The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance

Deep down I believe that we all want to be good at something. What that “thing” is differs from person to person. In Josh Waitzkin’s book The Art of Learning, Josh describes his personal process for achieving excellence and it is not what one might think. Josh explains that what he is best at is not the tactics of chess nor the martial combinations of Tai Chi, rather he is exceptional in the art of learning. While skill and talent do play a role, Josh talks about how he has prevailed against competitors who were smarter, faster, older, more talented, stronger, etc. Once you reach your organic peak, learning is all that you have left to climb higher.

In his book, Josh describes the mental game. This quote from his website summarizes that game best: "One thing I have learned as a competitor is that there is a clear distinction between what it takes to be decent, what it takes to be good, what it takes to be great and what it takes to be among the best..."

Josh uses his experiences in chess as the foundation for his approach to learning and as a guide to fall back upon for explanation and continuity throughout the book. Even when describing his expansion into Tai Chi, his fundamentals of learning follow suit.

For anyone looking to raise their game to another level, perhaps it is time to stop looking at the game and instead looking at how you learn the skills and attributes needed for that game. This journey is worth embarking upon.

The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces that Will Shape Our Future

Present day discussions revolve around technology whether we are aware of it or not. Cell phone apps, morderination to equipment, enhancement in software capabilities, new music streaming sites, television and movies, vacuum cleaners, shopping, advertising, the list goes on and on. Along with the surface discussions surrounding technological applications comes a deeper dialogue. What is technology doing that is shaping and will shape our world tomorrow, the next day and the next year. Kevin Kelly’s book The Inevitable goes even farther. He explores the 12 forces that will shape the next three decades.

I have not been more excited about tomorrows potential as I was once completing this book. While there are many moral and societal discussions that must take place with the creation and advancement of technology, one thing is for certain, burying ones head in the sand and pretending change is not coming is simply naive.

What I found even more interesting in Kevin Kelly’s work is The Inevitable he talks about has nothing to do with “things”. It is not about the next TV or computer or device, rather the 12 constructs or forces that will bring about change to such physical creations. Change is upon us and the rate of change is not slowing down. Understanding potential directions of those future flows and the pace at which they are moving will help our understanding, application and hopefully, decision making.

I encourage each and every one to delve into any one of Kevin’s 12 chapters and stay for a while.

Becoming: Things will change faster
Cognifying: Things will have intelligence
Flowing: Things will be streamed
Screening: Things will be on screens
Accessing: Things will be on the cloud
Sharing: Things will be Shared and collaboratively created
Filtering: Things will be personalized
Remixing: Things will be edited and remixed
Interacting: Virtual Reality will increase
Tracking: Things will be tracked
Questioning: Questions will be more important than answers
Beginning: Things will continue changing

Ark Royal - Books 1 thru 3

Many times reading, especially for professional purposes ,can lead us to the consumption of topics, while worthwhile are often circular. The purpose behind the GATCT site is to generate ideas and discussions beyond traditional boundaries, be they individual, social or professional. It is critical that we do not become an echo chamber where support for ideas are only strengthened through common thoughts and beliefs as opposed to through debate, opposition and failure.

At the beginning of 2019 a friend of mine and myself began a discussion about the future of artificial intelligence. I openly admit that my knowledge on the topics of AI, virtual reality an augmented reality are weak to say the least. So our discussion, from my vantage point was from a position of ignorance or at least extreme lack of full understanding. My discussion ideas were presently being shaped by author Kevin Kelly and his book The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape our Future, a book that will be introduced in the near future. My friends points of discussion appeared to come from a science fiction book series from Christopher G. Nuttall titled Ark Royal. While I am an avid fan of science fiction movies, I have not delved into science fiction books and have been too heavily focused on what I believed were, “books of substance”. My opinion has changed.

Ark Royal and the genera of science fiction provide the reader to explore alternate possibilities while attempting to connect or trace out a path from here to there; be it with technology, societal constructs or governmental hierarchy. Moreover, the idea of fiction, let alone the classification of science fiction can provide that ever needed opportunity for idleness. One can immerse themself into such a story and disconnect from the tethers of daily requirements. Giving in and letting the mind wonder, generating new synapse between thoughts and ideas.

If you have not branched out from your typical reading rut, now is as good a time as any to take that step and see what awaits on the other side.

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

Towards the end of 2018 I was searching the internet for ideas and book suggestions for the new year. During my search I stumbled upon ValueWalk’s May article which listed 196 book recommendations from Bill Gates. The list is of topics within that list is as broad as it is deep. There is pretty much something for everyone. While there will be several other titles from that list to show up in the future I began with Elizabeth Kolbert’s book, The Sixth Extinction.

While I am not a vocal nor engaged environmental activist, I am of the belief that our planet is changing and as the dominant species we have a responsibility to examine what is happening and what the results of such change my be. Whether one is of the belief that humankind is directly responsible or whether our world is simply changing of its own accord, we must take the time to investigate from a point of neutrality and let the chips fall. If we are a contributing factor then we must take action, if the planet is on a path allies own we have just as much at stake.

In Elizabeth’s book, The Sixth Extinction, she explores earths previous five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. She then travels around the globe to meet with scientists who are currently monitoring the possibility of the beginnings of a sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs.

A note of caution, this book attempts to discuss and impart some very scientific topics to the average lay person. There is a steep scientific vocabulary used throughout the text and could cause reading stagnation if not prepared. Depending upon ones background or extracurricular studies, this text might take some time to go through and digest. However, the time and energy is worth the commitment for a chance to understand one perspective amid a serious and diverse topic.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Ernest Hemingway’s classic For Whom the Bell Tolls is a classic that had escaped my list and remained on the periphery of desired reading due to its “classical” classification. While classics are a typically, exceptional pieces of literature, I have hesitated to engaged due to a personal belief that the moniker of “classic” equated to a writing style and story composition that would take a significant level of commitment to complete, let alone understand or gain insight. I could not have been more wrong.

For Whom the Bell Tolls takes place in the mountains of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The story follows American fighter Robert Jordan, part of the international brigade fighting in support of the Second Spanish republic guerrillas. The story traverses the political frictions, guerrilla tactics, individual support from at the international sphere for national causes, love, and death. The themes and plot lines of days gone by are just as relevant today as they were in the 1940s.

This story traverses multiple themes that keeps the reader engaged. This is a must read for anyone interested in perspectives of the past by authors who lived the experiences from which they wrote.