I've been reading this for over a month and I'm still only half-way through a book of only 260 pages.
EDIT: Finally finished it, terrific book.
Josh is the kid from "Searching for Bobby Fischer", a chess genius and 8-time national champion who has gone on to become a Tai Chi Push-Hands World Champion and now a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training under Marcelo Garcia.
His insights into the learning process, at least for myself, are great. I have pages and pages of notes, that I see parallels in my various pursuits (I'm a hyper-competitive video game player, surfer and Jiu-Jitsu student). Due to his book I've also started playing chess and really enjoying it -- I hated it as a kid, but I'm enjoying trying to make sense of the game.
I don't know if someone who isn't competitive would derive much from this book, but I'm very thankful it was written -- a guide to the mindset and attitude necessary to win and improve.
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Jour ... 559&sr=8-1
The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
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Bram
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Re: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
Post by Grandpa's Spells »
Have you read Mastery and how does it compare?
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Re: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
I liked it too but mainly because he went so in depth about his push hands tourneys. I felt he had some good insights otherwise, but the books later emphasis on push hands will probably not be appreciated by everyone.
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Re: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
He never made Grandmaster. I guess they over-hyped him.
I enjoyed his dad's book and the movie though.
I enjoyed his dad's book and the movie though.
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vern
Re: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
I haven't. Haven't ready any other chess books either.Grandpa's Spells wrote:Have you read Mastery and how does it compare?
Would you recommend it?
“If it won't matter in a year, don't spend more than a day stressing about it."
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Re: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
I was wondering if he ever achieved Grandmaster status.vern wrote:He never made Grandmaster. I guess they over-hyped him.
I enjoyed his dad's book and the movie though.
“If it won't matter in a year, don't spend more than a day stressing about it."
Bram
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Re: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
He got close, International Master IIRC. (Victor Korchnoi once said that no sane person could ever become a Grandmaster.)Bram wrote:I was wondering if he ever achieved Grandmaster status.vern wrote:He never made Grandmaster. I guess they over-hyped him.
I enjoyed his dad's book and the movie though.
You can check out some of Josh's best games here...
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=17030
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vern
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Bram
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Re: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
Post by Grandpa's Spells »
Very much so. I suspect the author is less of a virtuoso than the book suggests (not a lot of guys take up an MA late in life and get really good), but he taught for a long time and his insights into the learning process are legit.Bram wrote:I haven't. Haven't ready any other chess books either.Grandpa's Spells wrote:Have you read Mastery and how does it compare?
Would you recommend it?
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Re: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
I think I'll pick up his book then. I read Yasser Seirawan's "Play Winning Chess" and liked it:
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Winning-Ches ... 048&sr=8-2
But haven't read any other chess books yet.
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Winning-Ches ... 048&sr=8-2
But haven't read any other chess books yet.
“If it won't matter in a year, don't spend more than a day stressing about it."
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Re: The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
Since his recent death Bobby's book is available now for the first time in years. (In algebraic notation too.)
I also really enjoyed Tal's book.
White King and Red Queen is a really interesting book about chess and the Cold War. (You don't even have to know how to play chess to enjoy it.) I thought it was just going to be about the Fischer/Spassky match, but it covers a whole bunch of history that I had never even heard of. Highly recommended.
I also really enjoyed Tal's book.
White King and Red Queen is a really interesting book about chess and the Cold War. (You don't even have to know how to play chess to enjoy it.) I thought it was just going to be about the Fischer/Spassky match, but it covers a whole bunch of history that I had never even heard of. Highly recommended.
“Wherever the crowd goes, run the other direction. They’re always wrong.” Bukowski
vern