First published 2021
Why do adults struggle to pick up new skills while children learn effortlessly? Inspired by his daughter's endless curiosity, Tom Vanderbilt decides to find out. He commits an entire year to becoming a beginner again. Vanderbilt tackles chess matches where eight-year-olds defeat him soundly. He battles Costa Rican waves while learning to surf. He joins a choir to develop his singing voice and enrolls in evening art classes to improve his drawing. Each new challenge reveals the psychological barriers adults face when learning. Vanderbilt combines personal struggles with scientific research on how our brains acquire skills. His journey through juggling, singing, and strategic thinking shows that fear of failure often stops adults before they start. The book demonstrates that anyone can embrace being a novice, whether at twenty or eighty years old.
Genres: psychology, self-help, adult, non-fiction, biography-memoir, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water
320 pages · Paperback · Atlantic Books