The Best YouTube Channels For Learning New Things

I am on record as being in favor of continuing your education long after you've stopped really going back to school — and thanks to these awesome YouTube channels for learning new things, school is always in session if you want it to be. Apparently Reddit is of one mind with me today, because user Irish_Potatoes_ asked the site what their favorite educational or instructional YouTube channels were, and the forum exploded with responses from fact-hungry Redditors. Isn't the Internet great sometimes?

I do mean it when I say that "going back to school" even if you're not going back to school is worth it, by the way. Not only can you use it to talk yourself into buying some cute school supplies (like this, this, and this), more importantly, your education doesn't have to end when school does. Don't all those graduation speeches say things about how life is an education, or whatever, and how this is the beginning of your journey, yadda yadda yadda?

It's amazing, to me, that people are so willing to share their expertise with other people for free on the Internet. Can you imagine if someone from, like, The Enlightenment stumbled through a wormhole into this golden age of free information? They'd spend all day learning — and so should you, my little Rousseaus! To get you started on your personal enlightenment, here are some of my favorite YouTube channel suggestions from the thread, plus a bonus educational channel that wasn't posted but which I love all the same. Engineering, physics, geography, even shop class are all represented here — no hall passes required.

1. Geography Now!

Americans are notoriously bad at geography — John Oliver has a whole running gag about it. This channel, recommended by user JPMIller, covers a different country each episode, in which it dissects that country's flag, gives you facts about the country, and shows you how to find the borders — all in a corny-funny, light way, reminiscent of your most Dad-like social studies teacher.

2. Lindybeige

I love his British accent and dry humor! But Redditor deadline_wooshing_by and I also love the thoughtful way he explains medieval history weapons, knot-tying, and the art of war.

3. Engineering Explained

A mechanical engineer explains how cars work, without the annoying gearheads you'd find in shop class. According to user Artoast, it's "a great little channel all about cars and how they work, but also the theories and mathematics behind them."

4. Crash Course

This online school, recommended by Sonata_Blue, covers basically everything. If you're still in school, it's a great way to study before a test.

5. Vsauce

Science and philosophy are bedfellows in this YouTube channel, where guys pick apart questions like the Banach-Tarski paradox, the "resolution" of the eye, and, of course, what would happen if everyone jumped at the same time.

6. Every Frame A Painting

This channe, recommended by -eDgAR-, l picks apart films in a gorgeously intricate way, in the process showing how film is made. One Redditor called it a "film major's wet dream."

7. Bonus: Janet Stephens

Historically accurate and mostly unreproducible complex hairstyles from history, from a hairdresser who works from her own research and primary sources. She's even made contributions to scholarly debate. I find this channel completely mesmerizing.

Images: Jon Lim/Flickr