The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything … Fast

In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition– how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct com-plex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By complet-ing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you’ll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well.

Kaufman personally field-tested the meth-ods in this book. You’ll have a front row seat as he develops a personal yoga practice, writes his own web-based computer programs, teaches himself to touch type on a nonstandard key-board, explores the oldest and most complex board game in history, picks up the ukulele, and learns how to windsurf. Here are a few of the sim-ple techniques he teaches:

• Define your target performance level: Fig-ure out what your desired level of skill looks like, what you’re trying to achieve, and what you’ll be able to do when you’re done. The more specific, the better.
• Deconstruct the skill: Most of the things we think of as skills are actually bundles of smaller subskills. If you break down the subcompo-nents, it’s easier to figure out which ones are most important and practice those first.
• Eliminate barriers to practice: Removing common distractions and unnecessary effort makes it much easier to sit down and focus on deliberate practice.
• Create fast feedback loops: Getting accu-rate, real-time information about how well you’re performing during practice makes it much easier to improve.