Close
Sign up for Aeon’s Newsletter
EXCLUSIVE

First lesson

5 minutes

From crawling to flying, the agony and ecstasy of trying to learn something new

An eloquent reminder that expertise is earned, this observational documentary from the US filmmakers Nick Paley and Dawn Kim explores the thrills and frustrations of taking on a new challenge – from swimming, to archery, to flying a plane – at any age.

Director: Nick Paley, Dawn Kim

Editor: Saela Davis

Sound Design & Mix: Chris Foster

Music: Benoît Pioulard

Support Aeon

Ideas can change the world

Aeon is a registered charity committed to the spread of knowledge and a cosmopolitan worldview.

But we can’t do it without you.

Aeon is a registered charity committed to the spread of knowledge and a cosmopolitan worldview. Our mission is to create a sanctuary online for serious thinking.

No ads, no paywall, no clickbait – just thought-provoking ideas from the world’s leading thinkers, free to all. But we can’t do it without you.

There are two ways to support Aeon:

Become a Friend for $5 a month or Make a one-off donation

Essay/Love & Friendship
Why women stray

Evolutionary theory says men stray to increase offspring, but what motivates women? Enter the mate-switching hypothesis

David Buss

Essay/Neuroscience
The kindled brain

If each bout of depression, bipolar disorder or PTSD makes another more likely, should sufferers stay on medication for life?

Elizabeth Svoboda