Thread: Bounce
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Old 07-09-2010, 08:44 PM   #1
lookout123
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Right behind you. No, the other side.
Posts: 10,308
Bounce

Bounce by Matthew Syed is an outstanding read. This book reinforces my personal beliefs about ability, achievement, and excellence. I strongly recommend this for coaches, parents, or anyone else who has ever thought "I (or my kid) could never do that". The premise of the book is quite clearly, YOU CAN.

Very long story short is that purposeful practice is far more important than any perceived natural ability. Early practice and even birthmonth combine to create a perception of natural ability at a skill. This perception results in increased attention and encouragement which leads to more practice and better teaching. It is a perpetual cycle that creates a false divide between the gifted and average. The divide widens over time until there is genuine divide between the elite and the rest of us. What is interesting is that the time required for this process is roughly 10 years (or more importantly, about 10,000 hours of practice) regardless of the endeavor.

Like I said, the book reinforces my own ideas. It may challenge or support yours, either way it is a thought provoking read.
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