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Apr 28, 2010

Hans rated it:

This book is first and foremost a cultural myth-buster. There are so many dangerous collectively held beliefs about human potential and its limits. One of the greatest insults that we can say to someone who is talented is that they came by it naturally. When we label people as naturally talented, or smart it is a back-handed compliment that tries to downplay their efforts while excusing our own laziness. Everyone who is talented or gifted came by it the hard way, through dedicated hard-work. More...

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Oct 09, 2011

Yazeed rated it:

The Talent Code is a book about talent and skill, and how they are developed. It explains why we see bursts of talented people, Russian tennis players, Brazilian football players, Italian artists, and others. It is based on a simple but powerful idea once you truly understand it. It's not very different from "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell, but it is more researched, more accurate, and simply more entertaining than Gladwell's book. Plus, Gladwell ends his book by trying (and failing) to More...

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Nov 25, 2011

Simmoril rated it:

One of the most often-quoted facts regarding talent, which I first heard in Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers", is that becoming an expert in a given field takes on average about 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. However, that term 'deliberate practice' can seem somewhat vague: what exactly is supposed to happen during those 10,000 hours? Coyle's book is the definitive answer to that question.

In his book, Coyle explores this notion of deliberate practice from all angles. To be More...

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Sep 10, 2011

Isaac rated it:

I checked this out based on a recommendation from my professor, a lifelong educator who’s deeply immersed in the field of leadership and organizational development. He stated, on no uncertain terms, that this was one of the best reads out there on talent development. Not just talent in one area, ALL talent.

The central premise, which is repeated for effect throughout the book, is that “skill is insulation that wraps neural circuits and grows according to certain signals.” That insulatio More...

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Feb 22, 2011

Glenda rated it:

This is a must-read for teachers, particularly those who believe all students can learn. Daniel Coyle speaks to the value of hard work, appropriate mentors, and effective motivation (which he calls ignition) in developing talent. I particularly like Coyle's acknowledgment that experience and expertise matter. In fact, he claims that it takes one ten years and/or 10,000 hours of "deep practice" to become an expert in one's chosen profession or avocation. Take that, Bill Gates. Coyle als More...

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Jan 02, 2011

Bologna_frog added it

1/30 in 2011.

Alaskan author
I heard his interview on "Line One, Your Health Connection" on public radio

How can I use this book? Maybe it would help if I choose an activity to improve my abilities.

http://www.popularscience.co.uk/reviews/...
Method is most useful for low creativity action, such as sports and music playing.

http://www.thesimplerlife.net/2010/05/22...
Coyle identifies three keys to “cracking” the talent code; what he calls More...

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Aug 10, 2010

Konnie rated it:

What a fascinating read! Daniel Coyle spent two years visiting talent "hotbeds," like Brazil with it's soccer factory, Russia's tennis training ground, and the Z-Boys in California. He studied the practicing, the coaches, and the environmental factors that contribute to these bundles of genius or greatness. He connects what he finds to the latest research and conclusions about how skills and talent grow at the brain level. His conclusions about growing talent are widely applicable, and More...

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Jun 21, 2010

Totheralistair added it

Notes on The Talent Code

Daniel Coyle

I like this book immensely, no matter what you read below :). This note is a reminder to me, not a book review :). The first third of this book goes over what is also very well presented in "Talent is Overrated").

Book in 3 parts:

1. Practice
2. Motivation
3. Coaching

He defines "Talent" in a way that is different from anything I've seen, but aligns to his intention with t More...

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Jan 03, 2011

Drew rated it:

This is a great book for anyone wanting to understand the basic science behind skill development in an easy to follow read. It describes the underlying mechanics of what we typically refer to as muscle memory or automaticity in some fun and interesting case studies of talent development. It covers everything from Russian tennis players, Brazilian soccer players, the Bronte Sisters, to violinists. It also looks at bursts of development in Athens, Florence and London. The basic premise is tal More...

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Aug 06, 2011

Bill rated it:

In “The Talent Code”, Daniel Coyle argues that talent isn’t necessarily something you are born with, but rather something that can be cultivated through practice practice practice. He traveled the world to visit “talent hotbeds” that have a reputation for consistently cranking out extraordinary talent and attempts to find a common denominator in their activities. Bottom line – you can get really good at something if you practice intensely and often – “deep practice” as he calls it. Seems pretty More...

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Jul 31, 2009

Brian rated it:

This book was interesting for someone looking to make it to the olympic, or pro level in sports mainly, but he includes other things like, music profession, or just regular things like getting your baby to walk earlier than most. His main premiss is that you must have the passion to practice deeply (slowly, making mistakes and correcting them, being highly disciplined along with perfected execution of your sports movements doing all this for approx. 10,000 hrs to get to the pro level.
He More...

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Oct 21, 2011

David rated it:

The thesis of this excellent book is that talent is developed by the right kind of practice. This practice repeatedly fires the correct neurons, which develops the myelin sheaths that surround these neurons; a positive feedback ensues, further strengthening the neuron connections.

Brute repetition is not the type of practice that the author recommends; he discusses a "deep" practice that breaks down a complex skill into component parts, and repeats the parts until they become More...

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Aug 05, 2011

James rated it:

I really found this book fascinating. I'm fascinated by how the brain works and, while I'm not knowledgable enough to speak about the importance or myelin in everything he says, but the practical advise I found both true when I've done it in my own life and matched up with common sense. I'm not typically big on psychology, but to the degree this book looks at psychology connected to physiology I think it is worthwhile.

One of the big applications to daily life is that the right kind of failure, More...

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Mar 07, 2011

Olivia rated it:

The Talent Code_Non-Fiction
Being the level of piano player i am this book came across as more of an instructional guide than a non fiction. The stories told about young piano protages are amazing and i have found each suggestion in this book to hold true. This book is all about how to reach stardom as a musician. It gives all the inspiration and technique suggestions as a teacher would. its an instructer on paper. The metaphors used in this book really help to bring the words to life and h More...

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Mar 24, 2011

Alabama Best rated it:

This is book is a variation on the theme developed by Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers. Like Outliers, this is not a book dedicated to education. Coyle mentions the 10,000 hour rule (most experts in any field have practiced at least 10,000 hours) and build on Carol Dwek's research that effort is the key driver of achievement, not ability.

He argues that "deep practice," where people understand the whole process (which reminds me of David Perkin's book, "Making Learning Whole" More...

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Oct 03, 2011

Tim rated it:

I found The Talent Code when I was looking for a follow-up to Outliers. The book focuses on how talent is created. The author travels to a numbers of talent "hotbeds" in search of answers.

The theory is that every action/thought/movement is an electrical message sent down a circuit of nerve fibers. A microscopic substance called Myelin insulates those fibers, and increases speed and accuracy of the signal. The more we fire (practice) the circuit, the more the myelin optimiz More...

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Dec 21, 2010

Carter rated it:

Its interesting. The author travels around the world to find talent "hotspots". A talent hotpot is a place or time where talent is grown rapidly, this could be triggered by the activity or length of time the activity is being performed. Daniel Coyle traveled to Brazil to find a soccer talent hotspot. He uncovered that there wasn't a specific drill or place where the talent is made, but the usage of a small heavy ball rapidly increases the skill in the player. This is called futsa More...

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Apr 24, 2010

Gordon rated it:

This is a great book for anyone. If you are a teacher, a professor, or a coach, it is a must. The basic premise is that world class talent is the function of proven steps - ignition (motivation with vision - externally or self-induced), deep practice (slow, deliberate, repetition, error-focused), and master coaching (individualized, information-specific). Suprisingly Dan Coyle proves that skill is physically visible and the result of a natural occurring material called myelin which wraps the More...

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Oct 10, 2009

Mike rated it:

It has an interesting take on talent, but it basically breaks down into the regular "practice makes you better" kind of idea. However, he modifies it to be "deep practice produces talent."

As far as the writing goes, it's not bad. He gives good illustrations of his points and spells things out fairly clearly. I never felt the writing get dull.

I do have two gripes about the book. One is the title - is this playing off of a Dan Brown title to sell more?
More...

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Feb 11, 2011

Jeremy rated it:

This book gave a deeper look into fostering talent and looks outside the box in finding how talent is created really. I would like to read more about the following from the book: the neuroscience and the logic behind the study. It almost gives off the feel of this is a 'new' idea that his finally been brought to light: similar to something we've all known is around but never could put a name it -- type of book. I applaud the efforts of the field research, I mean actually going to different count More...

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Sep 27, 2010

Vangelico rated it:

An ambitious attempt that sums up the elements of talent in the right way.

Rather than spending extra hours thinking how to apply the method from book by yourself, Daniel Coyle is able to demonstrate using the evidence of how the talented athletes, musicians, artists, possess their skills through the same principle of practice that is backed up by the current research of neuroscience, so you will be familiarized of the concept right after reading the book. Awesome!!

The example More...

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Nov 13, 2009

Kaylie added it

A discussion of the role of myelination in the development of talent, which he claims has no genetic component, but instead is purely a result of exposure and practice-induced myelination of specific neural circuits triggered by certain signals. These signals come from deep, targeted practice that focuses on finding and correcting mistakes. Staying in this trying state of constant improvement requires intense motivation which he argues comes from igniting events in a life or inspiration from g More...

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Sep 19, 2011

Synthia rated it:

I've always wondered why I can play the piano feeling baffled why my fingers go where they do without me thinking much about it. The answer about muscle development and sub conscience taking over has never cut it for me. The question has always bothered me.

Here is the answer. This book explains it wonderfully! It explains how every human skill is developed because when we try something, especially with "deep practice," myelin wraps around neural circuits that are fired. " More...

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Apr 25, 2010

Taka rated it:

Excellent but flawed--

This is frankly a paradigm-shifting book that opens your eyes to what's possible in cultivating your potentials and talents.

The part about how true "deep practice" is possible only for 3 to 5 hours a day jibes with my experience in creative writing and also with Tim Ferriss's assertion that "I don’t believe that it is possible to do more than 4 hours of good creative work per waking cycle" (found at http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/200... More...

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Aug 23, 2009

Kent rated it:

A required read for anyone who worries that their inherent talent/ability is holding them back from excellence. The basic idea is that "talent" is not inborn. Anyone who achieves greatness at an art or skill gets there through deep practice, hard work, passion, and good mentoring, by always challenging themselves to get to the next level, for at least 10 years. I feel that as a result of reading this book, people will go on to do great things they never before thought they were capable More...

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Jan 20, 2011

Yvette rated it:

This book was pretty good. I do agree that it takes a LOT of hard work to develop the skill that many call "Talent". At first I thought this book was terrific but when the author was looking at KIPP I began to look more closely at the price of those who are not accepted in the program, whatever that is...tennis, a charter school, an elite orchestra.... Seems like a lot of kids are "ignited" or inspired by the fear of being left out or not making the cut. That's a big price to More...

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Apr 09, 2010

Michele.medlin rated it:

this is one of the most interesting books i have ever read. it's about what makes a genius - kind of a nature v. nurture but it takes it to a level that scientist have just recently uncovered. it's also a fascinating look on hot pockets of talent and what makes surprising places alive to nurturing stars in all kinds of different fields.

also - if you got kids, it's a fascinating look at what you can do to nurture you're little bean to greatness.

look - i love fiction. More...

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May 25, 2011

David rated it:

Good book, but my main gripe might be that Daniel Coyle tries too hard to fit his preferred metaphors and themes (myelination, e.g.) to selected observations rather than letting the observations offer alternatives. As such it almost feels like Coyle is pushing his particular talent package (a la the self-help genre), opting to craft a focused message over maintaining neutral journalistic balance. I prefer Malcolm Gladwell's take on the origination of talent in his book Outliers, but The Talent C More...

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Jan 31, 2011

Michael rated it:

This is a great essay on what talent really is. We tend to think of talented people as those with "gifts" that they're born with and then hone through practice. Coyle makes a convincing case that talent follows a different paradigm: it's developed through deep practice, fueled by motivational ignition, and honed by master coaching. I like the way he puts it: "Our intuition tells us that practice relates to talent in the same way that a whetstone relate to a knife: it's vital b More...

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Jun 30, 2011

Becky rated it:

This book fascinated, inspired and challenged me. There is a crazy moment in the middle of reading it that makes me think - ok, now i know how to do it - I can do anything. Hmmm. Probably not. Still, I feel like I've learned how to learn much better. And am motivated to pay the high price necessary to do so. I loved this passage he quoted from Michelangelo: "If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery it would not seem so wonderful at all." Work - the right kind of work - More...

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