#335 - Adam Gopnik on THE REAL WORK

The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik chats with Trey Elling about THE REAL WORK: ON THE MYSTERY OF MASTERY. Topics include: The book’s goal (0:38) The importance of learning new skills (3:26) Defining ‘mastery’ (6:12) The mystery of performance (8:19) Jamy Ian Swiss and the real work (13:15) “The method is not the trick” (16:33) Learning about mastery from David Blaine (19:11) The mystery of identity and intention (23:53) The challenge of Adam learning to drive a car in his 50s (29:07) How learning to drive in NYC changed his perception of the city (32:38) Courtesy waves (34:54) The mystery of interiority (36:24) The mystery of meaning (40:17) The mystery of late style (46:22) Overcoming a shy bladder (49:32) Whether learning how to draw altered Adam’s perception as an art critic (55:13)