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

Interesting read

Anybody interested in sports psychology should read this. Interesting how you can apply to your daily life. I liked the way this story transformed from chess to martial arts. Interview at the end can be skipped. Overall good read.

loved it! Very motivational

I love the book I thought the author read it really well I could see it not being for everyone but if you're the type of person that likes self-help kind of motivational books this is really great. he has had an incredible life any talks about how he has learned to learn and that's something I'm very interested in learning about and I really enjoyed the book

REQUIRED READING FOR LEARNERS!!!

This is an AMAZING book for anyone engaged in learning any skill. So literally everyone should read this. I’m a musician, constantly working on my skills and this is helping me to hone my practice to be much more effective.

Always learn from the best

Always learn from the best, and this is no exception. Worst case scenario, you only get 10% of what they achieved, but youre still farther along than if you settled for mediocrity

Wow

This is one of my new favorite books. I listened to the entire thing in 24 hours. Please read it.

a nice delivery

the way Josh conveys information tangled with his own personal journey gets the point across very well. sometimes it's a bit self centered, but definitely worth listening. didn't like the horrible quality 1 hr podcast at the end though (but that has nothing to do with the book itself)

Insightful

One of the most theoretically and practically insightful books I have read. Josh Reading it just adds to the experience.

A phenomena way to look at life

I enjoyed this book immensely and appreciate that josh read it himself. I started playing chess and going about my life training very differently after reading this. The way Josh narrates the book alone teaches you the art of "calm" and learning. Loved it.

worth multiple hearings

this was a great book, it opened my eyes to the idea that excellence is not achieved on accident and how high performing people function.

Listened Twice, Going back for a Third

Josh is an amazing writer, with a compelling story. His message is an important one, with a deep meaning, this is a book I think I will engage with many times over the rest of my life.