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dimayj's review
3.0
This book is about rapid skill acquisition, in which author Josh Kaufman outlines methods and techniques to learn new skills in 20 hours. In this regard, the book is not about developing expert level performance in 20 hours, but about learning a new skill and breaking through what the author calls the “frustration barrier”.
In the first 3 chapters, the author presents the key ideas of the book. The first chapter introduces the process of rapid skill acquisition explaining the differences between skill acquisition and learning, training, and education. Some interesting concepts are covered as well such as mindset (growth vs fixed), Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hour rule, and the neurophysiology of skill acquisition (including neuroplasticity).
The second and third chapters present 2 sets of principles; The 10 Principles of Rapid Skill Acquisition (Chapter 2), and The 10 Principles of Effective Learning (Chapter 3). In these 2 chapters the author explains interesting concepts and techniques such as the “power law of practice”, the “learning curve”, immersion, mental models, mental hooks, inversion, spaced repetition, reinforcement learning, scaffolds, and checklists.
In chapters 4 to 9 the author attempts to put theory into practice by applying the strategies outlined in the first 3 chapters into learning 6 new skills; yoga, programming, touch typing, the game of Go, Ukulele, and windsurfing. But rather than expanding on the methods and concepts covered earlier and illustrating "how" to implement them, in these case studies the author details in great lengths the “what” of the skills he is learning, such as the ancient history of yoga, the history of the keyboard, and so on. Therefore, I ended up skimming through most of the examples as I wasn't getting much from the content.
Overall, the first 3 chapters constitute the meat of the book making it a worthwhile read.
In the first 3 chapters, the author presents the key ideas of the book. The first chapter introduces the process of rapid skill acquisition explaining the differences between skill acquisition and learning, training, and education. Some interesting concepts are covered as well such as mindset (growth vs fixed), Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hour rule, and the neurophysiology of skill acquisition (including neuroplasticity).
The second and third chapters present 2 sets of principles; The 10 Principles of Rapid Skill Acquisition (Chapter 2), and The 10 Principles of Effective Learning (Chapter 3). In these 2 chapters the author explains interesting concepts and techniques such as the “power law of practice”, the “learning curve”, immersion, mental models, mental hooks, inversion, spaced repetition, reinforcement learning, scaffolds, and checklists.
In chapters 4 to 9 the author attempts to put theory into practice by applying the strategies outlined in the first 3 chapters into learning 6 new skills; yoga, programming, touch typing, the game of Go, Ukulele, and windsurfing. But rather than expanding on the methods and concepts covered earlier and illustrating "how" to implement them, in these case studies the author details in great lengths the “what” of the skills he is learning, such as the ancient history of yoga, the history of the keyboard, and so on. Therefore, I ended up skimming through most of the examples as I wasn't getting much from the content.
Overall, the first 3 chapters constitute the meat of the book making it a worthwhile read.
zoepelgrims's review
1.0
Enkel eerste hoofdstuk gaat over hoe een nieuwe skill leren. Is plat maar veelbelovend. De rest van het boek zou beter passen onder de titel 'How I, John Kaufman, learned yoga, programming, windsurfing,...'. deze hoofdstukken maken bijna geen link meer met de principes van het eerste hoofdstuk.
lathecubit's review
informative
medium-paced
2.75
You basically get all the content after the first few chapters, the rest are just anecdotes.
andrewtobin's review
3.0
Actually fairly typical advice on learning - I got it on special in the audible sale. Well presented, but when we went into 6 different times the author had applied the tools, and they each took a chapter, I really lost interest.
bomb2060's review
4.0
Good read. However, I had to skip over the explanation of the skills he acquired. Am not interested in acquiring those particular skills. And the approach he gives toward achieving them seems vague. Like telling me to "read books"....that can be an uphill task to some people.
kclem's review
3.0
You don't have to be an expert at everything. Even being mediocre at a number of things can help you live a more fulfilling life. I am currently putting Josh Kaufman's rapid skill acquisition process to the test. Regardless, this book made for a fun read and has personally inspired a curiosity in me for several new subjects. Fair warning, I knew beforehand that only the first 40 pages or so were about the process. The rest is filled with examples. Those you might read or skim depending on your interest level.
libbydmccarthy's review
2.0
AHHHH! I just wrote a really long review and was almost done when my 18-mo old entered the room, wailing, needing comforting. She somehow deleted it and I've just lost all gumption.
Basically, it's mostly common sense and I don't even completely agree with all of his 10 steps. I was disappointed and hoping to get some top-secret advice.
And I didn't read past the first 3 chapters, based on other people's reviews. It seemed like if I didn't benefit much from the first part, I would get nothing out of the rest.
Basically, it's mostly common sense and I don't even completely agree with all of his 10 steps. I was disappointed and hoping to get some top-secret advice.
And I didn't read past the first 3 chapters, based on other people's reviews. It seemed like if I didn't benefit much from the first part, I would get nothing out of the rest.
emp1234's review
1.0
Ugh. This is info that could have been covered in a blog post. An entire book wasn't necessary.