Revisionist History

The Mystery of Mastery with Adam Gopnik

May 18, 2023

In a lively discussion, Adam Gopnik, a Staff writer for The New Yorker known for his essays and books, shares insights from his latest work, exploring the concept of mastery. He vividly illustrates lessons from various masters, including chefs debating seasonality and the philosophical nuances of magic. The conversation touches on personal anecdotes about familial relationships and the emotional journey of self-discovery. Gopnik emphasizes that mastery is not just about skill but a deeper engagement with creativity across disciplines.

37:19

Creator website

Episode guests

Adam Gopnik

Highlights

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Episode notes

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Intro

3min

Mastery and Memories

11min

The Art of Magic and Words

6min

Exploring Mastery: From Culinary Arts to Language Learning

5min

The Journey of Creative Ambition

14min

Exploring the Depths of Mastery and Skill Development

2min

In a live conversation taped at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, Malcolm chats with his old friend and New Yorker magazine colleague, Adam Gopnik, about Adam’s latest book, The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery. In the book, Adam follows numerous masters of their craft to find out just how they do what they do—and discovers that there is mastery all around us. In this episode, Malcolm and Adam highlight a few of the folks from the book, and what they have to teach us. You can purchase the audiobook version of The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery at Pushkin.fm

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