Bounce

Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success

By: Matthew Syed

Narrated by: James Clamp

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Why have all the sprinters who have run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds been black?

What's one thing Mozart, Venus Williams, and Michelangelo have in common?

Is it good to praise a child's intelligence?

Why are baseball players so superstitious?

Few things in life are more satisfying than beating a rival. We love to win and hate to lose, whether it's on the playing field or at the ballot box, 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, to genetics and race, to sports and politics.

Backed by cutting-edge scientific research and case studies, Syed shatters long-held myths about meritocracy, talent, performance, and the mind. He explains why some people thrive under pressure and others choke, and weighs the value of innate ability against that of practice, hard work, and will. From sex to math, from the motivation of children to the culture of big business, Bounce shows how competition provides a master key with which to unlock the mysteries of the world.

p> PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2010 Matthew Syed (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Amazing

Excellent book. Must read! If you loved outliers you will love this book also. It took outliers to a whole new level.

Not like I expected

The whole book is almost all about sports and examples about it. If you are not a sports person and cannot draw a link between the success stories told in the book with what you do, listening to This book is useless.

Very similar to Talent is overrated and Outliers

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Tells us things we want to hear. The harder to try at something, the better you'll get. It levels the playing field. Letting us know that just about anything is within our grasp with enough practice.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the fact that he used his personal experience as a ping pong champion to illustrate the concepts in the book.

If you could give Bounce a new subtitle, what would it be?

There is no such thing as talent.

Good points but

This could have been summed up in a few chapters. Overwhelming with the sports references and could have been a bit more well rounded covering other fields. That being stated the point is spot on.

Nice overview of the things that make a champion.

Where does Bounce rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is an interesting audiobook that I think is one of the most informative books on success and sports performance.

Would you be willing to try another book from Matthew Syed? Why or why not?

Possibly. Depends on the subject matter.

What three words best describe James Clamp’s voice?

Pleasant. Well paced.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Sweat equity makes success.

Any additional comments?

None.

Very informative book

Very useful information if you want to know about factors that could inhibit your success in general.

We make our minds believe things that aren't true in todays society with all the made up rules that people have about how the world is, what is good and bad, etc.
This book clears up a lot of things.

Great overall clarification to stereotypes!

this read brings a great understanding to the stereotypes that surround race and genetic superiority.

Eye opener

Exceptional read. Very entertaining, my second audiobook and I'm on a good role here. The narrator is very good I wish I could somehow get a list of the books he has narrated.

loved it!

the stories and (research) examples are largely similar to those in other books I've read, but with an extra.. more applied. really well done. refreshing!

Mind-blowing

An educational book on performance in sports, with ideas usable in daily life and beyond