The Talent Code: Unlocking the Secret of Skill in Sports, Art, Music, Math, and Just About Anything

Loved this book. One man's journey to gather information about what the basis behind the concept of "talent" is. He speaks the brilliant people, observe amazing technique, and gets the average reader jump-started on the study of Myelin. Neuroscience has been given a new voice with Coyle!

Coyle weaves together three strands that he argues go into developing our talents and skills to their maximum potenetial. These are (1) deep practice (see also Anders Ericsson and his ideas on 10,000 hours of deliberate practice: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/magazine/07wwln_freak.html or...more

Coyle weaves together three strands that he argues go into developing our talents and skills to their maximum potenetial. These are (1) deep practice (see also Anders Ericsson and his ideas on 10,000 hours of deliberate practice: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/magazine/07wwln_freak.html or http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/success-is-all-in-the-mind/story-e6frg8gf-1111118649674);(2) what he calls ignition (motivation); and (3) master coaching (that supports motivation and also uses targeted, skilled guidance to push deep practice to its max). Coyle makes a case that the repetition and error correction of deep practice is effective because it promotes the growth of myelin (fatty insulation) on the axons (wires) of the neurons that are repeatedly fired. This makes the neurons fire more quickly and more in sync. A fascinating read.   hide

Love this book. Will def read it one more time.

A good read! Highly recommended! :)

I wish I had known about myelin years ago. I would have understood earlier that passion, effort, learning by trial and error and insightful coaching are the true makers of talent.

This was fascinating. Would read again... no such thing as genius... the truth is much more interesting and developing a successful talent is more accessible from this point of view.

About 1/3 of the way through. Easily the best book I've read in a while.

For anyone interested in achieving mastery in your chosen field, this well researched and compellingly written book challenges many of the paradigms we have about talent being inborn. By investigating "talent hotbeds" around the globe, Daniel Coyle uncovers the key ingredients of ignition, deep practice and masterful ...coaching that combine to enable expression of our full potential. Very...more

For anyone interested in achieving mastery in your chosen field, this well researched and compellingly written book challenges many of the paradigms we have about talent being inborn. By investigating "talent hotbeds" around the globe, Daniel Coyle uncovers the key ingredients of ignition, deep practice and masterful ...coaching that combine to enable expression of our full potential. Very practical insights clearly laid out so anyone can apply them to their lives, regardless of the skill one wishes to develop. Inspired me to rethink some of my previously unquestioned convictions about strengths. It also provided powerful strategies and tactics about how best to consistently help expand another's capacity, bringing forth the excellence that lies dormant in all of us.   hide

a must read for every parent and anyone facing an uncertain future