The James Altucher Show

Notes from James:When I turned 40, I was depressed. I checked the top 50 chess players and saw only one person around my age: Viswanathan Anand. That moment gave me hope.Episode Description:I met one of my lifelong heroes—five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand—and got to sit down with him at the Norway Summit to unpack what it really takes to stay at the top… for four decades. We didn’t just talk about chess—we talked about life, legacy, improvement, and how to overcome self-doubt at any age.Vishy and I broke down how talent evolves, why confidence matters more than skill early on, and how he battled through plateaus, age, and even failure to remain among the world’s elite players—well into his 50s. This episode is a masterclass in longevity, performance, and reinvention.Whether you're into chess or not, Vishy's insights apply to anyone striving to master their craft, overcome obstacles, and stay in the game.What You’ll Learn:The real reason most people plateau—and how to push through itWhy youth is