Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The First 20 Hours summary
Josh Kaufman
How to Learn Anything… Fast
12 mins
Brief summary
The First 20 Hours by Josh Kaufman is a personal development book that introduces a practical approach to learn new skills fast. The author advocates for a method of deliberate practice to acquire proficiency in any field in just 20 hours.
Topics
Table of Contents
The First 20 Hours
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
Learn the basics of anything in 20 hours by using rapid skill acquisition.
Is there some skill you’ve always wanted to learn but never had the time for? Many people wish they could play the piano, dominate on the tennis court or converse in fluent French, and may even undertake to learn these skills. But often they give up before they’ve even acquainted themselves with the basics. The reason is that they believe it’s too late for them to acquire a new skill – but that’s simply not true!
This is where rapid skill acquisition comes into play. By employing this technique, you can become fairly good at whatever skill you choose by putting in a mere 20 hours of practice.
Obviously, if your aim is to become the next Serena Williams, you’ll need many thousands of hours of work. Rapid skill acquisition is more about covering the basics, rather than transforming yourself into an instant expert. But even those first 20 hours of practice on the court will already enable you to play against friends and maybe even partake in local tournaments.
Let’s continue with the example of tennis. If you practice for 20 hours, breaking that time up into daily doses of 60-90 minutes, you’ll soon find yourself rapidly improving. And once you’ve completed the initial 20 hours of practice, it’ll become considerably easier to continue developing your chosen skill.
If you’ve ever tried to learn something new, you’ll know that the first few hours of practice are often the hardest. At this stage, you’ll be more likely to get confused and run into problems, which is what causes people to give up early on. But it’s essential to persist for at least 20 hours. That way, you’ll have already reached a substantial level of skill, which will make further practice less problematic.
So how can you make those 20 hours really count? Let’s dive into the ten principles underlying rapid skill acquisition.
Want to see all full key ideas from The First 20 Hours?
Key ideas in The First 20 Hours
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The First 20 Hours about?
The First 20 Hours (2013) is about learning new skills quickly. These blinks will help you shake off the notion that it’s too late to expand your horizons. Whether you want to master a foreign language or learn how to fly a helicopter, here are ten simple steps for getting started.
The First 20 Hours Review
The First 20 Hours (2013) by Josh Kaufman is a book that provides valuable insights on how to learn new skills quickly and efficiently. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With its emphasis on practical techniques, readers can learn how to go from beginner to competent in any skill in just 20 hours.
- Supported by research and personal experiences, the book offers a step-by-step approach that is easy to follow and implement.
- It showcases the power of deliberate practice, proving that with focused effort and the right strategies, anyone can become proficient in a new skill.
Best quote from The First 20 Hours
Theres no magic to it – just smart, strategic effort invested in something you care about.
—Josh Kaufman
Who should read The First 20 Hours?
- Dreamers and curious souls
- Procrastinators
- Wannabe polyglots
Categories with The First 20 Hours
Book summaries like The First 20 Hours
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
31 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The First 20 Hours FAQs
What is the main message of The First 20 Hours?
The main message of The First 20 Hours is that with focused practice, you can acquire a new skill in a short period of time.
How long does it take to read The First 20 Hours?
The estimated reading time for The First 20 Hours varies. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The First 20 Hours a good book? Is it worth reading?
The First 20 Hours is worth reading because it provides practical strategies for rapid skill acquisition. It's a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn new skills efficiently.
Who is the author of The First 20 Hours?
The author of The First 20 Hours is Josh Kaufman.
What to read after The First 20 Hours?
If you're wondering what to read next after The First 20 Hours, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
- Fluent In 3 Months by Benny Lewis
- 10 Days to Faster Reading by The Princeton Language Institute and Abby Marks Beale
- Learn Better by Ulrich Boser
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
- What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School by Mark H. McCormack
- Learn Like a Pro by Barbara Oakley and Olav Schewe
- How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens
- The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle
- How We Learn by Benedict Carey