Provides a multidisciplinary overview of skill learning with an emphasis on the relation among physical structures, cognitive processes, and motivation. People are captivated by observations of skilled human behavior in arenas such as sports, arts, and dance. Since the earliest days of humankind, methods have been created to make novices more skilled. Recent scientific advances in understanding learning processes have led this author to conclude that skilled behavior reflects a dynamic interaction among physiological structures of the body, cognitive processes of the mind, and the motivational processes of the human spirit. He takes a multidisciplinary approach to describe how skills are learned and performed and to explain why skills are critical both to the survival of individuals and to the survival of the culture in which they live. Skill learning is evaluated in context of theories of life-span psychology and the notion that humans are confronted with a series of tasks as they develop, mature, and age. People's ability to meet and overcome challenges presented by these developmental tasks depends on requisite skills that are acquired over years of training. Success or failure can profoundly affect an individual's life path trajectory. The skills we learn at various periods across the life span play a role in how we view ourselves and our broader society.