Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success

Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success Review

Mathew Syed is a past British national ping pong champion and current award winning sports writer. In his book Bounce, he provides an in depth analysis on the basis of skill, and more specifically, superlative excellence.

The idea behind Syed's analyses is that genius or perceived natural skill is nothing more than significant levels of precise practice combined with circumstance. Using his own excellence as a focal point for his study, he emphasizes the importance of thousands of hours of purposeful practice that often goes unseen in the realm of greatness, referring to the iceberg effect; where only the end result is often seen or even given consideration. He provides an extremely compelling section on child prodigies with the iceberg effect in mind.

Syed derives some interesting analysis from the fact that he had opportunities that others did not, of which were instrumental to his success. As a young boy he had access to a ping pong table, he attended a school with a teacher who was also as a national ping pong coach, and he had parents who fully invested in his passion. Compared to the millions of others in England who may have aspired to the same greatness, Syed points out the reality that there were less than 100 who had the same opportunities as he, thus his true success is relative to a small group; the key to success being a need to out-train and out-perform only those in a small select group.

Equally compelling are Syed's thoughts on the importance of belief, explaining that attitude can ultimately be a self-fulfilling prophesy. Put best in his own words: "If we believe that attaining excellence hinges on talent, we are likely to give up if we show insufficient early promise...if, on the other hand, we believe that talent is not implicated in our future achievements, we are likely to persevere. Moreover, we will be inclined to move heaven and earth to get the right opportunities for ourselves and our families: the right teacher, access to decent facilities; the entire coalition of factors that lead to the top. And if we are right, we will eventually excel. What we decide about the nature of talent then could scarcely be more important."

Syed's investigation also includes an in depth look at child prodigies, purposeful practice, and many other areas of significant performance. He is a humble author, willing to put aside his own pride and acknowledge that external factors played a major role in his own success; an element that speaks to the veracity of his research. If you seek to thrive or at least to understand the elements of excellence, this is a book that you should not be without.

Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success Feature

• ISBN13: 9780061723759
• Condition: New
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Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success Overview

Why have all the sprinters who have run the 100 meters in under ten seconds been black?

What's one thing Mozart, Venus Williams, and Michelangelo have in common?

Is it good to praise a child's intelligence?

Why are baseball players so superstitious?

Few things in life are more satisfying than beating a rival. We love to win and hate to lose, whether it's on the playing field or at the ballot box, in the office or in the classroom. In this bold new look at human behavior, award-winning journalist and Olympian Matthew Syed explores the truth about our competitive nature—why we win, why we don't, and how we really play the game of life. Bounce reveals how competition—the most vivid, primal, and dramatic of human pursuits—provides vital insight into many of the most controversial issues of our time, from biology and economics, to psychology and culture, to genetics and race, to sports and politics.

Backed by cutting-edge scientific research and case studies, Syed shatters long-held myths about meritocracy, talent, performance, and the mind. He explains why some people thrive under pressure and others choke, and weighs the value of innate ability against that of practice, hard work, and will. From sex to math, from the motivation of children to the culture of big business, Bounce shows how competition provides a master key with which to unlock the mysteries of the world.

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