The Art of Learning

An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance

By: Josh Waitzkin

Narrated by: Josh Waitzkin

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Josh Waitzkin knows what it means to be at the top of his game. A public figure since winning his first National Chess Championship at the age of nine, Waitzkin was catapulted into a media whirlwind as a teenager when his father's book Searching for Bobby Fischer was made into a major motion picture. After dominating the scholastic chess world for ten years, Waitzkin expanded his horizons, taking on the martial art Tai Chi Chuan and ultimately earning the title of World Champion. How was he able to reach the pinnacle of two disciplines that on the surface seem so different? "I've come to realize that what I am best at is not Tai Chi, and it is not chess," he says. "What I am best at is the art of learning."

The Art of Learning takes listeners through Waitzkin's unique journey to excellence. He explains in clear detail how a well-thought-out, principled approach to learning is what separates success from failure. Waitzkin believes that achievement, even at the championship level, is a function of a lifestyle that fuels a creative, resilient growth process. Rather than focusing on climactic wins, Waitzkin reveals the inner workings of his everyday method, from systematically triggering intuitive breakthroughs, to honing techniques into states of remarkable potency, to mastering the art of performance psychology.

In stories ranging from his early years taking on chess hustlers as a seven year old in New York City's Washington Square Park, to dealing with the pressures of having a film made about his life, to International Chess Championships in India, Hungary, and Brazil, to gripping battles against powerhouse fighters in Taiwan in the Push Hands World Championships, The Art of Learning encapsulates an extraordinary competitor's life lessons in a pause-resisting narrative.

©2007 Josh Waitzkin LLC (P)2014 Tim Ferriss

This is a great book

If you are already interested in self-help, and auto biographical work from world class athletes and competitors, you will enjoy it.

For everyone else, it’s a fascinating story of a world champ chess player, then world champion martial artist. The author shares these stories of not just what happened in the physical world, but also of his mental development as well. It’s a good story, but the tips and lessons that he shares here about learning and self improvement are top notch.

Inspiring

I'm going to listen to this again and take notes! So many good life tips. I love how Josh Waitzkin encourages to make those life tips your own!

Loved it!

Amazing book and very insightful. Waitzkin teaching learning is kinda like Jesus teaching love... he's clearly above us mortals. I was first impressed by him on the 2 podcasts he did with Tim Ferriss and the audio book filled in a lot of the blanks. I'm still left in awe of a very transcendent person.

chess+martial arts + next level learning=this book

surprisingly I found myself really immersed in this book. highly recommended for every one. must-read.

Inspiring and exciting

Josh Waitzkin's story is interesting and inspiring and with him reading it really brings excitement to the competitive moments in the book. Quality was excellent as well very consistent recording. Voice volume was consistent the entire book with no background noise noticed. Excellent audio book.
The interview with Tim Ferris was cool except all of the annoying background noise by Tim. Probably the worst part of this whole listening would be the recording noise in this final interview. Very interesting to hear Josh talk especially about " un-learning".

excelent as a roundup

if you are into actuallizing yourself, and read alot on self grwoth then this book will give you an idea about exceution.

great listening experience.

my first audible.com book. story held my interest. enjoyed how he tied together two unseemingly unrelated topics.

Learning must read

Easy to listen to. Full of amazing stories and take aways. Will be a favorite of mine for years to come.

Incredible book on living presently

Loved the advice and the podcast interview afterwards! Highly recommend this book for anyone looking to search deeper into their craft.

Great audiobook!

I would recommend to anyone who wants to be motivated and learn how ultra successful persons think. So much good info to start you on a life of meditation, success and happiness.