The art of learning : a journey in the pursuit of excellence

by Josh Waitzkin

Paper Book, 2007

Status

Available

Call number

613.7/148

Genres

Publication

New York : Free Press, c2007.

Description

Biography & Autobiography. Self-Improvement. Nonfiction. HTML:In his riveting new book, The Art of Learning, Waitzkin tells his remarkable story of personal achievement and shares the principles of learning and performance that have propelled him to the top�??twice. 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." With a narrative that combines heart-stopping martial arts wars and tense chess face-offs with life lessons that speak to all of us, The Art of Learning takes readers 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. Through his own example, Waitzkin explains how to embrace defeat and make mistakes work for you. Does your opponent make you angry? Waitzkin describes how to channel emotions into creative fuel. As he explains it, obstacles are not obstacles but challenges to overcome, to spur the growth process by turning weaknesses into strengths. He illustrates the exact routines that he has used in all of his competitions, whether mental or physical, so that you too can achieve your peak performance zone in any competitive or professional circumstance. 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 page-turning narrati… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member briandarvell

Interesting book and very well written. I enjoyed much of his techniques on approaching learning. Curiously, I found many of the names for his learning techniques to be very non-intuitive and took away from his discussion.

Still, at least one-third of the story is biographical story with which he

tells of his life. This was more than I expected. I was also hoping for more reference to learning and chess and less about how much the movie affected his life and his techniques into martial arts.

Not for everyone, the book is still an enjoyable look into one frame of what it takes to be "the best" in something.

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LibraryThing member Hectigo

The Art of Learning is an excellent book. It has been criticized for its lack of practical value, but to me that seems like a non-issue. The book digs into the underlying principles instead of offering shallow tips and tricks, and most of all inspires one forward. The thing about learning is that

it's not just about technique - it's more about wanting to learn, about integrating learning into one's way of life. Being the best in the world is no use if the training leaves one unhappy and too exhausted to continue. This is one of the many central points that Josh makes in the book, as he describes his way to work hard without making it feel like working hard.

The practical advice that Josh actually gives is also sound. He talks about building on a strong foundation of internalized fundamentals, and working hard with incrementally building one's skills. He reminds to always work at the edge of one's capabilities and to not to get stuck in the comfort zone. These are all important and widely applicable principles. There's also interesting talk of how to practically turn one's emotions into strength and how to approach stressful situations, an issue that every one of use struggles with.

The book is also a story of how one exceptional young man came to find greatness, and very inspirational as such. Josh has a way of describing chess and martial arts battles that makes the situations come alive in the head of the reader, and the vivid images serve to spice up the book and make it more memorable. There are great personalities among Josh's friends, foes and teachers, each giving the book a bit more character. All in all, this is certainly one tale nobody should miss.

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LibraryThing member ShadowBarbara

Tedious book. Long winding sentences that repeat. Covers his experiences as a child chess prodigy and then learning and competing in martial arts.

LibraryThing member LaPhenix

Though I did enjoy the ideas introduced in the book, I was disappointed to find it was much more of a personal memoir dearth of evidence supported by research and data.

LibraryThing member trile1000

This book is part auto-biography and guide on becoming an elite performer. The author Josh Waitzkin is known for being a world class chess player AND a world class martial artist. He is most known for being the inspiration for the movie, Searching for Bobby Fischer. He writes about his chess

beginnings and his development into a chess Grandmaster. He also elaborates on how his chess knowledge and thinking enabled him to become a Push Hands Tai Chi world champion. While some of his thinking is too spiritual for my tastes, he does offer a look into his thought process, how he trains and prepares, and how he competes. It's a fascinating glimpse into the mind of an incredible high performer.

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LibraryThing member debs4jc

Josh Waitzkin spent his childhood becoming a master of chess and in adulthood he has become a master of the martial art of Tai Chi Chuan. In The Art of Learning he explores the principles of learning that have helped him succeed.

Waitzkin spends a lot of time telling stories about his experiences

that illustrate how he came to learn these principles. These are great stories, however, I would like to focus on the principles he gleans from them. I definitely suggest reading his book to gain more insight into these concepts and how he came to learn them.

These are great principles for adult learners seeking to improve their skills, learn new mental or physical techniques, and gain confidence. I am most intrigued by the concept of stress and recovery and how interval training for the body can also affect the mind.

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LibraryThing member ohernaes

Josh Waitzkin is something as unusual as a (former) elite chess player and a world champion in a (no-bullshit) martial art. In this book, he tells about his strategies for learning and dealing with challenges in these endeavors. Waitzkin's story is interesting in itself and many will probably take

away some things they can use for themselves. He thinks focusing on chess openings in an early learning stage leads to an unhealthy focus on simply winning as opposed to learning and mastering the game and that it is better to learn the endgame first. At one stage, he was distracted by noise, etc, but then learnt to play with them and practiced with loud music. Interval training good to improve recovery from exertions and release tension. Has a fairly detailed exposition of how he worked with a guy, "Dennis", working in finance to develop a "hot button" for focus: First, combine a cue with good feelings with something one has been in the desired state when doing, combine several times to strengthen, then use as trigger for focus at work or in other arenas. First long routine, then shorten gradually. Learnt to ignore emotions, then to use them. Use temporary setback, e.g. injury, to develop other, perhaps surprising areas. Many of Waitzkin's strategies are nothing new, but he also does not present them as revolutionary, what is interesting is how he has applied them to perform at high levels. And, as mentioned, his story is interesting in itself. At the end, I learnt that he is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, further strengthening his credibility. Recommended.

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LibraryThing member danhibbert

Interesting and engaging book, inspires me to re-watch the movie and check out the book behind the movie as well. Will be doing further reading on many topics introduced in the book, very thought-provoking.

LibraryThing member briandarvell

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LibraryThing member shawndotbailey

Not a bad read, but you can only romanticize chess so much.

Disclaimer: I couldn't finish it. Way more about chess and personal life than the art of learning. At least for what I read.

LibraryThing member Tohno

A compelling read. I didn't want to stop reading this at any point. A narrative presentation of solid learning. Josh Waitzkin presents a profound introspective account of what he's learned, distilled down to the most prescient insights. His learning has brought him great wisdom that is part "The

Litany of Fear" from Dune, part Jedi-Mind Tricks, and often quite humorous with the realization of how easily influenced the human mind can become. I'm glad that Josh put to voice many of the thoughts intuitive in my own mind, and passed down by the greatest learners throughout time. A quick read, don't miss it. It will inspire you.

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