The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything...Fast

Revealing a proven roadmap to go from zero to proficiency in just twenty hours

Josh Kaufman

2013

8 Key Insights

About This Book

Imagine teaching yourself anything—from a new language to a musical instrument—in less time than it takes to binge-watch a TV season. This transformative guide shatters the myth that mastery requires 10,000 hours. You’ll learn a concise, science-backed method to overcome the frustration barrier, deconstruct any skill into manageable pieces, and sprint past beginner confusion. Packed with real-world examples—from coding your own website to strumming your first song on the ukulele—you’ll discover how to make rapid progress and actually enjoy the journey.

About the Author

Josh Kaufman left a corporate career to become a self-taught expert in business, learning, and productivity. His bestselling book, The Personal MBA, has guided hundreds of thousands to master business fundamentals without business school. As the creator of PersonalMBA.com, he’s a sought-after speaker and coach, helping people around the world learn smart strategies to do more, earn more, and live more.

Biggest Takeaway

You’ll conquer the overwhelm and get good enough at any skill in just twenty focused hours. Learn how to set clear performance targets, dismantle complex skills into critical subunits, design a distraction-free learning environment, and harness fast feedback loops. Leverage sleep and purposeful practice to cement new abilities quickly. Whether you want to play music, speak a new language, or pick up a new hobby, you’ll transform procrastination into productive progress.