Summary of ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin Flashcards
What is the first universal learning principle identified by Josh Waitzkin?
Feel the fundamentals.
According to Josh Waitzkin, how did he first learn to understand the movements of chess pieces?
By isolating each piece, such as focusing on King and Pawn positions, then gradually adding more pieces like Knights, to internalize their movements.
True or False: Josh Waitzkin believes that you should start with complex maneuvers when learning a new skill.
False. He believes in isolating and internalizing the fundamentals first.
How does Josh Waitzkin suggest a figure skater should begin learning?
By starting with fundamentals like gliding, turning, and skating backward, and maintaining a sense of ease before moving to complex maneuvers.
What was Josh Waitzkin’s primary chess style influenced by the Chess Hustlers?
A wild, aggressive, and attacking style.
Fill in the blank: Josh initially developed a unique _____ style by focusing on his strengths and interests in chess.
attacking
Why did Josh Waitzkin struggle when learning from a Grandmaster who taught a passive style?
Because the passive style was foreign to him, causing his performance to suffer as it conflicted with his natural, intuitive approach.
According to Waitzkin, what is essential when choosing a mentor or teacher?
Finding one whose style resonates with you and adapting it over time to develop your own.
True or False: Waitzkin stopped competing in chess because he lost interest after abandoning his natural style.
True.
What is the third universal learning principle identified by Josh Waitzkin?
Invest in loss.
According to Waitzkin, why is it important to experience and learn from public mistakes?
Because the pain of public mistakes provides motivation to study and correct errors, accelerating growth.
Fill in the blank: Investing in loss means putting your _____ on the line and learning from your mistakes.
ego
According to Josh Waitzkin, what was one of Michael Jordan’s strengths that contributed to his greatness?
His willingness to take last-minute shots, despite sometimes missing, showing he was willing to fail publicly as a path to improvement.
How does Waitzkin recommend responding to failure or heartbreak in learning?
By working hard to study technical and psychological errors for growth.
