The Art of Learning — Josh Waitzkin

 

Rating: ★★★★

Review: I'd label this book part autobiography, part psychology of learning/performance. Overall, a compelling story of a peak performer who abruptly switched disciplines on the path to mastery.

I found it fascinating how he applied many of the principles that he gleaned from chess towards martial arts; the crossover does not seem immediately evident, but I think that it speaks to the interconnected nature of all art and skills. 

One of the central concepts of this book—fixed vs. incremental progress—echoes the work of Carol Dweck in her book Mindset, which came out in the same year (2007). Beyond that, there are a few hidden gems of insight worth considering.

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The first is the balance of reason/logic and intuition. Whether he was practicing for a chess tournament or training for a Tai Chi push hands competition, he would very gradually internalize concepts—or movements—until they became second nature, and then shift his focus towards newer, challenging aspects of the discipline. 

Another intriguing feature was his approach towards initiating flow states. He found that irksome external events often jarred him into making blunders. Over time, he trained his mind to move with the force of these events, turning what used to be obstacles in his path into fuel for his concentration.

Favorite Lines:

"In the absence of continual external reinforcement, we must be our own monitor, and quality of presence is often the best gauge. We cannot expect to touch excellence if "going through the motions" is the norm of our lives. On the other hand, if deep, fluid presence becomes second nature, then life, art, and learning take on a richness that will continually surprise and delight." 

"The secret is that everything is always on the line. The more present we are at practice, the more present we will be in competition, in the boardroom, at the exam, the operating table, the big stage."

"...much of what separates the great from the very good is deep presence, relaxation of the conscious mind, which allows the unconscious to flow unhindered." 

"A deep mastery of performance psychology involves the internal creation of inspiring conditions." 
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