The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh Waitzkin Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance
Book Review: I picked a dud
Summary: 2 Stars
I almost always love the books I buy, it is rare that I pick a book and read it and then have it turn out a disappointment. Josh Waitzkin's book is a book that picked with high hopes, and it turned out to be a dud. I enjoyed his lectures on Chessmaster, and liked "Searching for Bobby Fisher" the movie about his chess career. Bases on this movie and chess program, I was certain that the book would be good, but it was not.
Much of it is taken up with detailed descriptions of his recent "Push Hands" competitions, which I had to skip as they bored me stiff, and the "lessons" he gleaned from them I found to be nothing that I cold use in my life. I understood from other reviews that the title is a misnomer, and that this book is a biography more-or-less. This did not put me off, as I was interested in the reason why he quit chess, and whether he would ever take up the game again. Regrettably these questions were explained unsatisfactorily, too cursory. There were a few mildly interesting pages, but they were few. I could not finish his book!
Book Review: In my top 100 books list
Summary: 5 Stars
Interesting that this book is called "The Art Of Learning". It's about so much more. Or is it that learning spans so much more than we think it does? Did I say "think"? This book definitely makes you think. So it takes a while to read. You go through a page or two, then you put it down with that faraway look because once again, Josh got your brain going.
It's been a year or so since I've last looked at this book, and purposely, I won't go and pick it up to refer to it. Let me tell you one of the many things that have so powerfully stayed with me in the last 12 months. After all, that's what a really good book does: it'll keep speaking to you, whether it's handy or not.
There is a story when Josh was at a chess tournament and one of his rivals kept surreptitiously and viciously kicking him just at the wrong moment in order to distract him. Josh lost that round of the tournament but he used it as an opportunity to learn. He realized that he was more distracted by his own thoughts ("I can't believe he's doing this!" "How unethical!" "How come no-one is doing anything about this?!") than by his rival's actions. Josh then went on to systematically train himself to become inured to such distractions. His willingness to take complete and utter responsibility for (and therefore control of) his reactions has made a tremendous and lasting impression on me, so much so that since I have told countless clients and friends about it.
Book Review: Inspiring and practical
Summary: 5 Stars
I really could not put this book down when I read it. The story is inspiring and Waitzkin talks with a charismatic wisdom that is highly engaging. His advice would be useful to virtually anyone and especially those who often encounter stressful situations.
That being said, it would be much easier to understand this book if you are either a chess player or a martial artist. (Personally, I am a chess player.) Nevertheless, seasoned readers of non-fiction who are neither can get through this book easily.
Book Review: Interesting read, but more of an autobiography
Summary: 3 Stars
I saw an interview with Josh on Google Authors series. I was hoping for more of an essay on learning theory. Instead, it was more of an autobiography - an interesting read, but not an applicable as I had hoped for.Book Review: Josh is on to something
Summary: 5 Stars
Josh is definitely on to something. The learning principles he outlines in this book are priceless. This book is thick with good ideas. I had to stop after many chapters to make sure I absorbed the information.
He is clearly well-read when it comes to philosophy and human psychology. And he relates his academic training to his careers in chess and Ti Chi in an illuminating way. The parallels between these seemingly unrelated disciplines are striking. Josh's writing helps you understand how his learning process can be applied to many fields of study.
This book is also very well written. Let me state that again because so few authors are as gifted as Josh: This book is very well written. I loved the vivid descriptions of his chess and Ti Chi battles.
After reading this book I look forward to hearing him speak someday.
The only negative I can think of is that this book may not be very accessible to people who are not already "learners". If you are not interested in learning and improving your ability to learn, this book may be inaccessible to you.
I've always enjoyed learning and honing my personal learning process, so I absolutely loved this book. This is the type of book that I will apply to my learning pursuits and then read again (probably in a year) to make sure I absorbed everything.