Autodidacticism (self-taught; self-study)

What drives autodidacts: motivation, curiosity, discipline, perseverance, drive


Here’s a list of some of the most famous autodidacts—self-taught individuals—across various fields:

Science & Technology

  • Leonardo da Vinci – Mastered anatomy, engineering, and art without formal education.
  • Michael Faraday – Pioneered electromagnetism; had little formal schooling.
  • Charles Darwin – Left medical school; largely self-taught in natural science.
  • Thomas Edison – Homeschooled and self-educated inventor of the light bulb and phonograph.
  • Ada Lovelace – Self-taught in mathematics; wrote the first algorithm.

Literature & Philosophy

  • Benjamin Franklin – Educated himself through voracious reading; scientist, inventor, and author.
  • Jorge Luis Borges – Taught himself multiple languages; widely influential writer.
  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Major Enlightenment thinker; largely self-educated.

Music & Art

  • Jimi Hendrix – Never formally trained; learned guitar by ear.
  • Frida Kahlo – Trained herself in painting during long recoveries.

Business & Innovation

  • Steve Jobs – Dropped out of college; learned calligraphy, design, and tech on his own.
  • Elon Musk – Taught himself programming, rocket science, and more via reading.