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Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success Paperback – May 3, 2011

by Matthew Syed (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,334 ratings
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“A cutting edge dissection—and ultimate destruction—of the myth of innate talent in the pursuit of excellence. Syed synthesizes his evidence with the precision of an academic, writes with the fluidity of a journalist, and persuades with the drive of a sportsman. Read this book now—before its too late. There are no excuses!” — Mark Thomas, Professor of Evolutionary Genetics, University College London

In the vein of the international bestselling Freakonomics, award-winning journalist Matthew Syed reveals the hidden clues to success—in sports, business, school, and just about anything else that you’d want to be great at. Fans of Predictably Irrational and Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point will find many interesting and helpful insights in Bounce.

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  1. Print length
    312 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    May 3, 2011
  4. Dimensions
    7.9 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0061723762
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0061723766
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sport is often used as an analogy for business, education, and personal relationships. In this insightful and entertaining book, Matthew Syed takes us a step deeper into the world of sports, showing us how much we can learn about our own behavior.” — Dan Ariely, New York Times bestselling author of Predictably Irrational

“Everything Matthew Syed writes is worth reading.” — Lynne Truss, bestselling author of Eats, Shoots & Leaves

“The most important book I’ve read over the past six months is Matthew Syed’s Bounce.” — Peter Orszag

“A cutting edge dissection—and ultimate destruction—of the myth of innate talent in the pursuit of excellence. Syed synthesizes his evidence with the precision of an academic, writes with the fluidity of a journalist, and persuades with the drive of a sportsman. Read this book now—before its too late. There are no excuses!” — Mark Thomas, Professor of Evolutionary Genetics, University College London

“Intellectually stimulating and hugely enjoyable at a stroke. . . . Challenged some of my most cherished beliefs about life and success.” — Jonathan Edwards, Olympic Gold Medal Winner in the Triple Jump

“Compelling and, at times, exhilarating—Bounce explains high achievement in sport, business, and beyond.” — Michael Sherwood, Chief Executive, Goldman Sachs International

“Cogent discussions of the neuroscience of competition, including the placebo effect of irrational optimist, self-doubt, and superstitions, all lend credence to a compelling narrative; readers who gobbled up Freakonomics and Predictably Irrational will flock to this one.” — Publishers Weekly

“Philosophical and thought-provoking.” — BookPage

From the Back Cover

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?

Why are baseball players so superstitious?

We love to win and hate to lose, whether it's on the playing field, 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, from genetics and race to sports and politics, Bounce shows how competition provides a master key with which to unlock the mysteries of the world.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (May 3, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061723762
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061723766
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,334 ratings

About the author

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Matthew Syed

Matthew Syed

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Matthew Syed is one of the world’s most influential thinkers in the field of high performance in the context of a complex and fast-changing world.

He draws on a vast array of case studies and real-world examples across sport, business, education and politics. Matthew looks at the inside story of how success really happens – and how we cannot grow unless we are prepared to learn from our mistakes. In his latest book, You Are Awesome, Matthew distils the principles of growth mindset, resilience and adaptability in his other books for a younger audience.

In his previous career, Matthew was the former England table tennis number one for almost a decade. Nowadays Matthew is a multi-award-winning journalist for The Times, a highly-acclaimed speaker, and a regular contributor to radio and television. He is the author of three bestselling books on the subject of mindset and high performance – Bounce, Black Box Thinking and The Greatest. Matthew’s fourth book is planned for publication in 2019, following his children’s book, You Are Awesome, which is available to order now.

Matthew lives in London with his wife and two children. To find out more about Matthew’s work, visit: www.matthewsyed.co.uk.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
3,334 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

klavierspiel
5.0 out of 5 stars Starts a bit slowly, but stick with it
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2011
Verified Purchase
For the first few dozen pages Matthew Syed's book about "the science of success" feels derivative, with numerous quotes from Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers and its rehashing of the other author's "ten-thousand hour practice" rule. Syed also goes on to advocate strongly for nurture as opposed to nature, poking holes in the notions of innate talent and child prodigies, arguments very similar to Gladwell's.

Still, if one sticks with it, "Bounce" gains interest as it goes on: Syed points out that failure is not to be avoided, but is actually necessary for eventual success at a difficult endeavor; stretching one's boundaries and increasing one's abilities requires "purposeful practice," not just mechanical repetition of already learned skills. Along the way he also touches upon, in the chapter "Mysterious Sparks," Gladwell's "tipping point" concept, the placebo effect, superstition, and the (mistaken) idea that certain ethnic groups are innately superior in athletic ability. His discussion of "choking," anchored by a painfully self-revelatory description of his own worst choke as a champion table tennis player, is more succinct, and I think more useful, than Sian Beilock's entire recent book on the subject. The welter of topics that Syed touches upon makes for a rather scattered effect at times, as if the book were a collection of blog or journal articles welded together; yet his intelligence and his talent for choosing vivid examples makes "Bounce" a consistently entertaining and thought-provoking reading experience.
2 people found this helpful
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Jack Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars Genetics still matters
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2020
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While the book is thoroughly entertaining and packed with fascinating facts, it requires a suspension of disbelief. By the end, Syed also gets over
his head, attempting to turn the undeniable black athletic talent based on a pernicious racial prejudice not supported by science. Blacks are successful in sports because a racist society denies their advancement in any other area, he states. Yet, even in the last chapter, he swings from Eastern Africa, where a small area seems to have an unusually large number of champion long-distance runners, to West Africa and Jamaica where the short distance and sprinter talent is noticeable. Oh, yes, there is a gene, but everybody has the same gene. So what now?

I think he is going way overboard with the notion that genetics has nothing to do with any success; it is more of a lucky combination of thousands of hours of purposeful practice with a great coach, under the right circumstances, and a useful feedback loop. The nature argument is seemingly destroyed by the nurture argument. But, he seems to try too hard.

For example, how many short champion swimmers are out there? How many tall jockeys? How many tall motorcycle racers? Just the genetic distribution of fast and slow-twitch muscle fibers have an immense impact on the type of success and athlete could achieve in different areas. Then there is the rich culture and advanced schooling of young Russian chess players. If anything, this symbolizes everything Syed advocates sans doping. Yet, the world champion is a Norwegian without any unique background or specific training like the Polgar sisters. Before him, it was an Indian player, also without any significant training infrastructure.

So enjoy the read, but know that genetics still matters.
15 people found this helpful
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Tech Lover
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific analysis !
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2011
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I can't tell you the impact this book has had on giving me perspective on my own development and training as a tennis player. It has allowed me to see that the process wasn't as random as I had thought; that the hard work; delay of gratification and attention to detail allowed me to see things that other tennis players didn't simply because I employed 'purposeful practice' at every and all moments I was involved in the sport.

This book goes into great detail about how a work ethic, allows ANYONE the opportunity to succeed by dispelling so many myths on why players, musicians, athletes, people in all sorts of industry become successful.

Just loved his analysis referring to countless studies and real life examples of Earl and Tiger Woods, Mozart and his father, David Beckham and his work ethic. the wonders of the Polgar Sisters in chess.

And the one common thread that one and all had to success?

Read the book and find out for yourself. You won't be disappointed. And you might even find out something about yourself in the process.

A wonderful read by a columnist for The Times (London); commentator for the BBC; a graduate of Oxford University and a two-time Olympian.
3 people found this helpful
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RN
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - a must read!
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2021
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Mr. Syed combines his experience as a professional sportsman and his journalistic flair to produce a wonderful read. In fact, I only regret not getting to it sooner!

The book raises an interesting debate on nature v nurture, where recent recent scientific thinking seems to lean towards the former. However, if we assume that most of us will not end up being the Einstein or Williams of our profession, I think Mr. Syed raises a simple yet profound question: What is “deliberate practice” in your job?
One person found this helpful
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John Kimble
5.0 out of 5 stars Unleashing the Power Within: "Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2023
Verified Purchase
"Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice" by Matthew Syed is a captivating journey into the world of achievement and excellence. This book has left an indelible mark on my perspective, reshaping the way I view success, practice, and the true potential within each of us.

Syed's exploration of the concept that talent is not an innate gift, but rather a result of purposeful, deliberate practice, is nothing short of revolutionary. 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.

What truly captivates is Syed's ability to demystify greatness, making it accessible to every reader. The book's pages brim with anecdotes, research, and insights that compel us to rethink our notions of achievement. It tears down the pedestal upon which we've placed the idea of natural talent, replacing it with a refreshing belief in the limitless potential that comes from consistent, focused practice.

As I turned the pages, I felt a surge of motivation and empowerment. The tales of athletes, musicians, and individuals from various fields who've risen through determination resonated deeply. Syed's writing style, a blend of engaging storytelling and thought-provoking analysis, held my attention from start to finish.

"Bounce" is not just a book; it's a wake-up call to embrace our potential and shatter the self-imposed limits that have held us back. It encourages us to step onto the path of deliberate practice, unleashing our inner capacities and crafting our own journey towards excellence.

In conclusion, "Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice" is a triumphant ode to human potential. Matthew Syed's words are a beacon of hope, guiding us towards a future where greatness is within our reach. If you're seeking a read that will both inspire and challenge you, this book is an absolute must-read.
2 people found this helpful
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Ashwinkumar
5.0 out of 5 stars interesting read
Reviewed in India on January 26, 2022
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This book talks about the now familiar 10000hour rule but gives it a timespan of 10 years. When you are in the right place with right opportunities and you can have 10000hours of focused practice as he calls it, you will be world class-athlete,scholar,musician whatever.. it’s more for parents to read understand and possibly try it with their kids.
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DavidR
5.0 out of 5 stars El valor de la practica inteligente
Reviewed in Spain on March 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
Rapido en llegar. Excelente libro.
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Luis Miguel Mendivil
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in Mexico on January 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
I currently find myself grinding for success and this is definitely a great book to read, one which will push up to dont stop working.
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Umberto Lanza
5.0 out of 5 stars PUÒ CAMBIARE UNA VITA
Reviewed in Italy on October 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
Ho trovato il libro avvincente, istruttivo ed utile. Penso che potrebbe essere un libro di testo nelle scuole e che la sua conoscenza potrebbe indurre molti giovani ad impegnarsi di più e meglio.
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