Beginners

Zusatztext An entertaining read. . . . Beginners provides a primer of sorts for re-engaging with life. . . . We could do worse than to find new pursuits to embrace with the open-minded zeal of a child; to rediscover the intrinsic wonders of the world through the eyes of a beginner. The New York Times This is Vanderbilt's great revelationthat in a world where apps constantly rate us and measure our performance . . . we should enjoy the process more and worry less about the product. . . . This book conveys that pleasure and is itself a pleasure to read. The Guardian Vanderbilt is a winning and insightful guide to the mechanics of mastery. But Beginners is ultimately about more than learning. It's about the possibilities that reside in all of us. Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When Vanderbilt is good on the specific joys and embarrassments of being a late-blooming novice, or kook, as surfers sometimes call gauche beginners. . . . I was entranced. . . . If learning like a child sounds a little airy-fairy, whatever the neuroscience research says, try recalling what it felt like to learn how to do something new when you didn't really care what your performance of it said about your place in the world, when you didn't know what you didn't know. It might feel like a whole new beginning. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker [Vanderbilt] describes frankly (and humorously) the embarrassment that comes with repeated failures as well as quiet triumphs. . . . The joy is transcendent. Christian Science Monitor Accessible and highly informative, the book is a fast-paced exploration of the science of skill acquisition and a delightful account of journalist Vanderbilt's personal adventures among fellow new learners. . . . Despite the inevitable setbacks, his is an empowering story that will have adventuresome readers eager to head off in search of some new challenge the moment they've put it down. An engaging perspective on the joys of embarking on the process of learning something new. Shelf Awareness Vanderbilt makes a compelling case that learning something new has myriad advantages, including promoting the brain's ability to rewire itself, connecting you to new people and new communities, and reengaging our innate curiosity and open-mindedness. Outside Tom Vanderbilt takes up pursuits that are actually funsurfing, chess, even jugglingand finds power in being a novice. Bloomberg Vanderbilt's book is, above all, a call to action. CNN Health Beginners belongs with David Epstein's Range on the list of books that have changed the way I understand my own limitations. Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author of Outliers Tom Vanderbilt's book explores how to learn completely new skills, how to change our world even after we're supposed to be done with schooling. This is a book about how to become a beginner again, and it makes you want to plunge in with both feet. Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better A thoughtful and stirring look into the art and science of lifelong learning. Currently, I'm learning Gaelic, dressmaking and how to lay floors. Last year, it was knitting and coding. I'm 50, and not supposed to be a beginner any moreaccording to society's conventionsbut Tom Vanderbilt turns that flawed assumption on its head with the grace with which he learns to reach a high note or surf a wave. Rose George, author of Ninety Percent of Everything A great book about the power of being a beginner. Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Pr...

“An entertaining read. . . . Beginners provides a primer of sorts for re-engaging with life. . . . We could do worse than to find new pursuits to embrace with the open-minded zeal of a child; to rediscover the intrinsic wonders of the world through the eyes of a beginner.”
—The New York Times

“This is Vanderbilt’s great revelation—that in a world where apps constantly rate us and measure our performance . . . we should enjoy the process more and worry less about the product. . . . This book conveys that pleasure and is itself a pleasure to read.”
—The Guardian
 
“Vanderbilt is a winning and insightful guide to the mechanics of mastery. But Beginners is ultimately about more than learning. It’s about the possibilities that reside in all of us.”
—Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When

“Vanderbilt is good on the specific joys and embarrassments of being a late-blooming novice, or “kook,” as surfers sometimes call gauche beginners. . . . I was entranced. . . . If learning like a child sounds a little airy-fairy, whatever the neuroscience research says, try recalling what it felt like to learn how to do something new when you didn’t really care what your performance of it said about your place in the world, when you didn’t know what you didn’t know. It might feel like a whole new beginning.”
—Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker
 
“[Vanderbilt] describes frankly (and humorously) the embarrassment that comes with repeated failures as well as quiet triumphs. . . . The joy is transcendent.”
—Christian Science Monitor
 
“Accessible and highly informative, the book is a fast-paced exploration of the science of skill acquisition and a delightful account of journalist Vanderbilt’s personal adventures among fellow new learners. . . . Despite the inevitable setbacks, his is an empowering story that will have adventuresome readers eager to head off in search of some new challenge the moment they’ve put it down.  An engaging perspective on the joys of embarking on the process of learning something new.” —Shelf Awareness
 
“Vanderbilt makes a compelling case that learning something new has myriad advantages, including promoting the brain’s ability to rewire itself, connecting you to new people and new communities, and reengaging our innate curiosity and open-mindedness.”
—Outside

• “Tom Vanderbilt takes up pursuits that are actually fun—surfing, chess, even juggling—and finds power in being a novice.” 
  **—Bloomberg
   
  “Vanderbilt’s book is, above all, a call to action.”
  *—CNN Health*
   
  “Beginners belongs with David Epstein’s Range* on the list of books that have changed the way I understand my own limitations.”
  —Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author of Outliers**
   
  “Tom Vanderbilt’s book explores how to learn completely new skills, how to change our world – even after we’re supposed to be done with schooling. This is a book about how to become a beginner again, and it makes you want to plunge in with both feet.” 
  —Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better
   
  “A thoughtful and stirring look into the art and science of lifelong learning. Currently, I’m learning Gaelic, dressmaking and how to lay floors. Last year, it was knitting and coding. I’m 50, and not supposed to be a beginner any more—according to society’s conventions—but Tom Vanderbilt turns that flawed assumption on its head with the grace with which he learns to reach a high note or surf a wave.”
  —Rose George, author of Ninety Percent of Everything***
  

  • “A great book about the power of being a beginner.”
  —Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project**

  “Tom Vanderbilt shows us why it’s never too late to be a beginner, and that there should be no shame associated with the word ‘dilettante.’ Now I’m off to learn how to play the trombone, speak Port…