without teachers assigning homework or explaining difficult concepts, autodidacts must figure out what to learn, find good resources, and push through confusing parts on their own. They have to stay motivated even when no one is checking their progress.

Today, with libraries and the internet available to many people, autodidacts have more resources than ever before. Someone might teach themselves to code by working through online tutorials, or learn a language using apps and books. Many successful people combine formal education with autodidactic learning, going to school for some subjects while teaching themselves others.