Not smart enough

[Morgan3820]

I just received my copy of the FAA's Instrument Flying Handbook with the idea of pursuing an instrument rating. After thumbing through it, I have decided that it is too much to learn and I am not smart enough to get my IR. Should I get a second opinion or just quit before I kill myself and any passengers?

 

[Jim Logajan]

Hand a calculus book to a bright young student who has not yet taken that class. Ask them to flip halfway through the book. It will look difficult, nearly impossible to them. But if they start at the beginning, they'll get it. Same concept.

Henning may be right, though. If it doesn't look like fun and you don't need it, it may not be worth the hassle.

Funny thing about that analogy - the OP's profile page lists his occupation as chemist. You should have used an organic chemistry text as the example. (Although opening such a book to the first page may still cause some angst, given how much basic chemistry knowledge they presume the reader already has. The analogy being organic chemistry is to basic chemistry as instrument rating is to private pilot certificate. Um, nevermind. I don't think that analog works.)