Explain Like I'm Five · by Rizky Pratama · 2026-09-15
Which advice about learning did you eventually ignore without overthinking it?
Context: I am not an expert, just someone trying to make Explain Like I'm Five feel less intimidating. I wrote down what worked, what felt awkward, and what I would do differently next time.
I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.
33 sparks · 24 comments
Comments
Irene López · 11 likes
The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. That is where the boring checklist helps.
Nusrat Akter · 7 likes
The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. The Madrid example makes it feel concrete.
Mateo Ramírez · 5 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. The trap is trying to optimize before you have feedback.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
Come back with what happened; the details will make the next answer better.
Liam Wilson · 3 likes
That is a surprisingly elegant way to frame it. I would love to see a follow-up after 8 weeks.
Gentle Baker · 2 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. The trap is trying to optimize before you have feedback.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
That should give you a solid first pass.
Grace Parker · 2 likes
This is adorable and oddly motivating. I used to overcomplicate this constantly.
Isha Menon · 2 likes
I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me.
Amina Okafor · 1 likes
Wonderful detail. It makes the whole thing feel real. The a neighborhood park detail changes the whole answer.
Lina Al Harbi · 1 likes
The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error.
Finn Brown · 0 likes
You just saved me a bad purchase.
Nour Ali · 1 likes
I would ask what outcome you want in two weeks, not in some ideal future. That makes the choice much clearer. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.
Ayesha Khan · 1 likes
I like this more than the top-level advice.
Omar Hassan · 1 likes
The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. I am curious whether explainers still feels good next month.
Haruto Sato · 1 likes
The conclusion is too broad, but the example is interesting. The follow-through matters more than the perfect plan.
Ananya Rao · 1 likes
Good reminder that boring can be good. The winter version is even more interesting. Glad you shared the messy version too.
Siti Lestari · 1 likes
Anecdotally, this tracks with what I have seen. For me it came down to the recipe.
Liam Eriksson · 1 likes
Amazing how much difference one small change can make. I learned that one the expensive way.