#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns

454 snips

Mar 22, 2016

Josh Waitzkin, a chess prodigy turned martial arts expert and author, shares his mastery of learning strategies. He discusses the importance of 'slack' for creativity and personal growth, emphasizing how empty space nurtures learning. Waitzkin dives into flow states, mindfulness in investing, and cultivating resilience through unique parenting philosophies. He also advocates for a growth mindset, interconnected learning, and how consistent meditation can transform lives. This engaging conversation offers profound insights for anyone looking to enhance their performance and well-being.

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ANECDOTE

Near-Drowning Experience

Josh Waitzkin recounts nearly drowning after doing Wim Hof breathing exercises in a pool.
He emphasizes the importance of understanding the risks of such practices.

INSIGHT

Flow State as Therapy

Josh Waitzkin discusses how he used flow states as therapy to deal with the pressures of competitive chess.
He highlights the difference between metaphorical and literal life-and-death risks.

ADVICE

Entering Flow State

Cultivate love for your chosen discipline and embrace competitive intensity to enter flow.
Integrate meditation to enhance somatic awareness and recognize subtle shifts in performance quality.

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Searching for Bobby Fischer

Blackstone Audiobooks Inc.

This memoir recounts the journey of Fred Waitzkin and his son Joshua into the world of chess. Inspired by the historic Fischer-Spassky championship match, Waitzkin's son Josh begins playing chess at six and quickly becomes a prodigy. The book explores their travels, tournaments, and the impact on their relationship, as well as the broader world of chess and the enigmatic figure of Bobby Fischer. It delves into the pressures and challenges faced by Josh and the ethical dilemmas of parenting a prodigy, making it a story about fathers, sons, and the complexities of ambition and love[1][4][5].

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Robert Pirsig

This classic novel by Robert M. Pirsig is a personal and philosophical odyssey that delves into the author's search for meaning. The narrative follows a father and his son on a summer motorcycle trip from the Midwest to California, intertwining a travelogue with deep philosophical discussions. The book explores the concept of 'quality' and how it informs a well-lived life, reconciling science, religion, and humanism. It also touches on the author's own struggles with his past and his philosophical quest, making it a touching and transcendent exploration of human experience and endeavor.

Mindset

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck

In this book, Carol S. Dweck introduces the concept of two mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe their abilities are static, while those with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning. Dweck shows how these mindsets influence success in school, work, sports, and personal relationships. She also discusses how to adopt a deeper, truer growth mindset, and how this can transform individual and organizational cultures. The book emphasizes the importance of perseverance, learning from failures, and embracing challenges as key components of the growth mindset[1][2][5].

Dreaming Yourself Awake

Lucid Dreaming and Tibetan Dream Yoga for Insight and Transformation

Brian Hodel

B. Alan Wallace

In 'Dreaming Yourself Awake', B. Alan Wallace explores the practice of lucid dreaming as a gateway to self-discovery and spiritual awakening. The book provides techniques for inducing lucid dreams and delves into the methods of Tibetan Buddhist dream yoga for profound insights. It offers a path to heighten creativity, solve problems, and increase self-knowledge, ultimately leading to enlightenment.

The art of learning

An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance

Josh Waitzkin

The Art of Learning takes readers through Josh Waitzkin’s unique journey to excellence in both chess and Tai Chi Chuan. The book explains how a well-thought-out, principled approach to learning separates success from failure. Waitzkin discusses how achievement is a function of a lifestyle that fuels a creative, resilient growth process. He shares his methods for systematically triggering intuitive breakthroughs, honing techniques, and mastering performance psychology. The book also emphasizes the importance of embracing defeat, making mistakes work for you, and turning weaknesses into strengths. It is divided into sections that cover his rise in chess, his transition to Tai Chi, and the similarities in preparation and execution between the two disciplines.