The Sports Gene :Talent, Practice and the Truth About Success
The Sports Gene :Talent, Practice and the Truth About Success
paperback
Published:
2 January, 2014
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Description
The truth about performance beyond the 10,000-hour theory.
Are champions born or made? In The Sports Gene, investigative journalist David Epstein unpacks the decades-long debate about nature versus nurture in human performance. Drawing on genetics, physiology and psychology, Epstein explores how elite athletes push the limits of body and mind - from the DNA variations that enhance endurance to the training cultures that mould world-class performers.
Blending science with gripping storytelling, he reveals that success in sport is far more complex than talent or practice alone. An essential read for fans of Outliers, Range, and anyone fascinated by how and why humans excel.
‘A wonderful book. Thoughtful… fascinating’ Malcolm Gladwell
‘Terrific and unblinking... a timely corrective to the talent-denial industry’ Ed Smith, New Statesman
‘Endlessly fascinating’ Daily Mail
‘Captivating, fascinating’ New York Times
Prizes
Short-listed for William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2013 (UK),Short-listed for PEN/ ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing 2014 (UK)
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9780224091626 |
| ISBN10 | 022409162X |
| Number Of Pages | 352 |
| Item Weight | 250 g |
| Product Dimensions | 130 x 198 x 22 mm |
| Publisher / Reseller | Vintage Publishing |
| Format | paperback |
Media Reviews
A wonderful book. Thoughtful... fascinating. -- Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers
Provides a powerful and convincing analysis of how genes influence all our lives, especially the careers of elite sportsmen * The Times *
A fascinating, thought-provoking look at the leading edge of sports performance, written by a guy who knows the territory. David, besides being a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, was a collegiate runner for Columbia University. More to the point, he’s a terrific researcher and a fine, thoughtful writer -- Dan Coyle, author of The Talent Code
Full credit to David Epstein, a Sports Illustrated journalist with a serious and deep knowledge of genetics and sports science, for his terrific and unblinking new book, The Sports Gene, a timely corrective to the talent-denial industry -- Ed Smith * New Statesman *
Endlessly fascinating -- John Harding * Daily Mail *
Epstein’s book does not try to simplify the argument, but it does provide a welcome corrective to those who have deliberately underplayed the notion that genetic make-up is irrelevant -- Mike Atherton * The Times *
David Epstein's illuminating synthesis of the latest research into the nature v nurture debate as applied to sport -- Simon Redfern * Independent *
Provoking spirited debate about the merits of the 10,000 hour rule -- Rick Broadbent * The Times *
An important book on the relative roles of genes and environment—nature and nurture—in the building of a professional athlete ... bound to put the cat among the pigeons * Wall Street Journal *
Captivating...fascinating...His answer to the questions “Nature or nurture?” is both. If that sounds like a hedge, it isn’t: instead, it’s a testament to the author’s close attention to nuance. * New York Times *
GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
David Epstein is an award-winning senior writer for Sports Illustrated, where he covers sports science, medicine, and Olympic sports. His investigative pieces are among Sports Illustrated’s most high-profile stories. An avid runner himself, he earned All-East honours on Columbia University's varsity track squad. This is his first book.