Bounce: The of Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice

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This is an excellent, entertaining book that goes in some depth into performance in not only sports, but other fields that require concentration, skills, and training. It's a smooth read, there are plenty of footnotes, and there were a few moments when I was absorbed. The first half of the book consists of direct quotes from and regurgitation of Colvin and Coyle's books and says nothing new about the alleged main subject of the book.

In the end and despite its strengths (which are numerous), ‘Bounce’ exhibits many of the ‘PC’ sophisms prevalent in the present era and our discomfort with exceptionalism; the notion that, by definition, only a very small percentage of people will traverse the upper echelons of achievement, the road to which requires phenomenal levels of hard work and, yes, intrinsic ability. Compelling and, at times, exhilarating - Bounce explains high achievement in sport, business and beyond. These institutions "insist on placing inexperienced individuals--albeit with strong reasoning skills--in positions of power". He takes us on an exhilarating ride through the stories of individuals who have scaled unimaginable heights, showcasing that even the most exceptional talents are honed through dedicated effort.It is a must-read if you have ever wondered what sets the super-achievers and the rest of us apart - in any field, not just in sport. Purposeful practice is about striving for what is just out of reach and not quite making it; it is about grappling with tasks beyond current limitations and falling short again and again”.

The difference in standard at this level is so miniscule that it is almost impossible to perceive unless you are keeping score. Matthew Syed's dazzling investigation of high achievement draws on the stories of sports stars and the most up-to-date science to uncover the surprising factors that lead to world beating success.Like the 'talent' myth it has a tiny amount of truth, and an enormous amount of self fulfilling prophecy.

i-am spus că nu cred în treaba asta cu talentul și că și specialiștii au descoperit că nu există nicio legătură între talent și marea performanță. Syed's writing style, a blend of engaging storytelling and thought-provoking analysis, held my attention from start to finish. Polgar himself was not a good chess player, but he thought that the international rating system would help to objectively quantify the level that his children would ultimately attain. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.

He builds a compelling argument that then branches out into other areas - why are Kenyans such great distance runners? A truly fascinating read, where Syed rips apart the talent myth from both his own personal experience (as an Olympic table tennis player) and from surveying the world of other sports, where the idea that some "heroes" have an innate talent that cannot be learned is strongest.