Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning - Softcover

Vanderbilt, Tom

Softcover

ISBN 10: 178649311X ISBN 13: 9781786493118

Publisher: Atlantic Books, 2021

Synopsis

'Beginners belongs on the list of books that have changed the way I understand my own limitations.'
Malcolm Gladwell

For many of us, the last time we learned a new skill was during childhood. We live in an age which reveres expertise but looks down on the beginner. Upon entering adulthood and middle age, we begin to shy away from trying new things, instead preferring to stay nestled firmly in our comfort zones.

Beginners asks the question: why are children the only ones allowed to experience the inherent fun of facing daily challenges? And could we benefit from embracing new skills, even if we're initially hopeless? Bestselling author Tom Vanderbilt sets out to find the answer, tasking himself with acquiring several new skills under the tutelage of professionals, including drawing, juggling, surfing and much more. Witty and often surprisingly profound, Beginners is an uplifting exploration of the science of brain plasticity and how we can learn how to learn anew.

About this title

About the Author

Tom Vanderbilt writes on design, technology, science, and culture for numerous publications, including WIRED, the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of the international bestseller Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us). He is based in Brooklyn, New York.

From the Back Cover

For many of us, the last time we learned a new skill was during childhood. We live in an age which reveres expertise but looks down on the beginner. Upon entering adulthood and middle age, we begin to shy away from trying new things, instead preferring to stay nestled firmly in our comfort zones. Beginners asks the question: why are children the only ones allowed to experience the inherent fun of facing daily challenges? And could we benefit from embracing new skills, even if we're initially hopeless? Bestselling author Tom Vanderbilt sets out to find the answer, tasking himself with acquiring several new skills under the tutelage of professionals, including drawing, juggling, surfing and much more. Witty and often surprisingly profound, Beginners is an uplifting exploration of the science of brain plasticity and how we can learn how to learn anew.

Edition details

• Publisher: Atlantic Books
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 178649311X
• ISBN 13: 9781786493118
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320