# Experts vs. Imitators  ## Metadata - Author: [[Farnam Street]] - Full Title: Experts vs. Imitators - Category: #articles - Summary: To distinguish experts from imitators, look for those who can answer questions deeply, adapt their vocabulary, and embrace failure as a part of learning. Real experts are excited to share their knowledge and acknowledge the limits of their expertise, while imitators often lack depth and authenticity in their understanding. Be cautious of confusing popularizers with true experts, as the ability to communicate clearly does not always indicate genuine expertise. - URL: https://fs.blog/experts-vs-imitators/ ## Highlights - **Imitators can’t answer questions at a deeper level.** Specific knowledge is earned, not learned, so imitators don’t fully understand the ideas they’re talking about. Their knowledge is shallow. As a result, when you ask about details, [first principles](https://fs.blog/first-principles/), or nonstandard cases, they don’t have good answers. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jcgmqesphd25261d5t3e27rj))