The Purple Guide to Learning Rubik's Cube Solving in 10 Days
A 10-day starter plan that gets you from a scrambled cube to your first solved layer, with honest expectations and real techniques
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Ten days, one cube, real progress. A beginner's plan that teaches you the first layers of solving — honestly, without the hype.
About this book
You've got a cube. Maybe it's been sitting on your desk for months, or you just bought one on a whim. Every time you scramble it, you stare at the colored squares and think, 'People actually solve this?' You've watched a few videos — they talk about algorithms, F2L, OLL, and you're lost within five minutes. This guide is the opposite of that.
Day by day, this book walks you through exactly what to do each session: how to hold the cube, how to read notation, how to build the white cross without breaking what you've already done, and how to push through the moment when it feels impossible. Each chapter is built around a specific, doable task — not a vague 'learn the basics' — so you always know what success looks like before you sit down. It's honest about what 10 days can and can't do: you won't be speed-cubing, but you will have a solved first layer and a clear path forward.
The plan also covers the practical stuff other guides skip: what gear you actually need at different budget tiers, how to set up your practice space, common mistakes beginners make and how to fix them, and where to find real communities when you're ready. You'll finish with a clear answer to the question you started with — 'should I keep going?' — backed by 10 real days of practice.
Reader Reviews
Betty Gonzalez
★★★★★I've had a cube sitting on my shelf for two years and always felt stupid watching tutorials. This guide finally gave me a step-by-step that didn't assume I already knew what an algorithm was. Day one took me about 45 minutes and I got my white cross done — first time ever. The honest tone is refreshing; it doesn't promise you'll be a speed-cuber in a week. I'm on day four now and actually enjoying it.
Edward White
★★★★★The self-assessment checklist on day two was worth the price of the book. I realized I was only willing to commit 15 minutes a day, and this guide worked with that instead of making me feel inadequate. The comparison table for gear was also practical — I didn't need to spend $40 on a speed cube to start. It's a solid, no-nonsense intro for someone like me.
Jason Flores
★★★★★As someone who's tried learning from YouTube and quit three times, this book finally clicked. The day-by-day structure is exactly what I needed. Day one's focus on just the white cross — without touching anything else — was so simple and achievable. The writing is like a patient friend coaching you through it. By day 10, I had my first layer solved and a real plan to keep going. Highly recommend.
Jacob Martinez
★★★★★It's good, but I'll be honest — day one felt slower than I wanted. I was hoping to get further faster. That said, my white cross actually stayed intact the whole time, which never happened with videos. The chapter about common mistakes on day six saved me from quitting. It's not flashy, but it's effective. Three stars would be unfair — it does what it says.
Ashley Hill
★★★★★I appreciated that this guide doesn't treat you like an idiot or a genius. It's just straightforward, with real details about what to expect in a practice session. The day one chapter made me actually pick up my cube instead of procrastinating. It's not going to turn you into a pro, but it honestly tells you what you'll get from 10 days — and I got exactly that.
Sandra Taylor
★★★★★I was skeptical about buying a book for this when there are free videos, but the structure won me over. Day one is just about the white cross — that's it. No overload. The book's honest about the struggle too; it doesn't pretend the cube will magically solve itself. The day seven milestones table helped me see I was on track even when I felt slow. Worth it for the organization alone.
Edward Hall
★★★★★This guide got me past a wall I'd hit before. I'd already done a bit of solving, but I kept breaking my cross when trying corners. Day four's technique for building the cross without disturbing it was the fix I needed. The troubleshooting chapter on day nine spoke directly to my exact problem. It's a bigger book than I expected for a 10-day plan, but every section felt necessary. Good beginner investment.