street smart vs book smart essay

Street smart vs. book smart: 12 Differences

Smartness or intelligence can be defined in several ways. I won’t bore you with all the definitions. No matter how you slice and dice it, smartness boils down to problem-solving. You’re smart in my book if you’re good at solving problems, especially complex ones.

What determines how well we’re able to solve a problem?

One word: Knowledge.

In a previous article on overcoming challenges , I said that we could best think about problem-solving using the analogy of puzzles. Like a puzzle, a problem has pieces you absolutely need to know about.

When you know about these pieces, you can then ‘play around’ around with those pieces to solve the problem.

Knowing the pieces is all about learning everything you can about the nature of the problem. Or, at least, learning enough to be able to solve the problem.

Hence, knowledge or understanding is essential for problem-solving.

It follows that the more knowledge you have, the smarter you will be.

Street smart vs. book smart

This is where street smart vs. book smart comes in. Both street smart and book smart people are trying to achieve the same thing- an increase in knowledge to become better problem-solvers. Where they differ is how they predominantly gain knowledge.

Street smart people gain knowledge from their own experiences . Book smart people gain knowledge from others’ experiences , documented in books, lectures, courses, and so forth.

Street smartness is gaining first-hand knowledge by being in the trenches and getting your hands dirty. Book smartness is second-hand knowledge gained while you sit comfortably on a chair or sofa.

Key points of difference

Let’s list out the main differences between street and book smart people:

1. Knowledge source

As mentioned above, the knowledge source for street smart people is the pool of their own experiences. Book smart people learn from the experience of others. Both are trying to become better problem-solvers by increasing their knowledge.

2. Knowledge type

Street smart people are focused on learning how to do things. They have practical knowledge. They’re good at getting things done. Execution is of utmost importance because that’s how they learn.

Book smart people care about the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ in addition to the ‘how’. Learning deeply about the problem at hand is of utmost importance. Execution tends to fall by the wayside.

Street smart people tend to be generalists. They tend to know a little bit about everything. They know enough to get the job done. They tend to have good survival, emotional and social skills.

Book smart people tend to be specialists. They know a lot about one area and little about other areas. They’re focused on developing their cognitive skills. Emotional and social skills tend to get ignored.

4. Decision-making

Street smart people can make quick decisions because they know they don’t have to know everything to get started. They have a bias for action.

Book smart people take a long time to decide because they keep digging and looking for the pros and cons of a decision. They tend to suffer from analysis paralysis.

5. Risk-taking

Risk-taking is at the heart of ‘learning by experience’. Street smart people know that not taking risks is the biggest risk.

One of the reasons book-smart people are so highly invested in understanding the nature of a problem is so they can minimize risks.

6. Rigidity type

Both street and book-smart people can be rigid in their ways. However, they differ in the way they’re inflexible.

Street smart people have experience rigidity . Their knowledge is confined to their experiences. If they haven’t experienced something, they do not know about it.

Book smart people have knowledge rigidity . Their knowledge is mostly confined to theoretical knowledge. If they haven’t read about it, they don’t know about it.

7. Structures and rules

Street smart people loathe structures and rules. They feel trapped in a structured environment. They’re rebels who want to do things their way.

Book smart people feel safe in a structured environment. They need rules to thrive.

8. Speed of learning

Experience may be the best teacher, but it’s also the slowest. Street smart people are slow learners because they rely entirely on their experience.

Book smart people are fast learners. They know they can’t have all the experience to learn all that they need to learn. They shorten their learning curves by learning from the experiences of others.

9. Abstract thinking

Street smart people tend to be limited in their thinking. While they can think enough to solve everyday problems, they struggle with abstract or conceptual thinking.

Abstract thinking is a forte of book-smart people. They’re deep thinkers and like playing around with concepts and ideas. They can articulate the inarticulable.

10. Scientific temper

Street smart people tend to have less regard for science and expertise. They tend to over-rely on their own experience.

Book smart people tend to respect science. Since they have expertise themselves, they can appreciate other people’s expertise.

11. Improvisation

Street smart people know how to think on their feet and improvise. They have high situational awareness and can devise creative solutions to problems.

Book smart people tend to lack improvisation skills. If something goes against what they’ve learned from others, they find it hard to deal with.

12. Bigger picture

Street smart people are tactical and focused on the details. They tend to miss the bigger picture. Book smart people are strategic, reflective and always have the bigger picture in mind.

You need both

Having gone through the above list, you may have realized that both learning styles have their pros and cons. You need both street and book smartness to be an effective problem-solver.

It’s rare to find people with a good balance of book and street smartness. You often see people at the extremes: Book smart people who keep gaining knowledge without implementation. And street-smart people who repeat the same actions without making progress.

You want to be both book and street-smart. Book smart so you can adopt a scientific mindset, focus on the bigger picture, be strategic and learn fast. Street smart so you can be a fierce executor.

If you forced me to choose one, I’d lean slightly more toward being book smart. And I have good reasons for that.

Why I think book smartness is slightly better

If you ask people which type of smartness is better, most of them will say street smartness. I think that stems from the fact that book smartness is easier to acquire than street smartness.

While it’s true, I’ve realized that people grossly underestimate the importance of knowledge. They underestimate how much they need to know and the depth of knowledge they need to solve complex problems.

Today, we live in a knowledge economy where knowledge is the most valuable resource.

Book smartness helps you learn fast. The faster you learn, the quicker you can solve problems- especially the complex problems of the modern world.

Not only do book-smart people learn faster, but they also learn more. A book is nothing but a person’s collection of their experiences and what they’ve learned from others’ experiences.

Street smart = Own experiences

Book smart = Others’ experiences [Their experiences + (What they’ve learned from others’ experiences/books)]

Book smart = Street smartness of others + Their book smartness

This is what makes learning via book smartness exponential. Humans have thrived because they found a way to crystallize knowledge in books/poetry and transfer it to the next generation.

Thanks to this knowledge transfer, the next generation didn’t have to make the same mistakes as the previous generation.

“One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time.” – Carl Sagan

It’s great to learn from your own mistakes, but it’s much better to learn from others’ mistakes. You don’t live long enough to make all the mistakes you need to make, and some mistakes can be too costly.

Do you want to be the guy who learns that a plant is poisonous by eating and dying? Or would you rather that someone else did it? You learn not to eat that plant by learning from the experience of a noble soul who sacrificed themselves for humanity.

When people accomplish great things in life, what do they do? Do they write books, or do they tell others:

“Hey, I’ve achieved great things, but I won’t document what I’ve learned. You go learn on your own. Good luck!”

Anything- literally anything, is teachable. Even street smartness. I just did a quick search on Amazon, and there’s a book there on street smartness for entrepreneurs.

While it may seem ironic at first glance, you can learn street smartness via book smartness, but you can’t learn book smartness via street smartness.

Many street-smart people don’t pick up a book because they think they know everything. If they did, they’d become invincible. 

Take the street vs book smart quiz to check your level of street vs book smartness.

Hi, I’m Hanan Parvez (MA Psychology). I’ve published over 500 articles and authored one book. My work has been featured in Forbes , Business Insider , Reader’s Digest , and Entrepreneur .

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Book smarts vs. street smarts.

In a series of posts, called readers choice , I write on whatever topics readers submit.

[ Note : Polarizing questions are silly since rarely in life do you have to have truly binary choices. Both is often an option. But they are fun: so please assume someone took my lunch and refused to give it back until I picked a side. Also see: The false dichotomy of false dichotomies ]

There is no doubt in my mind street smarts kicks book smarts ass . To be street smart means you have situational awareness . You can assess the environment you are in, who is in it, and what the available angles are. Being on the street, or in the trenches, or whatever low to the ground metaphor you prefer, requires you learn to trust your own judgment about people and what matters. This skill, regardless of where you develop it, is of great value everywhere in life regardless of how far from the streets you are.

Most important perhaps, being street smart comes from experience. It means you’ve learned how to take what has happened to you, good or bad, think about it, and learn to improve from it. The prime distinction between street smarts and book smarts is who is at the center of the knowledge. On the street, it’s you. In a book it’s you trying to absorb someone elses take on the world, and however amazing the writer is, you are at best one degree removed from the actual experience. Street smarts means you’ve put yourself at risk and survived. Or thrived. Or have scars. You’ve been tested and have a bank of courage to depend on when you are tested again. Being street smart can lead to book smarts as the street smart sense what works and what doesn’t, and adapt accordingly.

Book smarts, as I’ve framed it, means someone who is good at following the rules. These are people who get straight A’s, sit in the front, and perhaps enjoy crossword puzzles. They like things that have singular right answers. They like to believe the volume, and precision, of their knowledge can somehow compensate for their lack of experience applying it in the real world. Thinking about things has value, but imagining how you will handle a tough situation is a world away from actually being in one (As Tyler Durden says in Fight Club – “How much can you know about yourself if you’ve never been in a fight?”).

Like the stereotypical ROTC idiot in war movies (e.g. The Thin Red Line, Aliens 2) who outranks the much more competent and experienced, but less well pedigreed sergeant, the book smart confuse pretense with reality, and only learn of the difference when it is too late. Or worse, even after the fact, they insist on seeking out more books and degrees rather than recognizing they are trying to improve the wrong skills: they are half blind by their own choice since they insist on looking at the world with only one eye.

I say all this as someone who has a deep love for books, and who has some degree of what might be called book smarts. But it’s that knowledge, used in service of street smarts, that best explains whatever I’ve achieved in life.

136 Responses to “Book smarts vs. Street smarts”

I think street smart is better than book smart because if you don’t have experience then how would you know what to do and when to do it. I also think this article is awesome because it helps me understand more about being street smart.

I think booksmart people could be dangerous, given enough time. Like who developed Nuclear weapons? Or who is out there operating Drones doing attacks in Syria while sitting at a computer in Iowa or those new robot soldiers?

You forget the part where the book smart people are usually scientists who works for the masterminds – the street smart people.

Thanks for this great article! A good definition between Street Smarts and Book Smarts. I just wrote a post about building street reputation and I listed there pros about having Street Smarts, so I was thinking if it would be okay for you if I link this article to that post? I would like to show my readers this article:)

I don’t think book smart is that better coz without u having the talent of being in the street you won’t be able to know what to do and when to do it

Dope article. So true

I faced life upstate when I was 18. In my gang, I did the shit nobody wanted to do. I enjoyed this article because it compliments my level of intelligence. Street smarts are priceless and valuable. Book smarts are a dime a dozen.

People who claim to be street smart are dumb people in denial who love to bring down book smart people. You need a little bit of both to have a good life lol

Ten, I think people who face a lot of adversity in life have valuable real-life experience to bring to the table and that is the point in this article I believe. I don’t know how you can call that dumb people in denial. It gets frustrating to be told about life from people that have barely scratched the surface, but they’ve read statistics in a book so they know… no they don’t. They are completely disconnected with no skin in the game. I agree you need both, but one is valued in society more than the other. Street smart is the underdog of intelligence because people are uncomfortable facing the life you had to live through to gain it.

Book smart people are only reading and learning from the stories created by street smart people

Both are equal in my opinion. The street smart people are those that live it. But when the street smart people get into a jam, or trouble they have to face the book smart people. Drs. Judges. Lawyers for help. When you have a person who has both that’s a plus!!

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Do you think the key to ⁣success lies within the⁤ pages of ‍a book, or in the lessons learned on the streets? Both “book smart”⁢ and “street⁢ smart” individuals⁣ possess valuable knowledge‍ and skills that can ⁢lead to success in their own ⁢right. Within⁢ this article, we will explore the differences between​ being book smart and street smart, ‌and how combining both ⁣can lead to a holistic⁤ approach to success. So, ‌if you’ve⁤ ever questioned⁣ whether it’s better to​ be‌ book ‍smart⁣ or ⁣street smart, get ready to be⁣ inspired by⁤ the power of embracing both.

Table of Contents

• The Power of Book Smart and Street Smart
• The Intersection ​of ​Knowledge‌ and Experience
• How ⁣to Cultivate Both‌ Book Smart and Street Smart Skills
• Maximizing Potential ⁣through ‍a Balance of Book Smart and Street ⁤Smart
• Unleashing Success with a Blend of Book Smart and Street Smart Mindset
• The⁢ Way⁤ Forward

The Power of ​Book Smart⁢ and Street⁤ Smart

What does‍ it​ mean to ‌be‍ book smart and street⁢ smart? The ​term “book ⁤smart” typically⁤ refers to someone who ⁣excels in an academic or intellectual setting, while‍ “street smart” ⁤refers to someone who is savvy and able to navigate ‍real-world situations⁤ with practical knowledge and wisdom. These two qualities are often seen as opposites, but ⁣in reality, the combination of book ⁣smarts and street smarts can‌ be a ‍powerful‌ force.

Being book‌ smart ⁢means having ‍a strong foundation of knowledge and ⁣theory, often gained through ⁣formal education or⁣ extensive reading. This type ‌of intelligence‍ is valuable in a variety of settings, from the⁣ classroom to the workplace. ​On the other hand, being street⁤ smart means having the​ ability to think⁤ on your feet,⁤ make quick‌ decisions, and adapt to new ‌and unexpected situations. This type ​of intelligence​ is essential for navigating ⁣the‌ complexities of everyday life ​and interpersonal relationships.

The Intersection of Knowledge and ​Experience

What happens ⁢when‍ knowledge and experience ⁤converge? It creates ⁤the perfect blend of book smarts‌ and ‍street​ smarts. Book smarts are gained ⁤from formal⁤ education, while⁢ street smarts ‍are gained ⁢from real-life experiences.‌ Both are ⁣valuable in their own right, but when​ combined,‌ they can ⁤lead ⁢to unparalleled success.

Those who are book ‍smart often‍ excel in ​academic⁢ settings, absorbing vast amounts of information and mastering complex theories. ⁢On the other hand, those who are street⁤ smart ​have a⁢ practical understanding ⁣of how things‌ work in the real world. ‌When ⁢these two⁣ qualities intersect, individuals can⁤ leverage their education to navigate real-world ‌challenges with confidence‍ and ‌adaptability. This intersection⁢ fosters a well-rounded perspective that is⁤ essential⁣ for ​professional and ⁢personal ​growth.

How⁢ to Cultivate Both Book Smart⁤ and⁤ Street Smart ​Skills

Developing both book smart and street‌ smart skills is essential for success‌ in⁤ all areas of life. While book smart​ skills ⁢are learned through traditional education ⁤and academic pursuits, street smart skills are gained through ⁣ real-world experiences and practical knowledge. Cultivating a ⁣balance of⁤ both types ‍of intelligence can​ lead to a well-rounded​ and adaptable individual.

So, how ⁣can one cultivate both book smart ​and⁢ street smart skills? Here ‌are some tips ​to help you ‍develop a harmonious blend of academic knowledge and practical wisdom:

• Expand Your Knowledge ​Base: ​ Take the ⁣time ‍to‌ read and learn about ‌a variety of subjects that interest you. ‍Engage with different viewpoints​ and theories to broaden your understanding of the⁣ world.
• Seek Real-World Experiences: Put yourself in ⁢new and challenging situations that force you ‌to ‍think on your feet and problem-solve. ‌This ⁣could include⁣ travel,⁢ volunteering, or taking on new ‌hobbies.
• Embrace Failure: Understand ​that making mistakes ⁣is a natural ‌part ​of the learning process. ‌Use these experiences as ⁢opportunities for‍ growth and development.

Maximizing Potential through⁢ a ⁣Balance of‍ Book⁢ Smart and Street Smart

At ⁢the heart of personal and professional⁢ success lies the balance between‌ being ⁣book ​smart and street smart. While book smarts are ⁢acquired through formal⁣ education ⁣and⁣ theoretical knowledge, street smarts are‍ gained through real-world ⁣experience and​ practical skills. Both are valuable ‌in their own right, but⁢ when combined, they can elevate ⁣an individual’s ⁣potential and ‍open up a world ​of opportunities.

Maximizing your potential through a balance⁣ of ​book smart and street smart requires:

• Embracing the value of education while also seeking out hands-on experiences
• Understanding the importance⁢ of theory and application in real-life ⁤situations
• Embracing a ⁣growth mindset and ⁢continuously seeking self-improvement
• Being adaptable ⁤and ⁤open‌ to learning from both traditional sources and unconventional sources
• Utilizing both analytical thinking and problem-solving skills‍ to navigate complex‍ challenges

Unleashing Success⁤ with​ a Blend ⁤of Book Smart and Street Smart Mindset

What does it take to unleash success in today’s competitive world? Is it purely academic prowess, or does it also require‌ a savvy understanding of‍ real-world ⁢challenges and opportunities?‍ The ‌answer lies in​ achieving a ⁤balance between‌ being book⁤ smart and street smart.​ Book smarts can provide valuable knowledge ​and expertise, while street smarts offer the ability to navigate complex, ever-changing‌ situations. By blending these two mindsets, individuals can‌ position themselves for ⁢success ⁣in both their⁣ personal and professional lives.

Book smart individuals excel in academic settings, with⁢ a ‌deep understanding of theoretical⁤ concepts and a strong foundation of knowledge ⁤in their chosen field. They thrive ‌in structured learning ​environments and ⁤are adept‌ at analyzing and synthesizing information. ⁤On the other hand, street ⁣smart ⁢individuals possess​ a ⁢keen awareness‌ of their surroundings, are quick to ​adapt ⁢to ‍new‍ situations, ‍and excel ⁤in problem-solving. They ‍have a⁢ high emotional intelligence and are adept at reading social cues ‌and understanding ⁣human behavior. ⁣When these two mindsets are combined, ⁢individuals can leverage their academic⁢ knowledge while also navigating ​real-world challenges ⁢with finesse.

Q: What does it mean‍ to be ‍”book smart”? A: Being⁣ “book smart” ‍refers to⁢ having a⁣ strong academic knowledge‍ and understanding ⁣information from academic sources ‌like books, lectures,‌ and classrooms.

Q: What does ⁢it mean to ⁢be​ “street smart”? A: “Street smart”​ refers to⁢ having ⁤practical, non-academic knowledge‌ and ‍being able to‌ navigate real-world situations effectively.

Q: Can you be both ⁣”book smart” and “street ⁤smart”? A: Absolutely! ‍Having a balance of both types⁣ of intelligence can be incredibly‌ beneficial in ⁤all aspects‍ of life.

Q: ⁢How can ⁢being⁢ “book smart” help ‌in life? A: Being ⁣book smart can help you‍ excel in academic and professional​ settings, ⁤equipping you with knowledge and‍ critical thinking skills.

Q: How can ⁢being “street smart” help in life? A: Being ⁣street smart can help you navigate everyday challenges, make sound⁢ decisions, and adapt to unpredictable situations.

Q: Why ‍is⁢ it important to nurture both types⁣ of intelligence? A: ‍Cultivating both‌ “book smart”‌ and ⁣”street⁢ smart” skills creates a‍ well-rounded individual​ who can thrive⁣ in various environments.

Q: ⁤What are‍ some​ ways to develop and balance both types ⁣of intelligence? A: ‌Engage ‍in lifelong learning, ⁣seek out real-world experiences,⁤ and remain open-minded to new perspectives and ideas.

Q: How can​ being both⁣ “book smart” and “street smart” contribute to personal growth and success? A: Balancing both types of intelligence ⁢can lead to increased adaptability, problem-solving abilities ,⁣ and ‌a⁢ more holistic understanding⁤ of the‍ world around us.

The Way Forward

In‌ the‌ end, whether you’re book smart, street smart, or a combination ⁣of both, what⁣ truly matters is‍ your willingness to learn ⁤and adapt. Education comes in⁤ many forms and⁤ is ⁣not limited ⁣to the walls of a classroom. So, embrace⁢ your unique ⁣blend​ of knowledge and experience. ⁢Let it guide you, empower you,⁢ and help⁣ you navigate ​the complexities‍ of life. After⁢ all, the‍ world needs individuals who ​are both well-read‌ and ‍street-savvy. Keep seeking ​knowledge, keep acquiring⁤ wisdom, and never stop growing. The world is yours ‍for the taking.

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Battle of the Brains: Street Smarts Vs. Book Smarts 

The battle of the brains is a debate that’s been going on for years, and it’s not likely to stop anytime soon.

Street smarts vs. book smarts – which side has the most advantage? 

Pop quizzes? Final exams? Aptitude tests? Book smarts can ace them all while half-asleep.

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When two strong competitors fight against one another, it is a battle of two brains. In this case, it is a war between street smarts and book smarts.

Who wields more power?

Book smarts speak better, but they have less to say. Street smarts are more talented, and they do not need to study things out of a book. Borrowing ideas from other people is their skill.

But the question is, which of these two smarts have the bigger advantage? Who is more likely to make it through life’s pitfalls and hurdles? 

Read on to find out who trumps over the other—the brainiacs or the know-hows.

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The Brainiacs: Who are Book Smarts?

They’re the top-placers in an exam, the scholars with an outstanding degree, and the intelligent person who is most likely to win in a trivia game. 

By definition, book smarts are those who have flourished in an academic environment. If you identify as such, you’re the type who thrives in learning environments. You love lectures and have no problem reading textbooks from cover to cover.

The main advantage of book smarts is that you’re a sponge when it comes to information. That means it’s easy for you to understand concepts and fill in the blanks of test papers. This skill gives you an edge when it comes to achieving graduate degrees, acing college applications, and creating a handsome résumé. 

The Know-Hows: Who are the Street Smarts?

Street smarts may not always have straight A’s. But you can count on their first-hand experience to get things done. 

Even though you weren’t a born genius, you’ve managed to gain insight from being in the real world. In fact, you don’t need to have a Ph.D.—you can rely on your gut instinct and skills in situational awareness . 

Can’t Have It All: Weaknesses of Street Smarts vs. Books Smarts

Here are some of the weaknesses that street smarts and book smarts experience:

Of course, not all of them are always true. 

Who’s the better genius? Street Smarts Vs. Book Smarts

Author and speaker Scott Berkun believes that street smarts have always had the upper hand. He says that street smarts are survivors—they’ve been to the heart of the battle and came out alive. 

“You’ve been tested and have a bank of courage to depend on when you are tested again.”

Berkun also adds that street smarts don’t need other people to show them the road. They pave their path towards success. That initiative awarded them with a great experience.

Even Ashley Fern echoes the same sentiment. Fern shares that she knows a lot of people who went to school. But those people aren’t precisely Einsteins and Edisons when it comes to the actual job.

“A college degree may help to open the door to a better job, but street smarts are what allow you to succeed once you walk through that door.”

To her, having the skills of a street smart is more significant. They can think logically, adapt to their surroundings, and work well in socialization.

For most people, street smarts certainly have the edge. Indeed, your expertise is not tested by how well you memorize information. It’s measured by your ability to roll with the punches of life outside the book. 

Who are well-known Street Smarts?

Are you still unconvinced that street smarts are the big dogs? Well, these people might prove you just that. Here are some street smarts whose names are now star-studded with success:

The Face of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg 

Even though Zuckerberg didn’t finish his degree immediately, he was a tremendously skilled engineer. But as a street smart, he had an instinct that what he had in his hands was an opportunity. Zuckerberg grabbed that chance and capitalized on his discovery.

A Record of Success: Richard Branson

Richard Branson ’s headmaster in school once told him that there were two ways he could end up: in prison or as a millionaire.

In 1972, he co-founded the British record label called Virgin Records. This became the home of various famous artists and performers. Later on, he would open numerous Virgin Records stores that would soon be known as Virgin Megastores.

But his entrepreneurial gift didn’t end there. In 1980, he started a British Airline called Virgin Atlantic Airways . His success in these businesses has now made Branson a multi-millionaire.

The Dream That Worked: David Geffen 

Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda are movies that wouldn’t be possible without David Geffen .

Geffen’s school performance wasn’t good enough for Brooklyn College and the University of Texas. Just like Branson, his school difficulties were due to his dyslexia. 

He later founded DCG Records, Geffen Records, Asylum Records, and Dreamworks Studios . Today, he has a net worth of 9.7 billion US dollars. It seems that flunking school wasn’t such a bad thing after all!

How to become street smart

If you’re book smart, then it must be driving you crazy to see everyone on the street smart’s side. But don’t worry. The good news is, being street smart is something that you can learn.

1. Don’t stay in your comfort zone.

2. be present..

Be aware of the things going on in your surroundings. When you are present, you become more in touch with your instincts. Not only does this make you safer, but it will also allow you to soak up more information about your environment.

3. Find ways to gain experience.

The only way to master your craft is to practice what you know. Be an active learner . That means getting your nose out of the book and getting to the actual work!

4. Grow your circle.

Don’t shy away from conversations with people of different backgrounds. Being open to opinions and new perspectives can improve your critical thinking. Get as much insight and advice from them so you can enrich your point of view. 

5. Be disciplined.

You’re going to encounter a lot of hurdles and challenges as you go about life. But when you’re knocked down, you should always get back up. Focus on your goal and keep working hard.

Born Entrepreneurs: Are Street Smarts Better in Business?

You might have noticed that the wealthiest businessmen and the most successful entrepreneurs are street smarts. But if you think that only street smarts can win the entrepreneurial game, you’re only half right.

For Tim W. Knox , being book smart or street smart isn’t the determiner or the key to success. 

He says that it doesn’t matter if you have years of experience. Nor does is it essential if you have a high level of education. What truly measures you as an entrepreneur is your achievements.

And so the question stands: Who can do better in business?

According to Knox, having both education and experience under your belt can boost your chances of success. But, if you only have one of the two, or none at all, you can still make it as an entrepreneur.

So how does one get to the top? The answer lies in your hands. 

You may possess tools such as money, experience, education, connections, or luck. But it’s how you use these tools that will give you the advantage.

Recommended Reading:

The best of both worlds: Becoming a Book Smart and a Street Smart

It’s time to throw in the white towel. 

Having years of practice gives you wisdom and strength. But without studying the technical aspects of your work, you can be lost. 

How about you? Are you more of a street smart or a book smart? Share your thoughts in the comments down below!

Disclaimer:

Book Smart Vs Street Smart: The Two Important Aspects Of Smartness

 / 

When it comes to smartness, it can be divided down into two broad categories. One is book smart whereas the other is street smart. Book Smart Vs Street Smart : which smart are you?

Book smarts refer to the education , schooling and other kinds of knowledge that one has acquired . It solely is a theoretical understanding of facts or ideas.

Whereas, street smarts refers to the experiential knowledge on things. While which one is more helpful can be a matter of debate and also depends on the context, it is generally seen that street smarts weigh more on the scale when it comes to making one’s way to success.

We all go to school and college for education and to increase our prospects of getting a job. There are some who excel in academics and land up with a job that pays well. But book smarts can only get you as far. A practical and rational understanding of your situation is what you need to push yourself forward.

Read 12 Counterintuitive Traits Of Genuinely Smart People

Street smarts rely more on intuition in order to plan their next move. According to them, their real-life experiences are their primary sources of knowledge.

They never hold on to what is written in a book as something sacred and to be followed. The main distinction between the two is the difference between the sources of their knowledge. Book smarts derive their knowledge from theories and books and street smarts from experiences.

Relying on theoretical knowledge all the time can lead up to disastrous consequences because a little pragmatism is always necessary to analyze your current situation and determine what you are going to do next. An ability to do math can help you through a test but it becomes redundant when it comes to getting yourself out of an unfortunate situation.

It is also a myth that you need to excel in school in order to earn a lot. Neither Steve Jobs nor Mark Zuckerberg had college degrees and yet they were billionaires.

What you rather need is the courage to take risks and survive accordingly. You need to understand that when you are reading a book you’re having a look at someone else’s perspective. It doesn’t matter how intelligent the writer himself/herself is as we all are different people in different situations. Someone else’s approach to life might not necessarily work in ours.

Book smarts are people who are more adept at following rules than leading. They can store information, rote formulas and can work hard when given a definite objective.

There are incapable of making quick decisions based on foresight and instinct. The more you are informed about your surroundings the less exposed you shall be dangers and the risk of failures.

The ability to read into other people’s natures can help you make the right impression in your workplace and moreover, there can be no replacement for hard-earned experiences as you can truly learn about things by failing and then trying to understand where you went wrong and avoiding such mistakes in the future.

Read 4 Reasons Why People Who Love To Write Are Smarter Explains Science

But it would indeed be wrong to dismiss book smarts as something entirely useless. It must be understood that both of them are complementary to one another and require to exist in the right proportion in order to reach success.

The ideal scenario would be where you are conscious of your own situation and at the same time utilizing what you learn theoretically to improve your decision-making power.

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Dreams about your spouse cheating on you are more common than you might think, and they often point to deeper and more complicated issues. Today we are going to talk about the some of the most surprising meanings behind these unsettling dreams, and try to find out what they might be trying to tell you about your waking life.

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Adventures do not always have to be globe-trotting escapades. If you’re more of a homebody, tied down by work, or just not in the mood to splurge on a big trip, that’s perfectly okay! Instead, you can try microadventures.

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Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts: The Figured World of Smartness in the Lives of Marginalized, Urban Youth

• Published: 03 March 2007
• Volume 39 , pages 145–166, ( 2007 )

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How smartness is defined within schools contributes to low academic achievement by poor and racial/ethnic minority students. Using Holland et al.’s ( 1998 ) [Holland, D., Lachicotte, W., Skinner, D., & Cain, C. (Eds.) (1998). Identity and agency in cultural worlds . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.] concept of “figured worlds,” this paper explores the “figuring” of smartness through the perspectives of marginalized youth. The youth made key distinctions between being book smart vs. street smart. This distinction is a direct challenge by the youth to the dominant discourse of smartness or “book smarts” as it operates in schools. To the youth, “street smarts” are more important because they are connected to being able to maneuver through structures in their lives such as poverty, the police, street culture, and abusive “others.” This distinction is key because street smarts stress agency in countering social structures whereas, for many of the youth, book smarts represented those structures, such as receiving a high school diploma. Implications for schools and pedagogy are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Nuusa Faamoe and all of the youth for allowing me to come into the classroom and learn from their perspectives and stories. George Noblit, Bryan Brayboy, and the anonymous reviewers provided insightful comments and/or feedback, which I appreciate very much.

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B.A. earned from Indiana University – Bloomington, Masters and Ph.D. earned from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Beth Hatt Fis an Assistant Professor of Educational Administration and Foundations at Illinois State University where she teaches research methods and social foundations of education. Her current research explores smartness as a cultural construct in schools and the media.

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Hatt, B. Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts: The Figured World of Smartness in the Lives of Marginalized, Urban Youth. Urban Rev 39 , 145–166 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11256-007-0047-9

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7 Ways Being Street Smart Is Different from Being Book Smart

• Post author: Valerie Soleil, B.A., LL.B.
• Post published: March 6, 2018
• Reading time: 5 mins read
• Post category: Personality

There are two distinctly different sides to the discussion of which kind of education is better. There are those who believe in being street smart and those that believe in being book smart.

Before we look at the ways being street smart is different (and in many ways more beneficial) than being book smart, we will look at the definition of each.

Education and learning how to live our lives in a meaningful and good way is important to most of us. Interestingly though, everyone has their own take on what kind of education is best.

Some people will swear by their local or national school system.  They will talk about the benefits of higher learning at college and university. However, other people, while not being completely dismissive about formal education, will swear they have learned more out in the big bad, real-world than they ever learned from a book or a classroom.

What Is Street Smart?

Street Smart is an alternative form of ‘streetwise’. This word is succinctly defined as being the knowledge and experience required to handle dangers and potential difficulties in life in an urban setting.

What Is Book Smart?

Book smart is defined as having knowledge obtained from study and books; bookish and scholarly. This word is often used to imply someone lacks understanding of the world or common sense.

Being Street Smart Means You Have Situational Awareness

One of the major differences between the two and ultimately why street smarts are in many ways more helpful than book smarts is that being street smarts gives you situational awareness. It means that it enables you to observe and evaluate the situation or environment you are in. It also gives you a better idea of the people you are with and the possibilities around you.

Being Street Smart Means You Learn How to Trust Your Own Judgement

Most of the time, you are navigating the world and are out of a schooling or education environment . This means that you are trying to fend for yourself. If you want to survive for a decent amount of time, you need to learn how to judge situations and people.

Being Street Smart Puts You at the Centre of the Knowledge

Another huge distinction between book smarts and street smarts is who is in the middle of the knowledge . It is great to read a book and learn about a particular subject, viewpoint or opinion. You are essentially studying what someone else has discovered.

When you are street smart though, you are at the centre of the knowledge. The knowledge you have learned is based on your OWN experience, not someone else’s.

It can be helpful to learn about dangers before you experience them because you save yourself from anguish, hurt and even injury. However, if you actually go through something and experience it and gain street smarts from it, it can often make you a stronger and better-developed person .

Being Street Smart Comes from Experience

Experience is the mother of wisdom and experience without learning is more beneficial than learning with no experience.

If you are book smart, it is all very well to say you know what it is like to work in a particular industry. You will also probably know what it is like to live in a certain part of the world.

But until you actually go out and experience either of these examples or anything in life, you can’t really say you are smart about that particular scenario or subject.

Being Street Smart Can Prepare You for Disaster

It would be foolhardy to say that being book smart isn’t a good thing. But there is a lot to say about the value of being street smart. When you are street smart, you are able to discern when a situation is going south or when a situation is fine and safe. Again, the experience word here is crucial.

Book smarts mean you are very good at knowing stuff, retaining things, remembering things. Being street smart though helps you develop tools to deal with whatever life throws at you.

It teaches you to trust your initiative and instinct and can help you prepare for disaster. Being book smart means you might realise that a disaster is about to happen. You might also understand what exactly you should do to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Whereas, street smarts gives you the tools and mental capacity to work out solutions in a more natural way when faced with disaster.

As you can see, being book smart and being street smart are two completely different sets of skills and knowledge .

However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be used in conjunction with one another. It makes sense that someone who is both book smart and street smart is better equipped for life and its many trials and achieving in life, than someone who is one or the other.

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Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts: The Figured World of Smartness in the Lives of Marginalized, Urban Youth

The Urban Review

How smartness is defined within schools contributes to low academic achievement by poor and racial/ethnic minority students. Using Holland et al.
s (1998) [Holland, D., Lachicotte, W., Skinner, D., & Cain, C. (Eds.) (1998). Identity and agency in cultural worlds. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.] concept of ‘‘figured worlds,’’ this paper explores the ‘‘figuring’’ of smartness through the perspectives of marginalized youth. The youth made key distinctions between being book smart vs. street smart. This distinction is a direct challenge by the youth to the dominant discourse of smartness or ‘‘book smarts’’ as it operates in schools. To the youth, ‘‘street smarts’’ are more important because they are connected to being able to maneuver through structures in their lives such as poverty, the police, street culture, and abusive ‘‘others.’’ This distinction is key because street smarts stress agency in countering social structures whereas, for many of the youth, book smarts represented those structures, such as receiving a high school diploma. Implications for schools and pedagogy are discussed.

Related Papers

This study explores smartness as a cultural construct rather than a biological capacity. The cultural construction of smartness has broad consequences related to teacher expectations, student academic identity development, and schooling inequities. This study is based on a 1-year ethnography in a kindergarten classroom, and the author investigates smartness by first historicizing the concept of intelligence and then using the theoretical framework of figured worlds. Through the teachers’ disciplinary and pedagogical practices, students were taught and learned not just whether they were smart themselves, but how other student identities were constructed according to smartness as well. Analysis suggests smartness was used as a mechanism of control and social positioning along racial and class lines. Implications are discussed related to schooling practices and policy.

Beth C . Rubin

This dissertation uses both critical race theory and Afrocentricity to examine Black male students’ understanding of what it means to be “smart.” Through the use of individual interviews, focus groups and class observations, the researcher interviewed and observed a total of 14 10th-grade Black males over the course of 4 months. Five research questions guided this work: (1) How do Black males understand what it means to be smart? (2) How do Black males’ views and assessment of their own intelligence affect their engagement in the classroom? (3) How do Black males understand what it means to “act white or “act Black”? (4) What impact, if any, do their understandings of “acting white” and “acting Black” have on their academic performance? (5) How do Black males understand the stereotypes associated with Black males? The students’ discussion of what it means to be smart suggests that the need exists for ongoing conversations about how whiteness and negative stereotypes about Black male...

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Race Ethnicity and Education

Derrick R Brooms

Drawing upon resilience and educational urgency, this longitudinal study explores the narratives of 20 college-aged Black males as they make sense of their secondary school experiences at Marcus Garvey Academy (pseudonym), an all-boys public school in a large urban city in the U.S. In paying particular attention to some of the challenges they faced, findings indicate that a complex set of personal, family, peer, and school factors affect these students' lives during their secondary school years. In their efforts to overcome these difficulties, students scripted resistance into their self-concept, identified ways that they benefitted from a supportive schooling environment, and translated some of their self-learning into educational urgency. These students' experiences and meaning making serve as a critical counternarrative to how they are stereotyped and limited by deficit framing and lowered expectations and speak powerfully to ways to better theorize, understand, and appreciate Black males' schooling experiences, resistance efforts, and aspirations.

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Recent studies show many college instructors still believe that Latino students lack the “school smarts” for academic success. This essay challenges the notion of “school smarts” in order to highlight Latino students’ numerous strengths. I share my model for a mentorship program that facilitates better student-faculty communication and deepens a student-centered learning environment in a large general education course. Establishing the program led me to reflect on how the enduring belief in “school smarts” affected my own academic training. Directly challenging deficit thinking, I argue that Latino students contribute to a transformative educational process in which faculty are also learners.

Eric Ruiz Bybee

This article explores the way that discourses of smartness and whiteness are produced and reproduced in schooling. Using an approach grounded in narrative research, I explore the convergences and contradictions between my own educational autobiography and the representations of schooling found in my school pictures and yearbooks. In my analysis, I argue that white supremacy played an important role in the construction of my own story of smartness throughout my primary and secondary schooling experiences. I also argue that yearbooks form powerful " artifacts of smartness " (Hatt, 2011, p. 448) that can be used to interpret and interrogate personal experiences as well as larger societal discourses of smartness and whiteness in schooling.

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Journal of Research in Reading

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Conventional wisdom holds that American teenagers do not read or write – that they are a media-driven group who prefer movies, television and playing video games. Ethnographic data gathered in the High School Literacy Project, a study of four North Carolina high schools, showed a far different picture of teenage literacy. This paper reports on partial findings of the larger study and argues that students use their literacy practices to form their identities within, and sometimes in opposition to, the figured worlds of school, work and family. Many students look to school to provide formal literacy experiences, but find their reading and writing passions at odds with the demands of the school curriculum.

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Street smarts vs. academic intelligence. essay.

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” – Albert Einstein.

The Difference between Smart and Intelligent

Intelligence is a multifaceted attribute that extends beyond the confines of academic achievement, encompassing both scholarly pursuits and real-world savvy. This article delves into the distinctions and synergies between academic intelligence and street smarts, highlighting how both play pivotal roles in navigating life’s challenges effectively.

Academic Intelligence: Definition and Implications

Academic intelligence, often referred to as book smarts, involves a deep understanding of theoretical concepts typically acquired through formal education. This type of intelligence is characterized by:

• Strong Analytical Skills : Academic intelligence equips individuals with the ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information, making them proficient in solving complex problems within structured environments.
• Success in Educational Settings : Those with high academic intelligence often excel in tests, exams, and classroom settings where specific knowledge and retention are valued.
• Theoretical Application : The primary focus is on abstract reasoning and the application of theoretical knowledge, which may not always translate seamlessly into practical execution.

While academic smarts are invaluable for scholarly and professional achievements, they primarily assess one’s ability to learn and apply information within academic parameters.

Street Smarts: Practical Intelligence in Action

In contrast to academic intelligence, street smarts—or practical intelligence—refer to the ability to handle everyday situations with adeptness and tact. This form of intelligence is gained through real-life experiences rather than formal education. Key aspects include:

• Problem-Solving in Real-Time : Street-smart individuals excel in thinking on their feet and solving real-world problems, often using intuition and observational skills.
• Social Navigation : They are adept at reading social cues and interacting effectively with diverse groups of people, often in challenging environments.
• Resourcefulness : Street smarts involve a high degree of adaptability and resourcefulness, enabling individuals to find quick solutions in stressful situations.

Practical intelligence is crucial for personal safety, social interactions, and success in non-academic careers, where theoretical knowledge may fall short.

Integrating Academic and Street Smarts for Comprehensive Intelligence

The most successful individuals often find ways to integrate both types of intelligence. For instance, entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates leveraged a combination of their technical knowledge (academic intelligence) and real-world business acumen (street smarts) to build successful enterprises. This blend allows individuals to not only excel in structured environments but also to adapt and thrive in variable real-world conditions.

Career Implications and Salary Considerations

Understanding the balance between academic and street smarts can also guide career choices and development. For example:

• Behavioral Psychology Jobs : These roles often require a mix of academic knowledge and practical application skills to effectively change behavior patterns in real-life settings.
• Business Psychology Salary : Professionals in business psychology must blend their understanding of human behavior (academic) with practical strategies to enhance workplace productivity and employee satisfaction.
• Counseling Psychology Jobs : Counselors need strong academic backgrounds in psychology alongside the ability to apply these concepts practically to assist clients in overcoming personal challenges.

Smart vs Intelligent

Overall, it would be a mistake to claim that book smarts or street smarts are not good. Both types of intelligence are equally significant and complementary to one another. Street smarts deal well with real-life situations while academic intelligence is essential at least for acquiring a job and breadth of knowledge.  It i s best to cultivate these both types.

Examples Of "Smart" vs "Intelligent"

Movies and books frequently explore the contrast between street smarts and academic intelligence, often showcasing characters who excel in one or skillfully balance both. Here are a few notable examples from both mediums:

“Good Will Hunting” – Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, is a classic example of a character with both street smarts and high academic potential. Despite his troubled background and lack of formal education, Will demonstrates extraordinary mathematical abilities, which he eventually embraces with the help of a therapist.

“Catch Me If You Can” – Frank Abagnale Jr., portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, uses his street smarts to outwit law enforcement while posing as a pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor. His ability to adapt and manipulate situations showcases his practical intelligence.

“The Godfather” – Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, is an example of a character who combines his academic intelligence (having been a college student) with street smarts. His strategic thinking and survival skills help him navigate the complex and dangerous world of organized crime.

“Forrest Gump” – Forrest, played by Tom Hanks, may not be academically inclined, but his street smarts allow him to navigate various social and business situations effectively, leading him to a series of extraordinary life adventures.

“Sherlock Holmes” series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes is highly analytical and academically intelligent, yet he frequently employs street smarts in the form of disguises and a deep understanding of human behavior to solve mysteries.

“Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens – The Artful Dodger is a prime example of a character who relies heavily on street smarts. As a pickpocket in London’s underworld, he uses his wits and survival skills to navigate through life.

“The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger – Holden Caulfield uses street smarts to manage life in New York City after leaving his prep school. His observations and experiences highlight his skepticism of formal education versus real-world experiences.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee – Atticus Finch demonstrates a combination of academic intelligence and street smarts. As a lawyer, he uses his legal expertise and understanding of human nature to argue his cases in the racially charged atmosphere of the American South.

These characters and their stories provide rich explorations of how different types of intelligence can define and drive individuals in various situations, often leading to profound personal and communal impacts.

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35 Street Smarts Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Street smarts refers to practical knowledge and skills that are often developed through intuition .

These are the skills that help people effectively navigate schoolyard social situations, solve everyday life problems, and avoid social faux pas.

People with street smarts may be very good at reading social cues , being aware of their social and physical surroundings, and being able to think quickly to resolve situational problems (i.e. think on their feet).

Street smarts is the opposite of book smarts, which is characterized by high levels of theoretical and academic intelligence, but is often accompanied by low levels of practical and situational intelligence.

Street Smarts Examples

• Having ‘ Common Sense ’ – The phrase ‘common sense’ is used to describe the ability to utilize sound judgment and make decisions that are practical and reasonable. People with street smarts identify what is ‘common sense’ in situations.
• Ability to Blend into a Crowd – The capacity to blend into a group setting mean the ability to adjust behaviors so they are in harmony with the people and circumstances that surround an individual. This ensures you don’t stand out like a sore thumb in social situations.
• Constant Awareness of your Surroundings – Staying aware of one’s environment involves taking notice of all that is occurring in the vicinity and being conscious of potential risks or hazards. You may notice that people without street smarts tend to find themselves wandering into hazards that the street smart people saw a mile off!
• Situational Awareness – If you have situational awareness, you have the capacity to recognize the social contexts of what’s going on. People with street smarts often develop this out of necessity: for example, they need to be able to read the situation to avoid stumbling into a street fight.
• Ability to Learn Social Cues Quickly – The ability to read social cues includes the capacity to read subtle signals that can help you learn how to navigate a situation. This might involve reading non-verbal cues and using them to understand who’s the boss, who to approach for help, and so on.
• Willingness to Stand your Ground – Being willing to stand your ground is often required on the streets so people don’t walk all over you. There are times when you need to be assertive. But you also need to know when to step aside to avoid danger. The nuanced ability to know when to do what is an important part of having street smarts.
• Projecting Confidence / Not Showing Weakness – In “the streets”, weakness is quickly identified and exploited. Street smart people are aware of this so they develop the ability to project confidence in social interactions. This is primarily a self-protection mechanism.
• Not Making yourself a Target – Not making yourself a target means taking steps to avoid drawing unwanted attention. A street-smart traveler, for example, is unlikely to flash money around or wear clothing that makes them appear to be wealthy.
• Self-Defense Skills – Street smart people know that there isn’t anyone else around who is going to come to their defense. If you’re street smart, you need to know how to defend yourself because you know it’s the smart thing to do.
• Ability to Read Non-Verbal Communication – Reading non-verbal communication is a part of reading social cues. It means that you’re very good at picking up on the signals sent through body language, facial expressions, gestures, and so on.
• Assertiveness – Assertiveness refers to the ability to express yourself without backing down. Youll express your needs, opinions, and feelings confidently when you know it’s safe to do so.
• Not Being a PushOver – Street smart people need to avoid being manipulated. They know people will try to manipulate them if they get the chance, so they’re highly aware of situations where someone is trying to take advantage of them.
• Working-Class Cultural Competence – An important part of street smarts is working-class cultural capital. If you don’t understand the culture of working-class people, you might walk into an urban environment and cause offense or come across as a fool.
• Minding your Own Business – Street smart people know when not to ask questions. If you put your nose into someone else’s business, you might find yourself in trouble. So, on the streets, people tend to keep to themselves.
• Code Switching – Code-switching is a concept associated with black Americans who have the skill of changing their behavior around white people, teachers, and police to avoid trouble. It refers to the ability to adjust your behavior and language to fit into different social situations.

Additional Examples

• Knowing how to read a map
• Ability to navigate unfamiliar areas
• Identifying potential dangers early on to avoid them
• Knowing what to wear for each situation
• Being able to haggle
• Knowing how to spot a scam
• Knowing how to slip out of tricky situations just in time
• A quick wit
• The ability to think critically in practical situations
• Situational and observational skills
• The ability to improvise to find solutions on the fly
• Budgeting effectively
• Being able to find essential resources such as food and shelter
• Knowing how to maintain your composure in tense situations
• Being able to network
• Strong social skills
• Forward planning skills
• Improvisation skills
• Knowing what personal information to share and what to keep close to your chest
• Being able to fix things around the house (instead of just replacing it with a new gadget)

Top Traits of People with Street Smarts

1. excellent observational skills.

Perhaps the main trait that differentiates street smart people from book smart people is that street smart people tend to have astute observational skills.

For example, when they enter a situation – such as a party, a subway station, or a police station, they will intuitively take in a lot of details:

• The exit points
• The mood of their interlocutors
• The appearance of any potentially dangerous people
• Any moving objects that might cause problems
• Which people are gathering together, as a sign of social in-groups

A book smart person, but contrast, may find that they have to actively remind themselves to look out for these cues because they don’t have the intuitive ability to look for dangers or to read social dynamics.

2. Improvisation

Street smarts people are improvisers. They are always using signals around them – their environment and social cues – and allowing those signals to affect their next actions.

 You’ll want a street smarts person next to you when you’re trying to talk yourself out of a tough situation. They’ll be able to come up with a good story that is based on an intuitive reading of their interlocutor and the capacity to appease the person they’re talking to.

3. Composure and Not Showing Weakness

People with street smarts often have the ability to maintain composure because they have lived experience of thinking on their feet. They tend not to panic because they know that doesn’t help.

Additionally, they may have developed strategies for concealing their weaknesses in order to protect themselves from danger and social threats. This can be especially true in situations such as the prison yard, where vulnerability or weakness may be perceived as a liability or disadvantage.

4. Struggling at Theoretical Work

While this is certainly not true of all people with street smarts, the street smart-book smart dichotomy holds that street smart people fail where book smart people succeed.

And while book smart people often find themselves in trouble in social situations because they misread social cues, they tend to be excellent at abstract thinking .

Street smart people, on the other hand, tend to think about practical implications and applications of situations. When it comes time for them to step back, be analytical, or apply abstract theories to concepts, they may struggle.

This is why many street smart people end up in blue collar working-class jobs , while book smart people end up at universities and in white collar jobs . The street smart people typically thrive doing practical and tactile work ; the book smart people typically thrive behind a computer or with their head in a book.

Street Smarts vs Book Smarts

Street smarts and book smarts are useful metaphors for thinking about two different but equally useful forms of intelligence. However, I do find them to be somewhat stereotypical and binary and don’t fully reflect the complexity of human intelligence and behaviors (see also: dualistic thinking ).

Nevertheless, through a social constructivist lens of learning, we can see that people who are raised in potentially dangerous situations – e.g. ‘the streets’ – may develop strengths with skills that are beneficial in their environments. As a result, working-class kids who statistically spend more time in non-supervised situations may develop better skills in rough-and-tumble social situations; whereas middle-class children may develop book smart skills because this is what their parents most highly value and reward.

Cottam, P. (2005). After-school time and the social construction of childhood. Masters Thesis. Lincoln University.

Davies, M. (2019). Street smarts and critical thinking: An examination of students’ voices on critical thinking. American Educational Research Association (AERA): Leveraging Education Research in a” Post-Truth” Era: Multimodal Narratives to Democratise Evidence .

Sadiku, M. N., & Musa, S. M. (2021). Social Intelligence. In A Primer on Multiple Intelligences (pp. 43-53). Springer, Cham.

Spinney, J., & Popan, C. (2020). Mobilising street culture. Routledge Handbook of Street Culture . New York: Routledge.

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 10 Reasons you’re Perpetually Single
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 20 Montessori Toddler Bedrooms (Design Inspiration)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 21 Montessori Homeschool Setups
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 101 Hidden Talents Examples

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Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts by Sarah

Sarahof Allendale's entry into Varsity Tutor's April 2015 scholarship contest

Street Smarts vs. Book Smarts by Sarah - April 2015 Scholarship Essay

Martin Luther King, Jr. has spoken many motivational speeches that are quotable but succinct in a way that is unique to him. We will always remember his “I Have A Dream” speech for being inspirational without exaggeration. However, those aren’t the only important words credited to Dr. King, for he told us that “the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the true goal of education.” This perfectly sums up the idea behind education; that neither schooling nor world skills are beneficial until they are put together.

I see this as the classic argument of ‘street smarts’ versus ‘book smarts’. To most the world, you are either one or the other. Usually it is quite easy to tell; I fall securely into the category of book smart, for example, and I have a friend who rightly considers herself street smart. However, when Dr. King’s words are applied, you need to be both to thrive. To be street smart is to have the character. Or, in other words, to have situational awareness, which is being able to assess a circumstance and create a plan of action. Intelligence is aligned with being book smart, where you appreciate precision and accuracy, as both will lead to a better understanding. Whether it is general knowledge or a specific subject, these intellects enjoy learning in any form. When both are combined, you get the ideal result of a proper education; someone who can think quickly and apply practical knowledge to a situation.

Participation is a key element to the success of education. For example, a student who loves school but is socially-conscious probably won’t join any clubs, and therefore lack the development of interests. Likewise, a person who has a dozen interests, but dislikes academics, will dedicate their time to their hobbies instead of their schoolwork. In both situations, the students end up with only half the equation. This is why employers and college admission officers both appreciate students who have good grades and a well-rounded social life. These students are proven to be more successful throughout their lives as they have the skills needed to adapt to most circumstances.

The goal of education is to teach both skills simultaneously, therefore well preparing a student upon their graduation. And I believe school does exactly that; a student becomes more intelligent in class while learning character through interaction with peers and participation in extracurricular activities.

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"Street Smarts" Versus "Academic Intelligence"

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