hackertube.io

The first 20 hours -- how to learn anything | Josh Kaufman | TEDxCSU

TEDx Talks · talk · Watch on YouTube

Productivity & self-improvementEducation & learning

What it is

Josh Kaufman's TEDx talk argues that you can reach practical competence in almost any skill with about 20 hours of focused practice, rather than the 10,000 hours often quoted. He describes how becoming a parent led him to rethink how adults learn, and lays out a short method for rapid skill acquisition.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN uses it as the standard counterpoint to the 10,000-hour rule and as an encouraging recipe for starting new skills.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 6 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2014, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “Anyway, check the TED Talk above, 20 hours to proficiency.”

    Contrasts 10k hours with 20 hours to proficiency.

    Freeboots, 2014-08 · Recommendation · in “The 1,000-hour rule (2009)”

  2. “Here's a TED talk he gave which lead me to buy the book”

    Kaufman's talk that prompted buying his book.

    kriro, 2015-12 · Recommendation · in “The 100-Hour Rule”

  3. “It's surprising how much could you can learn in just 20 hours.”

    Surprising how much you can learn in 20 hours.

    Edmar, 2019-08 · Recommendation · in “Try Micromastery”

  4. “You can be a top 10% in any given field with this.”

    20 hours gets you to top 10 percent.

    vrajeshkanna, 2022-08 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: I want to be an expert in many things but my lifetime won't be enough”

  5. “The topic boils down to 4 points that seems fairly straight forward.”

    Four straightforward points for learning a skill in 20 hours.

    santi_panti, 2023-01 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: What are your best tips for quickly getting better at video games?”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: 20 hours, learning, deliberate practice, 10000 hour rule, self-improvement

Also recommended by the same people