Ask HN: What's the most valuable thing you can learn in an hour?

Article summary

The article asks what valuable things can be learned in a short amount of time, such as 30-60 minutes, and provides examples of skills that can be quickly acquired, including reading Korean and playing guitar chords. However, it notes that these skills may not be valuable in themselves. The article invites readers to share their own examples of simple yet valuable skills that can be learned quickly. The goal is to identify quick wins that can be generated with intense concentration in a short period of time.

Main themes

• quick learning
• valuable skills
• Git and version control
• productivity shortcuts
• knots and outdoor skills
• deals and savings
• reverse engineering

What commenters say

• Learning Git and its commands can be a valuable skill to acquire in a short amount of time.
• Understanding how Git works, including its internals and concepts, is also important and can be learned quickly.
• Some commenters disagree that Git can be learned in an hour, citing its complex interface and terminology.
• Learning keyboard shortcuts, such as those for GitHub or Excel, can also be a valuable use of time.
• Basic reverse engineering and learning to use deals sites to save money are also suggested as valuable skills to learn quickly.
• Some commenters argue that learning to use deals sites can lead to buying unnecessary items and wasting time.
• Learning various knots, such as the bowline or tautline hitch, can be a useful and quickly acquired skill.
• The value of learning certain knots, such as the bowline, is disputed due to potential safety concerns.