The First 20 Hours

How to Learn Anything... Fast!

By: Josh Kaufman

Narrated by: Josh Kaufman

"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)

Very interesting!

I think this book is a great personal experiment: To learn something valuable with 20 hours of dedicated practice after you learn the theory of the project.

I believe this kind of thinking if part of the new way to learn. It is new and in the the tradition recently started by Tim Ferriss in the Four Hour Cookbook and the Four Hour Body.

Both of these authors present a recipe for applying quick learning to any number of subjects.

If you really listen to this book, you will learn

What did you love best about The First 20 Hours?

The book is informative, instructive, and true to the author's intent. In the first 6 chapters, which is only 20% of the way through the book, you will learn everything you need. The remainder of the book reinforces these teachings with real examples, one which I'm sure will enlighten you, as it has enlightened and validated me.

What did you like best about this story?

The 6 stories which reinforce the key teaching of the book.

What about Josh Kaufman’s performance did you like?

His passion

What insight do you think you’ll apply from The First 20 Hours?

To be pleased to know something about lots of my interests, rather than nothing about things I am interested in.

Great Book

The narration was awesome! Helps you to attack new projects with intention and purpose. you'll find yourself listening to this over and over.

Great 80/20 Goal Book

I'm glad I tried this book regardless of the negativity found in the review section. Absolute master piece when it comes to summarizing the effective 80/20 goal strategy.

I've researched for so long on how to increase my productivity and achieve my goals. Nothing was working for me but finally this was so clear and it clicked for me. It's working amazingly and I'm achieving my goals in record time with no temptation of procrastination.

A must read in my opinion when it comes to understanding the 80/20 rule. You'll start to see the rule pop up in other areas of life too.

I'm puzzled by the huge wave of negative reviews. Sure it's short and has a lot of examples in the back but....it's a goal book. It's examples. Just skip it if not interested. I actually prefer the quick short format for fast re-readablity. Extremely grateful for this book.

Please if you can, update the resource links, thank you.

still evaluating but like what I hear so far

What made the experience of listening to The First 20 Hours the most enjoyable?

enthusiastic author/narrator. concepts presented appear logical and sound.

What about Josh Kaufman’s performance did you like?

the author has a great deal of enthusiasm and sounds authoritative

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

acquiring skills without necessarily needing to become an expert.... deciding how much I want to learn about a subject and not becoming overwhelmed and intimidated by it

Any additional comments?

I look forward to putting the concepts into practice

This is exceptional Book on Self Development

I have read so many books on self development and training, to name a few (quantum learning, Buzan's Genius Formula and other books, Paul Schelee's genius Code & Photo Reading, Einstein Factor for Win Wenger) and so many others.
In my point of view , this one of the very exceptional. Josh is abridging so many native ideas and theories, and creating his own model that fits professionals to achieve their immediate targets, with their busy schedules. Josh's unique approach is suitable for the fast growing in the market of knowledge, which is also changing rapidly.

Some of the example skills which have been described in details by the author will be skipped by me. the reason is that "i am not interested" but these skills can be substituted with your own lovable skills, after reading the original skill of course. For example, Yoga, i do not like it and cant love it, but i heard the whole method and will apply it on my favorite sport, Boxing.

Networking is my profession, and Ruby programming can become my lovable, so i will learn Ruby without substituting it with other skill, after Ruby i will go for DOT NET programming language with the same method for Ruby, and so on.

But there is a problem, the book says that you do not need to spend 10000 hours to learn a skill, I agree, but if you want to become a surgeon or read and understand Goethe's work, then you will definitely spend much more than 20 hours.

Josh's work is great, i am in love with his book and probably buy other books for him. Specially the books he narrates himself, because he is not only reading good but also he is delivering his message with maximum potential, obviously because he believes in what he wrote himself.

Could've been a pamphlet

It's a good system it's just that most of the book is about how he applied it to his own purposes so unless your desire to learn the exact same things he taught himself you're only going to find the first 2 chapters useful.

Great information

Will be learning nunchakus, guitar, backflip, full splits, photography, powerlifting, snowboarding, name memory, dancing, welding. Thats it at first... I can make time, it's easy.

I don't learn much.

Would you try another book from Josh Kaufman and/or Josh Kaufman?

This is my second book from Josh Kaufman. I read the Personal MBA, not from audiobook. I think Josh has a give to write in a simple, easy to understand way. So, yeah, I will perhaps buy another book of Josh, but not the audiobook.

Has The First 20 Hours turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. I like personal development book and I think this book has something to offer that is very unique.

How could the performance have been better?

I think Josh is not the best narrator even for his own book (sorry Josh). Perhaps it will be better to use professional narrator.

Did The First 20 Hours inspire you to do anything?

Yes, the first 20 hours inspire me to learn Golf.

Any additional comments?

I feel a bit disappointed because I have read the article by Josh before reading the book, and I don't find anything more valuable from the book.

Also the examples that Josh gave in the book does not interest me at all. I don't want to learn yoga, programming, windsurfing, or typing. And this part bored me so much, which is maybe 70% of the book (well, maybe not that much, but in boredom time feels longer).

a surefire method to a more fulfilling life

A thorough and compelling explanation of the authors 20 hour method to learn any skill you can think of followed by several pieces of his own anecdotal evidence told in an interesting manner. Well worth the listen.