The First 20 Hours

How to Learn Anything... Fast!

By: Josh Kaufman

Narrated by: Josh Kaufman

Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

"Learn anything... fast!"

Take a moment to consider how many things you want to learn to do. What's on your list? What's holding you back from getting started? Are you worried about the time and effort it takes to acquire new skills - time you don't have and effort you can't spare?

Research suggests it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. In this nonstop world when will you ever find that much time and energy?

To make matters worse, the early hours of practicing something new are always the most frustrating. That's why it's difficult to learn how to speak a new language, play an instrument, hit a golf ball, or shoot great photos. It's so much easier to watch TV or surf the web...

In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition: how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct complex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By completing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you'll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well.

This method isn't theoretical: it's field-tested. Kaufman invites readers to join him as he field tests his approach by learning to program a Web application, play the ukulele, practice yoga, re-learn to touch type, get the hang of windsurfing, and study the world's oldest and most complex board game.

What do you want to learn?

Listen to The First 80 Minutes FREE from The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything . . . Fast!.

©2013 Worldly Wisdom Ventures LLC (P)2013 Worldly Wisdom Ventures LLC

Critic reviews

"As a father of three, practicing neurosurgeon, and global journalist, I don't have a lot of free time on my hands. The First 20 Hours is a practical guide to learning beyond our mid-20s, when our brains are fully developed. Josh's book will inspire you to pick up forgotten hobbies and chase elusive dreams." (Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent)

Start today!

"You don't find time, you make it"

The emotional barrier is what you need to break in order to acquire any skill you want to proficiency, all it takes is motivation and practice. This book will provide the motivation, you provide the practice.

This book is 1/3 great and 2/3 mediocre

I have to say I didn't know what I was buying when I first got this book... And that’s all my fault because the author is honest Josh Kaufman about what the book is.
I saw a the Ted Talk by the author and decided this book should be great.
And when I read the introduction I immediately understood this will be a great reading… during the first chapters.
So, I’m writing the review so that futures readers will know what to expect.
The premise of the book is that with 20 hours of focused practice you can become decent at anything… This doesn't contradict the 10,000 hours rule that says: if you want to be an expert on something you have to practice for 10,000 hours (which is normally done in 10 years).
The author mainly says that with 20 hours you won’t be able to play an instrument like a virtuoso, but you’ll be able to pick a guitar and play in a bonfire… And that is fine with me.
The first 3 chapters, Josh Kaufman, writes about acquiring a skill quickly and the importance of focus and discipline… So far so good.
But the last 6 chapters are the summary of his successful attempts to learn new skills… If you are interested in learning exactly those 6 skills (Yoga, Programming, touch typing, ukulele and windsurfing) then you will enjoy the book in its entirety.
I’m a programmer so when I read the chapter on programming I was thinking to myself either this guy is a genius or he left out most of the learning process, by the end of the chapter he did say that by trial and error he failed more than what he succeeded… But the feeling is that this should be easy, when it’s really not. So, after that chapter I just couldn't take him serious…
Summing up, the first 3 chapters are great, the rest is disappointing but I guess a 40 pages book doesn't look to serious or interesting.

awesome book must read

i loved this book
it will inspire you alot
go for it
and you will love it😁🤘👍

rekindles

This book has definitely got me reevaluating the things that I wanted to learn but just assumed I didn't have enough time to commit. Before finishing the book started on my list of skills I wanted to acquire.

Tells you what you need then shows you

I think this book has some unfair reviews that don't consider that this book gets to the point and then shows you how to apply that in different situations. It teaches you like a textbook in that it explains to you what you need to do and why. I do not think his stories are fillers because they show you how he has applied these lessons and how he addressed problems that could have prevented him from reaching his goal. Removing the examples would be like removing the math problems from a math book, you would know what to do, but not how to do it. Plus his stories are funny, interesting, and inspired me to actually use what I learned from this book.

A great book! Worth the Cost!

Just a quick note - I am about 85% through the book and its already provided some great insite and interesting information. In a few places it seemed a bit slow and then took off and I was hooked all over again. I like this author and he has provided some great value in this book. The narration is awesome....one of the easier audible books to listen to.

I would rate this a 4.5 out of five but they only allow a 4/5. Highly recommended to my friends, family and business associates.

Cheers

Gordon

A few key points make a worthwhile read

Where does The First 20 Hours rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's in the top 20% of all the personal improvement books I've listened to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The First 20 Hours?

It reinforces the idea of Deliberate Practice, which I first heard about in "Talent is Overrated".

What about Josh Kaufman’s performance did you like?

Any time an author is reading his own book, it's going to be hit or miss. Fortunately, Josh Kaufman read it well. Having the author read his own book wasn't a negative at all.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The notion that you don't have to be a black-belt expert at everything. That if you want to learn something, spend 20 hours learning it in an effective manner and then you're good enough to move on to another skill.

Any additional comments?

I wasn't a huge fan of all the examples - how he learned Go, or to type, or to program, etc. Seemed a bit like filler. But it's worth listening to nonetheless.

Good Refresher

The theme of this book can be summed up by the title. If you want to learn anything, spend 20 hours doing it. While it does not contain a lot of new information, it is very well presented and a helpful motivator. Now he needs to write a book "How to Get to the Gym".

Good Techniques for Learning

Josh takes you through a comprehensive plan for learning anything quickly. That first 20 hours is crucial in your ability to learn (whatever it is you want to learn) and eventually master.

In addition, he walks you through different examples of how he learned to program, play an instrument and learn a new touch typing method. I listened to the examples I wanted to and moved on (as he gave us permission to).

All in all, I think it is a book I would go back to again and again to refresh my skills and challenge myself to learn something new.

good book very valuable information

this was a very good book, and the information is very valuable. especially if you don't have years to learn something interesting. 4-stars stars because I love the information provided. but to be honest I think his book could have been written and 5 chapters or less. I would definitely recommend this book, however prepare to do a lot of skipping at some of the examples.