The Purple Guide to Learning Touch Typing in 10 Days

I bought this because I've been meaning to learn touch typing for years but always gave up after a day of bad YouTube tutorials. The First Day chapter actually made me feel like I knew what I was doing — starting with just two keys and ending with being able to type 'aj aj aj' without looking was a win I didn't expect. By day 10 I typed a full sentence without peeking, and that's more than I managed in any previous attempt. The tone is honest without being scary — I appreciated that it never promised I'd be typing 80 words per minute by the end. That's not the point, and the book knows it.

Solid, practical guide for someone genuinely starting from zero. I liked the day-two self-assessment checklist because it forced me to admit I don't have a proper desk setup at home — turns out typing on a laptop on the couch is not ideal for learning. The book doesn't shame you for that; it just tells you what to adjust. The milestone table on day seven was grounding — I was exactly where it said I'd be, which was both reassuring and humbling. I wish the First Day chapter had included a few more exercises, but honestly, it's a 10-day plan, not a full course. Good value for the price.

I'm a 42-year-old accountant who's been typing with two fingers for two decades, and this made the idea of retraining feel less overwhelming. The Fifth Day chapter on reaching from the home row finally made my brain understand why my hands were sore — I was overreaching with the wrong fingers. The gear comparison on day three was also smart; I almost bought a $60 ergonomic keyboard before realizing a $5 wrist rest would do for now. Four stars because the plan doesn't go deep enough on speed-building — but I understand that's not what 10 days is for. Recommend it to anyone who doubts they can learn.

The guide is honest and well-structured, which I appreciate. But I found the pacing a bit slow for my taste — by day five, I was doing drills that seemed almost identical to day four. That said, the Reality Check sections in each chapter were genuinely useful; they're the reason I didn't quit when I kept hitting the 'W' key with my ring finger instead of my index. The Day Eight narrative was the strongest chapter — I recognized my own fumbling in it. For a total beginner like me, it's probably perfect. For someone with a bit of prior knowledge, it might feel too gentle. Three stars, but that's a style preference, not a quality issue.

I finished the 10 days and I'm still slow — but that's the point, and the book tells you that from the start. I appreciated that it never promised I'd become a speed demon in a week and a half. The Day Ten questions list gave me a clear path forward, which is more than I got from most YouTube tutorials. What I struggled with was the practical setup — my desk situation was bad, and the day-two assessment made that painfully clear, which actually demotivated me for a couple of days. Once I adjusted, it got better. If you're a perfect student with a good setup, this is great. If you're like me, just know it'll take a bit of improvisation. Still, a genuinely useful, honest guide.