{"product_id":"micromastery-isbn-9780143132325","title":"Micromastery","description":"\u003cb\u003eWant to be a lifelong learner? Think small.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eForget spending 10,000 hours in the pursuit of perfecting just one thing. The true path to success and achievement lies in the pursuit of perfecting lots and lots of small things--for a big payoff.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCombining positive psychology, neuroscience, self-help and more, this delightfully illuminating book encourages us to circumvent all the reasons we \"can't\" learn and grow (we're too busy, it's too complicated, we're not experts, we didn't start when we were young) -- by tackling small, satisfying skills. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWish you were a seasoned chef? Learn to make a perfect omelette. Dream of being a racecar driver? Perfect a handbrake turn. Wish you could draw? Make Zen circles your first challenge. These small, doable tasks offer a big payoff -- and motivate us to keep learning and growing, with payoffs that include a boost in optimism, confidence, memory, cognitive skills, and more.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFilled with surprising insights and even a compendium of micromastery skills to try yourself, this engaging and inspiring guide reminds us of the simple joy of learning -- and opens the door to limitless, lifelong achievement, one small step at a time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMicromasteries presented in the book (with illustrations) include: Learn How to Climb a Rope, Surf Standing Up, Talk for Fifteen Minutes about Any Subject, Bake Artisan Bread, Juggle Four Balls, Learn to Read Japanese in Three Hours, and more.\"\u003ci\u003eMicromastery\u003c\/i\u003e is a triumph. I read it with delight, and instantly vowed to put more conviction into the latest thing I'm trying, which is using a plectrum when I play the guitar.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Philip Pullman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I couldn't stop telling people about this book. Wise and joyful, it genuinely changed the way I thought about learning - and it left me bursting to put it into action.\"  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e--Tim Harford, author of \u003ci\u003eMessy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eRobert Twigger \u003c\/b\u003eis an author, adventure traveler and apprentice micromaster. He lectures on risk management, polymathics and leadership, and lives in London.What is Micromastery?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Start with the egg, not the chicken\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e YouTube has clips of The Great Egg Race, a long-running TV show in      the 1980s, hosted by an amiable German-born egghead called Dr.      Heinz Wolff. Like a forerunner and more inventive version of      Scrapheap Challenge, contestants had to build a gadget with      limited resources to meet the challenge set out at the start of      the show. In the early series all the tasks involved an egg that      mustn't be broken, the first task being to make a machine to      transport an egg the farthest distance possible using only paper      clips, card, and rubber bands. It was such a simple idea, yet it      gave rise to incredibly inventive machines. And it all started      with an egg, something rather small and humble.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Life can be overwhelming. We want to do as much as we can, see the      world, learn new things-and it can all get a bit too much. I      reached a point in my life when I felt that I could no longer be      interested in everything. I had to shut some of life out, and I      didn't like that. I was living under the assumption-the false      assumption, as it turned out-that to know anything worthwhile took      years of study, so I might as well forget it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But something inside me rebelled. I still wanted to learn new      things and make new things. They didn't have to be big things-I      was happy to leave that till later. Start small, start humble.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Start with an egg.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e So I was thinking about how long it would take to learn how to      cook really well. I recalled a chef telling me that the real test      is doing something simple-like making a perfect omelet. Everything      you know about cooking comes out in this simple dish. So I decided      to switch the order around. Instead of spending 10,000 hours      learning the basics of cookery and then showing my expertise in      omelet making, I'd start with just making an omelet.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I really focused on making that omelet. I separated it from the      basic need that cooking usually fulfills-filling my stomach-so      that it now occupied a special, singular place in my life. It had      become a micromastery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A micromastery is a self-contained unit of doing, complete in      itself but connected to a greater field. You can perfect that      single thing or move on to bigger things-or you can do both. A      micromastery is repeatable and has a success payoff. It is      pleasing in and of itself. You can experiment with the      micromastery because it has a certain elasticity-you can bend it      and stretch it, and as you do you learn in a three-dimensional way      that appeals to the multisensory neurons in our brain.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It's the way we learn as kids. You never absorb all the      fundamentals straight away-you learn one cool thing, then another.      You learn a 360 on a skateboard or how to make a crystal radio. My      father was a teacher, and he hoped to encourage me when he told me      that he would buy me the parts to make a transistor radio when I      could explain how a transistor worked. My interest died      immediately. I knew how to make the radio and have fun with it,      but having to explain it was something difficult, adult, and      alien. And wrong. (Dad, I forgive you.)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has written      extensively about \"flow\"-a state in which time seems to be      suspended because our interest and involvement in what we're doing      are so great. A micromastery, because it is repeatable without      being repetitious, has all the elements that allow us to enter a      flow state, which produces great contentment and enhances physical      and mental health.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Learning a micromastery doesn't commit you in that deadening way      that buying a beginner's textbook does. By its limited nature, it      gives you permission to remain interested in the world. It doesn't      mean you have to commit to doing that thing for what feels like      forever, and at the same time it spares you any worries that      you've wasted your time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Do you know the feeling of doing an introductory course on      something, which you give up on, and then a few years later you      try to tell others what you learned, but you can't remember? A      micromastery isn't like that. It's with you forever-and it's nice      to have something to show others. For instance if you learn a      martial art you need something to shut people up with when they      say, \"Go on, show us a move.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A micromastery has a structure that connects in a crucial way to      important elements in the greater field it is a part of. It      reveals relationships and balances in the elements of the task      that mere words and explanation, textbook-style, cannot. Its      repeatability and gameability-people like that omelet, ask for      another, you start to aim higher-turn it into a self-teaching      mechanism, where experimentation within certain defined limits      greatly increases your learning.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But let's get back to starting with an egg-or two.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A chef gave me the tip about using the fork to bulk up the omelet.      I kept practicing. I went online and found more tips. Then a      French woman told me about separating the yolk from the white,      which allows your omelet to double in thickness and softness. When      it's served, people simply go: \"Wow!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This is what I call the \"entry trick.\" Every micromastery has one.      It is a way, in one stroke, to elevate your performance at that      task and get an immediate payoff-a rush of rewarding      neurochemicals, which is a nice warm feeling.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In some micromasteries, the entry trick is huge, an integral part      of the whole thing. In others it just gives you enough of a push      to get you going. There are lots of big-shot learners out there      boasting of their ability to master foreign languages, get      calculus down, or absorb C++ programming, but they all seem to      miss this point. Learning must not be like school; it must not be      boring. It doesn't need to be silly fun, but it mustn't be      deadening or dull or too hard. The entry trick, in one fell swoop,      sweeps all that away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A great entry trick is used in stone balancing. Maybe you've seen      some stone-sculptor type doing it at the beach. It looks like      magic-rounded rocks and mini-boulders balancing on each other in a      seemingly impossible way. The first time I saw such a sculpture I      thought it had to have glue or metal rods inside it . . . and then      I watched a small boy knock it over. When I attempted to help      rebuild it, the sculptor showed me the entry trick.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e (The pictures are some I made myself on the beach, later, when I      had learned how to do it.)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You can balance any stone at all, but you must find three raised      bits close together on one side of the supporting stone-three      bumps, three nodules, or even three grains. They can be tiny,      almost invisible. In fact the smaller they are, the better it      looks. These three bumps act as a flat triangle for another curved      object to fit into. That's how you make these crazy balances work.      People look for flat bits on the stones to make them stand on each      other, but that doesn't work because nothing in nature is really      flat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Stone balancing is not only fun, but also a perfect form of      micromastery. It is complete in itself, but it could also lead you      further into the greater world of sculpture and outdoor art-should      you want to go there.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Anyone can do it\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e We envy the person who has a perfect French accent, who can roll a      kayak, perform a double or even triple integral in math or compose      a poem that isn't laughable; who can draw something well, do a      magic trick, or lay a brick wall that doesn't fall down. These are      perceived as hard things to learn that signify a greater mastery      of the field concerned. But with micromastery you start with the      test piece and then-and only then-do you go back upstream to      explore more.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Why?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Because the biggest reasons for not achieving anything are giving      up, failing to gain momentum, and becoming distracted. You may      imagine you are tough and self-contained, but we all need a payoff      as soon as we start learning. Especially if it's been a while      since we tried anything new. If you don't have microsuccesses      along the way you'll lose heart and give up, especially if you are      learning something on your own.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rapid learning techniques, intensive courses, and shortcuts are      all very well, but if you haven't got a show-offable product at      the end you'll give up. It's no good telling your friends and      family that you have a broad knowledge of the background of math      or a working acquaintanceship with magic tricks. \"Come on,\"      they'll say, \"show us something now!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Having a micromastery gives you something to boast about (as      loudly or as quietly as you like). It gives something to connect      you to others, and earn that all-important feedback. No man,      woman, or child is an island-and yet we are taught as if we are      solitary brain-blobs who just suck up knowledge until one      miraculous day we are \"masters,\" \"qualified,\" \"ready to teach,\" or      some other spurious designation. We are not like that. Humans want      to pass on what they have learned straight away, not five years      later.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ask the experts\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Those who have mastered their field are often a great source of      insight, and I have talked to many such experts to produce the      micromasteries outlined in this book. They often approach their      subject from a perspective I'd never have thought about.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e When I spoke to former England Schools rugby player and coach of      the Nigerian Sevens team Rupert Seldon, he didn't, as I'd      expected, suggest spin passing as a micromastery of his sport. He      preferred the drop kick, a more technical skill. A Madame Tussauds      sculptor told me how modeling a human skull from clay, or even      Plasticine, is a micromastery that starts you on the path to      producing lifelike sculptures. He explained how you see the \"skull      beneath the skin\" when you look at someone you want to model.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Usually, I combine asking an expert with my own research. Having      learned traditional martial arts in Japan, I already knew that the      Japanese use kata and self-contained exercises-micromasteries-in      most of their teaching.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Japanese approach to learning-be it martial arts, the tea      ceremony, or calligraphy-is different from Western methods of      teaching. In the West the tacit assumption is that you either      start very young, possibly driven by obsessive parents, or you      have an innate talent. Teaching is conceived as a kind of      coaching, and if you haven't got the talent you're considered a      lost cause.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Japanese know that talent is rather overrated. More important      is your attitude toward learning. So their method of teaching      assumes that everyone can learn-whatever their initial level of      skill. Instead of hoping that students \"pick it up\" by osmosis, as      is done in the West, micromastery routines are devised so that      everyone, even the apparently talentless, can learn.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Drawing is a good case in point. Lots of people swear they \"can't      draw,\" but that usually means they can't draw a picture that looks      like someone. This is like saying you can't cook when you haven't      ever read a recipe book or bought any ingredients. You have to      start a few stages further back, with something simple, something      humble.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Shoo Rayner-who has illustrated hundreds of children's books-has a      website dedicated to helping people learn to draw. When I talked      to him he emphasized that all objects can be reduced to simple      shapes-cubes, spheres, and cylinders-and these can be even further      reduced to lines and curves. He said, \"If you can draw a line, you      can draw.\" The next step is to draw straight lines and then curved      lines-which is where Zen circles come in.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The thing I like to look for first is the entry trick, the piece      of insider information that elevates your initial attempt above      that of the average first-timer and shows you the way into the      micromastery. With circle-drawing there are not one but three      tricks to get you going.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Holding your pencil, pen, or, ideally, brush midway down its      handle is the single easiest way to improve drawing. The further      you can move your gripping finger and thumb from the point, the      easier you will find it. There will be a miraculous improvement      over the crabbed, nib-pinching style many of us have developed      from our schooldays. Holding the pen higher up will improve not      only all your drawing, but also your handwriting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You can then try lifting your hand off the table and using your      whole arm, rather than just your hand isolated at the wrist, to      make the circle. The neurological reason for doing this is that a      greater area of the brain is being stimulated, so the learning is      deeper and, ultimately, a greater refinement of movement is      possible. Classical guitarist David Leisner claimed that he      recovered from focal hand dystonia, the repetitive-strain illness      that often affects guitarists, by retraining using his whole arm      instead of just his wrist. This not only aided his recovery, but      also, amazingly, improved his performances.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Another entry trick, beloved by signwriters who need to get very      accurate curves and circles, is to rest your drawing hand on your      fist. Make the circle by using a combination of moving the drawing      arm while also moving the fist to guide it. You can experiment      with how much you move the supporting fist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Seeing the world in terms of micromasteries makes anything seem      possible. Fancy bookbinding? Yoga? Tap dancing or tank driving?      All have their micromasteries. It's very liberating-you no longer      have to feel trapped in whatever your day job happens to be. You      will start, in a small way-a humble way-to get your life back from      the idea the world seems to push on us that we should do just one      thing all our lives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Inside a Micromastery\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e When you've seen someone start a fire in the woods using just      their hands and a wooden drill, or cook a perfect omelet, or lead      you in a snappy tango across the dance floor, you don't forget it      easily. These skillful activities all look hard, but the      difficulty is made manageable by using the structure necessary to      achieve them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Every micromastery has a precise structure:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 1.    The entry trick\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 2.    The rub-pat barrier\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 3.    Background support\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 4.    The payoff\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 5.    Repeatability\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 6.    Experimental possibilities\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Knowing the structure helps you learn the micromastery, and also      helps you identify other things as potential micromasteries. It      enables you, on approaching a new subject of study, to identify      for yourself the parts of it that can be micromastered, thus      speeding up the learning and increasing your chances of sticking      with it.","brand":"Tarcher","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300184838373,"sku":"NP9780143132325","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780143132325.jpg?v=1767732640","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/micromastery-isbn-9780143132325","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}