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  • The First 20 Hours

  • How to Learn Anything... Fast!
  • By: Josh Kaufman
  • Narrated by: Josh Kaufman
  • Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (55 ratings)

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The First 20 Hours

By: Josh Kaufman
Narrated by: Josh Kaufman
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Publisher's Summary

"Learn anything... fast!"

Take a moment to consider how many things you want to learn to do. What's on your list? What's holding you back from getting started? Are you worried about the time and effort it takes to acquire new skills - time you don't have and effort you can't spare?

Research suggests it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. In this nonstop world when will you ever find that much time and energy?

To make matters worse, the early hours of practicing something new are always the most frustrating. That's why it's difficult to learn how to speak a new language, play an instrument, hit a golf ball, or shoot great photos. It's so much easier to watch TV or surf the web...

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 complex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By completing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you'll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well.

This method isn't theoretical: it's field-tested. Kaufman invites readers to join him as he field tests his approach by learning to program a Web application, play the ukulele, practice yoga, re-learn to touch type, get the hang of windsurfing, and study the world's oldest and most complex board game.

What do you want to learn?

Listen to The First 80 Minutes FREE from The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything . . . Fast!.

©2013 Worldly Wisdom Ventures LLC (P)2013 Worldly Wisdom Ventures LLC

Critic Reviews

"As a father of three, practicing neurosurgeon, and global journalist, I don't have a lot of free time on my hands. The First 20 Hours is a practical guide to learning beyond our mid-20s, when our brains are fully developed. Josh's book will inspire you to pick up forgotten hobbies and chase elusive dreams." (Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent)

What listeners say about The First 20 Hours

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Really interesting

I found this book really intetesting and I am going to use the system to learn at least 2 new skills this year.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Too much irrelevant background detail

Great idea and decent first chapter but it lacks sufficient relevent and quality content to fill an entire book so it's stuffed with way too many irrelevant details about the hostory of yoga and descriptions of physical yoga poses. Irrelevant and a waste of time.

If the 4 Hour Chef was available on audible then I'd recommend it as an alternative book for how to learn to do new things quickly.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Yoga and computer code

This book is mainly about yoga poses, computer coding and the authors life not a lot on the first 20 hours theme

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Worst book I've listened to.

If you want to listen to someone explain every task they perform this is for you. I couldn't stand this book.

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1 person found this helpful

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