work这里不是工作的意思了,而是 成功,做成,完成.didn't work就是没做成,没成功的意思.
比如一个人问你,Is your relationship with Lucy going well?你跟Lucy的恋情还好么?
你可以回答,No,it didn't work.不,我俩掰了.
had learned 10000 things that didn't work这句意思是 发现了10000种不成功的材料.
这里learn不能当做单纯的学习来理解了,这里的learn引申了,是认识,发现的意思,跟 学习到 这一意思很接近,但是不是原来单纯的学习什么的意思了.