BOUNCE - How Champions are Made, Matt Syed

Discover how champions are made with BOUNCE. Bold, subversive and backed by solid evidence. Buy it here http://tinyurl.com/y4b7fn2

Everyone knows that David Beckham crosses the ball better than anyone else and that Tiger Woods never "chokes". But what are the hidden factors which allow the most successful sports stars to rise above their competitors -- and are they shared by virtuosos in other fields? In Bounce Matthew Syed - an award-winning Times columnist and three-time Commonwealth table-tennis champion - reveals what really lies behind world-beating achievement in sport, and other walks of life besides. The answers - taking in the latest in neuroscience, psychology and economics - will change the way we look at sports stars and revolutionise our ideas about what it takes to become the best. From the upbringing of Mozart to the mindset of Mohammed Ali - via the recruitment policies of Enron - Bounce weaves together fascinating stories and telling insights and statistics into a wonderfully thought-provoking read. Bounce looks at big questions - such as the real nature of talent, what kind of practice actually works, how to achieve motivation, drugs in both sport and life, and whether black people really are faster runners. Along the way Matthew talks to a Hungarian father whose educational theories saw his daughters become three of the best chess players of all time, meets a female East German athlete who became a man, and explains why one small street in Reading - his own - has produced more top table-tennis players than the rest of Britain put together. Fresh, ground-breaking and tackling subjects with broad appeal, Bounce is sure to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

'A gripping examination of the hidden forces that come together in the making of a champion.' Michael Atherton -- former England cricket captain 'A fascinating subject and Syed is a dazzling writer.' Owen Slot -- Chief Sports Reporter, The Times 'I love this book. 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. I only wish I had read it when I was fifteen.' Gabby Logan -- BBC TV presenter and former international gymnast 'Intellectually stimulating and hugely enjoyable at a stroke ! challenged some of my most cherished beliefs about life and success.' Jonathan Edwards -- triple jump world record holder 'Funny and tragic, learned and urgent, Bounce is a joy to read.' Howard Jacobson -- novelist 'Cutting-edge analysis and devastatingly argued.' Mark Thomas -- Professor of Evolutionary Genetics at University College London 'Compelling and, at times, exhilarating -- Bounce explains high achievement in sport, business and beyond.' Michael Sherwood -- Chief Executive, Goldman Sachs International

Film by Hilary O'Hare

• Category

  Sports

[Tavernum]

Yet Tyson, Hopkins, Mayweather,...have been said to be students of the sport of boxing, reading the positioning of the opponent continually, dynamically assess the threats posed by the opponent,... I think you learn most of it in the gyms but the actual fights are part of the training. Tyson says it's about being smart, Ray Leonard gives this advice to young boxers: "It's a full time job". I think you become smarter, motivation counts too.

[effuno99]

i'm an indian and i've seen footballers ( and cricketers ) train.. it is no surprise we don't produce world class footballers or fast ballers, because our physical training techniques are absurd.. nobody has got a clue !

and read 'fast bowlers bible' by Ian pont and then visit a fast bowling coaching camp in India and you'll realise why we don't have anyone who can bowl at 90mph+ consistently.

[Alex Mc]

Syed talks about the SCIENCE, but in any scientific experiment, you only have to find one anomaly to discredit the whole. Syed is trying to apply his experiences of table tennis to all sports and recreation. The anomaly in his experiment is - Boxing. Boxers can't practice against opponents every day, it's too physically damaging. Sparring is not practice. Therefore successful boxers enter the ring with an inherent talent for boxing or they don't. Yes, you have to learn, but talent is paramount.

[Gamer2O12]

I agree with this, but i dont think he said anything new. I'm playing chess and theres such people as Botvinnink, Fischer, Alekhine(all three world champions) and others, who has become such brilliant players because of their hard work. Well of course you need some talent, but i have seen many talanted people not achieving anything because they dont want to work and give up easily, or they just dont have the opportunity to prove themselves.

[FatFilipinoUK]

"...over time, through practice, we utterly transform the people we are."

So if I practice sex for 10,000 hours, I'll eventually grow a 12 inch penis?

[Martin Middleton]

This argument only makes sense to an extent. I can understand his theory is generalisable to a bunch of sports, particularly those, that like table tennis are based primarily on hand eye coordination. But I don't think it can explain prowess or lack of in all sports. You have to consider that some sports use more than just the arms; some sports require a much higher level of endurance and stamina than Table Tennis and Golf; some sports require team work ability; uncanny speed, jumping ability,..

[leritz]

How many Champions in India, Africa? India- How many footballers? How many Tennis Man? I know one and he struggles a lot n only stick to Doubles. So Syed, sell as much as you want but you need to travel more my friend, otherwise all our hardwork will be BS, combined!!!

[vincentmack37]

this a very similar hypothesis to malcom gladwell's outliers

[Sam Miles]

no

[pigeonkid4]

Is Usan Bolt an exception?