Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice

"Sport generates “icons of culture” and is based on concepts fundamental to humankind: heroism, drama, competitiveness, hierarchy, psychological depth, moral norms, and the pursuit of excellence. This book answers the main question: how can we, thanks to sport, become a better version of ourselves? In his captivating and provocative book, the well-known British journalist Matthew Syed tells stories of success from famous athletes and teams, shows what makes sport appealing, how it affects people’s lives, what place it occupies in society, and which qualities are necessary to become great. A former outstanding tennis player who took part in several Olympics, Syed begins his overview with the topic of training a champion—analyzing the role of the people who help future athletes on their path to the top: coaches, parents, specialists, and other helpers. Drawing on the latest discoveries in psychology and neurophysiology, he pays special attention to brain-work algorithms connected with achieving success, and also discusses sport and its idols in a broader context—ethical, cultural-historical, and political. “We investigate the dynamics of people’s internal motivation, namely the well-known triad of psychological reactions ‘fight, flight, freeze,’ people’s willingness to take risks, the paradoxes of belief in oneself, and the importance of showing flexibility. We’ll review the methods used by the best athletes, coaches, and scientists that allow athletes to achieve psychological resilience. Success, whether in sport or in life, often depends on elusive psychological factors.” (Matthew Syed)."