Bounce
by Matthew Syed · first published 2010
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
Argues that expertise comes mostly from deliberate practice, not innate talent, citing sports, chess, and table tennis. Readers say it offers a fresh view of raw ability versus learned skill and is a science-backed read.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
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…Lutheran might make a big difference, I don't really know? What with different work ethics?). Lutheran vs Catholic or "technical vs liberal arts" and so on? Edit: I discovered Polgar through the book "Bounce" which also talks about other cases for deliberately creating gifted kids http://www.amazon.de/Bounce-myth-talent-power-practice/dp/00...
on “Not Wanting Kids Is Entirely Normal” ↗…well. It is time to take it up a notch and start challenging yourself in your current job or trying some side projects. If you don't believe that you could become a rockstar coder, I'd suggest reading Bounce by Matthew Syed.
on “Ask HN: Average coder at dead-end. What now?” ↗…best way. - Be around other 'A' players and learn from them. - Continually stretch beyond your comfort/"knowledge" zone. - Continually learn new things. ----- Some reading material on the topic: Bounce by Matthew Syed Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin
on “Steve Jobs on Average vs Best Software Developers” ↗I read quite a few this year and the best one is really hard to define. But my favorite and the one that had the biggest immediate impact is definitely Bounce by Matthrew Syed http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7845157-bounce Syed was the top Pingpong player in England, and goes in detail about his trainings and what he thinks are the reasons for his success:…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2012” ↗Native skill is largely a myth. According to Matthew Syed in Bounce (a very good read) there are numerous fields in which native or genetic skill is considered the norm (sports, chess, math) but no studies support that hypothesis. Conversely a number of studies actively…
on “New Study Contradicts Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 Rule” ↗…centered around rather than subjects. Very interesting. A Concise Guide to Macroeconomics -- I had read very little macroeconomics, and this book provided a very readable and quick guide on the basics. Bounce (by Matthew Syed) -- Great book about how great performers became great performers. This goes back to the nurture vs nature debate, and sides very heavily on the nurture side. Syed was an olympic ping…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2012” ↗…obstacles, cross-disciplinary learning, and nature vs. nurture: - The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence - Josh Waitzkin - Way of the Peaceful Warrior - The Talent Code - Coyle - Bounce - Syed 3. Add some insightful structure to your perspective. Do you have a pessimistic and deterministic mindset that is a detriment to your success? - http://blakemasters.com/post/23435743973/peter-thiels-cs183-...…
on “How to become a Good Theoretical Physicist” ↗Bounce by Matthew Syed. Highly recommended read in the same vein as Outliers without the need to find continuously interesting anecdotes every 5 pages and with some science.
on “Ask HN: What are you reading right now?” ↗A great book that explores this subject in more depth is Matthew Syed's book "Bounce - The myth of talent and the power of practice".
on “Never mind talent: Practice, practice, practice” ↗Read the book Bounce by Matthew Syed. It was pretty entertaining and gave me a whole new perspective on raw intelligence vs learned skill.
on “Ask HN: Failed interview, feeling unemployable and depressed – what do I do?” ↗