The World's Best Book Summaries
What is Josh Waitzkin’s The Art of Learning about? What is the essence of effective learning? In his book The Art of Learning, Josh Waitzkin argues that effective learning comes from a resilient commitment to your growth process. His learning philosophy can be boiled down to three themes: 1) to always strive for “presence,” 2) to learn through trial and error, and 3) to balance tensions as you grow. Let’s explore each theme in detail below.
What are the three points of view in writing? Which point of view should you choose? There are three common points of view in writing: first person, second person, and third person. The first thing you should decide when writing a narrative piece is which point of view you are going to use. Here are some things to consider when choosing which point of view to use.
Are you new to the world of art? Are you scared of trying something new? Artist and writer Austin Kleon knows what you’re going through—he’s also been there. In his book Steal Like an Artist, he provides four important pieces of advice for the beginning artist. Here’s how to start your creative journey.
What did Sun Tzu mean by “all warfare is based on deception?” How can deception help one secure a military advantage? As a well-known translation of Sun Tzu puts it, “all warfare is based on deception.” According to Sun Tzu, the author of The Art of War, deception is the key to gaining a military advantage over your opponent. Here’s how to use deception to get the upper hand over your opponent.
What’s the best way to measure progress? Why are results not a good indicator of progress? People generally track progress by measuring results. The problem with using results as an indicator of progress is that they don’t tell you how to improve. For example, if your goal is to save up a certain amount of money, your only measurement might be the number in your bank account: If it’s lower than your goal, you don’t learn anything about how to increase it. A better way of measuring progress is to track your efforts, rather than just the results. Here’s why efforts
Do you struggle to get your point across in your writing? Do you want to learn to write clearly and concisely? The two most important rules for clear writing are to follow a logical sequence and to be consistent. And, of course, you need to thoroughly understand the material you are writing about. Here’s how to write clearly, according to journalist William Zinsser.
Why does Stephen Hawking consider artificial intelligence to be a form of life? How can humanity avoid a disaster like the one in I, Robot? According to Stephen Hawking, AI fulfills the two requirements to be considered living. Hawking warns that artificial intelligence may even become conscious one day, and if it does, it better be on the side of humanity rather than against it. Here’s more of what Hawking had to say about AI.
Is there a trick to winning competitions? How do the world’s top athletes consistently stay on top of their game? According to American chess player Josh Waitzkin, the key to winning competitions, even when the margins are incredibly slim, is to operate on a deeper, more subtle level than your opponents. In practice, this means achieving enhanced perception through deep refinement of your skills and control of your mental arena. Here’s how to win competitions even when the margins are small.
What is the key to mastering a skill? Should you focus on one technique or diversify your practice? According to Joshua Waitzkin, the author of The Art of Learning, real skill comes from a deep, singular focus. In terms of skill-building, he argues that you reach excellence by refining a set of fundamental skills, rather than practicing a wide range of techniques. For example, focus on learning a single style of piano, like baroque classical, rather than trying to learn classical, jazz, and ragtime piano all at once. Here’s how to master a skill, according to Waitzkin.
What is “attack by strategem”? Why is it best to attack by strategem rather than force? Sun Tzu said that the best outcome in a war is to take your opponent whole and intact instead of obliterating it completely—that’s the premise of attack by stratagem. If the battle is won, but the opponent’s forces and country are obliterated, that’s a lesser victory than if you are able to overcome them and force a surrender. Keep reading to learn about the attack by stratagem tactic.