Tom Vanderbilt, author of "Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning," inspires listeners with his journey of adult skill acquisition. He discusses the barriers that prevent adults from learning, urging us to embrace a 'beginner's mind.' Tom shares personal anecdotes about learning chess, singing, and surfing, illustrating that curiosity can reignite our passion for learning. He emphasizes the power of community in skill development and encourages celebrating small victories on the path to lifelong growth.
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Chess and the Catalyst for Learning
Tom Vanderbilt, inspired by his daughter's interest in chess, embarked on a journey of lifelong learning.
He realized he hadn't learned a new skill in years, prompting self-reflection and a quest for new experiences.
insights INSIGHT
The Stagnant Parent Paradox
Adults often passively observe their children learning while remaining stagnant themselves. This hypocrisy highlights a societal issue where learning is often seen as exclusive to children.
insights INSIGHT
Learning is for Kids?
Adults often subscribe to the unspoken belief that learning is for kids. This societal conditioning contributes to the decline in adult learning.
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In 'Word Freak', Stefan Fatsis delves into the world of competitive Scrabble, chronicling his transformation from a casual player to an expert. The book explores the game's history, strategies, and the eccentric characters that inhabit this competitive realm. It also examines themes of obsession, brilliance, and the power of language.
Moonwalking with Einstein
The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
Joshua Foer
In 'Moonwalking with Einstein', Joshua Foer delves into the world of competitive memory sports and the science behind human memory. The book follows Foer's transformation from a journalist to a mental athlete as he trains for the USA Memory Championship. It explores historical and cultural aspects of memory, including ancient techniques like the 'method of loci' or 'memory palace', and discusses modern research on memory. Foer also interacts with renowned memory experts and savants, providing a comprehensive look at how anyone can improve their memory through specific techniques and practices.
Range
Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
David Epstein
In this book, David Epstein examines the success of generalists in various fields, including sports, arts, music, invention, forecasting, and science. He argues that generalists, who often find their path late and juggle multiple interests, are more creative, agile, and able to make connections that specialists cannot. Epstein uses stories and research studies to show that wide sampling and late specialization can be more valuable than early specialization, especially in complex and unpredictable environments. He also discusses the distinction between 'kind' and 'wicked' learning environments and the importance of balancing specialization with range for long-term success[2][4][5].
Barbarian Days
A Surfing Life
William Finnegan
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life is a memoir by William Finnegan that chronicles his lifelong obsession with surfing. The book is an intellectual autobiography, social history, and literary exploration of surfing as a way of life. It follows Finnegan's journey from California and Hawaii to various parts of the world, detailing his experiences and reflections on surfing, identity, and morality.
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Betty Edwards
This book, written by Betty Edwards, is a classic in the field of art instruction. It teaches readers how to draw by shifting their focus from symbolic thinking to visual perception. Edwards argues that anyone can learn to draw by accessing the creative potential of the right hemisphere of the brain. The book includes various exercises such as contour drawings, negative space, sighting, portrait drawings, and working with colors, light, and shadow. It also features techniques like upside-down drawing to help learners overcome the interference of verbal thinking and engage more fully with the visual aspects of drawing. The book is highly recommended for beginners and has been praised for its ability to transform one's approach to drawing and artistic expression[2][4][5].
Beginners
Tom Vanderbilt
In 'Beginners', Tom Vanderbilt delves into the world of lifelong learning, highlighting the benefits and transformative power of embracing new skills and knowledge throughout one's life. The book encourages readers to adopt a beginner's mindset, exploring how this approach can lead to personal growth and fulfillment.
When you were a kid, you not only went to school, where you did academics, art, and PE, but you probably also took extracurricular lessons in music or sports, and likely even taught yourself things like how to do magic tricks.
Now that you're an adult, can you think of the last new skill you learned?
My guest today explains why there's a good chance that you'll struggle to answer that question, and how that's a tragedy you ought to do something about. His name is Tom Vanderbilt, and he's the author of several books, including his latest, Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning. Tom and I discuss why his daughter's desire to learn chess inspired him to spend a year learning the game himself, as well as to take on a project of learning other new skills. Tom explains the reasons adults give up learning, and why, while it is harder for adults to learn new things than it is for children, it's still worth becoming a novice all over again. We then explore how to harness the beginner's mind, using Tom's experiences in learning how to sing, surf, juggle, and draw as examples. We end our conversation with Tom's takeaways from his experiment, and how becoming a lifelong learner is really all about pushing through the mental barriers that hold us back from the many possibilities for growth that remain in adulthood.
The Art of Manliness 
