The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin Summary
Overview of The Art of Learning
Chess prodigy turned Tai Chi champion Josh Waitzkin reveals the universal principles of mastery. Endorsed by Deepak Chopra and praised by Robert Pirsig, this guide transforms how elite performers learn. What mental framework connects world-class achievement across completely different disciplines?
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The Chess Prodigy Who Mastered Learning Itself
In Washington Square Park, six-year-old Josh Waitzkin discovered chess through an encounter with an old man who prophetically wrote his name on a newspaper, saying "I'm gonna read about you someday." The park became Josh's unconventional classroom, where he learned from an eclectic mix of characters-homeless geniuses, gamblers, and eccentric artists who taught him psychological warfare and devastating attacks. Within months, he was defeating men who'd played for decades. When Bruce Pandolfini, a master-level chess teacher, approached Josh's parents, a transformative relationship began. Unlike typical instructors who force students into rigid molds, Bruce acted as a guide rather than an authority. His distinctive teaching method involved slowing Josh down through questions rather than dictating moves. They spent hours in thoughtful silence, allowing Josh's mind to develop naturally. Josh's parents wisely kept him from tournaments for a year, letting his relationship with chess develop around passion before competition. When he finally competed at age seven, he thrived under pressure while other children crumbled. His approach was distinctive-making games complex and working through chaos while opponents sought quick victories. His rating skyrocketed, and he soon became the highest-ranked player for his age, heading to the National Championship as the clear favorite. What made Josh's journey remarkable wasn't just his chess achievements but how his early experiences shaped his approach to learning-valuing creativity, psychological resilience, and deep engagement with process rather than just outcomes.
The Growth Mindset: Learning to Love the Process
Finding Flow in Chaos: The Soft Zone
From Chess to Tai Chi: Reinventing Identity
Investment in Loss: The Courage to Be Terrible
Making Smaller Circles: Depth Over Breadth
The World Championship: When Preparation Meets Opportunity
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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