What do you think?
Rate this book
My Awesome Guide to Getting Good at Stuff
- GenresNonfiction
96 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2020
About the author
Matthew Syed
65 books565 followers Matthew Syed is an author and highly acclaimed speaker in the field of high performance. He has written six bestselling books on the subject of mindset and high performance – Rebel Ideas, Bounce, Black Box Thinking, The Greatest, and his celebrated children’s books, You Are Awesome and The You Are Awesome Journal – and has worked with many leading organisations to build a mindset of continuous improvement. He is also a multi-award-winning journalist for The Times and a regular contributor to television and radio. In his previous career, Matthew was the England table tennis number one for almost a decade.
Matthew’s work explores a thought-provoking approach to high performance in the context of a complex and fast-changing world. By understanding the intimate connection between mindset and high performance, organisations can unlock untapped potential in individuals and teams, driving innovation and agility to secure a future-proofed environment.
Matthew is also co-founder of Matthew Syed Consulting (MSC); the company has worked with an impressive portfolio of clients to build growth mindset cultures and drive higher performance in individuals, teams and organisations. Matthew Syed Consulting’s cutting-edge thought leadership programme and digital learning tools are becoming a catalyst for real and lasting change within business and the public sector.
Matthew’s work explores a thought-provoking approach to high performance in the context of a complex and fast-changing world. By understanding the intimate connection between mindset and high performance, organisations can unlock untapped potential in individuals and teams, driving innovation and agility to secure a future-proofed environment.
Matthew is also co-founder of Matthew Syed Consulting (MSC); the company has worked with an impressive portfolio of clients to build growth mindset cultures and drive higher performance in individuals, teams and organisations. Matthew Syed Consulting’s cutting-edge thought leadership programme and digital learning tools are becoming a catalyst for real and lasting change within business and the public sector.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 20, 2020
This book is a great inspirational quick read. I would recommend for around the ages of 9+. In this book it talks about how to get good at things and have the best life. It goes through different celebrities and says how they just was like anyone else but they kept trying hard to do what they love! It also tells you how just because your not amazing at something now doesn’t mean you can’t do it. I would definitely recommend and is good if you need a short book as it is only 80 pages.
March 18, 2020
I think it is very inspiring and a great start off book, it feels as if your going on an adventure. I think this is great for ages 9-14 as it isn’t a grown up book nor a little baby book. I would recommend this book to lots of ages so hope you enjoy ! 😁
June 5, 2020
This World Book Day 2020 book is a sort of self-improvement guide for kids about how to get good at stuff. If you do get it for a child to read you then it might be worth asking them to think of something in particular they want to get awesome before reading (e.g. schoolwork), so they can apply the thinking from the book to themselves as they read through it, rather than just reading the theory and then applying it retrospectively not as effectively.
The author himself got good at something. He was an Olympic tennis player. (He is also “absolutely brilliant at jumping over hedges and bushes” and says “if we meet, ask me to show you”.) So through the book he uses his own experiences to back up points, or gives other real world examples, e.g. famous people and their stories, making the book relatable. Also the book is affirming. “You are already brilliant. At loads of things. Stuff that you’ve actually worked really hard to achieve, but I bet you give yourself no credit for whatsoever.” And the book is written with humour and has nice graphics along the way making it something that children could read.
The contents of the book are:
* an introduction – this has some tips for getting good at stuff which are mainly repetition and not giving up (although the author’s language and wording is more lyrical than my quick summary, plus it includes stories).
* “Let’s bust some myths” – this chapter busts some myths using real life examples. For instance a myth might be that you’re either born with a talent or you are not. The author says that he “wasn’t born with the bat in my hand able to do a smash kill… but I eventually made the Olympics”.
* “Learn from the best” – a chapter with stories of real-life people (Beyoncé, Ellie Simmonds, Bill Gates) who worked hard and overcame obstacles to be the best. “Most people who have succeeded didn’t do it on their first attempt.”
* “Take the leap” – this chapter is about conquering the fear of failure and taking the first step, then the second step and so on.
* “Mission control a.k.a. your brain” – a chapter about how the brain improves getting stronger and smarter with more practice (not just any practise though, “effective practice” is the phrase used in the book).
* “Get to awesome” – some things to do to get to awesome: put your goals in writing, hydrate, sleep, eat good food, have a support network, and keep up the effective practise.
* a conclusion.
I enjoyed the book in the most part, and it doesn’t cost that much as it’s a WBD book. The chapter about the brain and how it works felt a bit like the odd one out and could possibly have been left out of the book, but overall the book is a good self-improvement book for children (of which I don’t think there are that many) with some good messages. “Getting good at stuff is Not Easy” but you can do it if you really want to.
The author himself got good at something. He was an Olympic tennis player. (He is also “absolutely brilliant at jumping over hedges and bushes” and says “if we meet, ask me to show you”.) So through the book he uses his own experiences to back up points, or gives other real world examples, e.g. famous people and their stories, making the book relatable. Also the book is affirming. “You are already brilliant. At loads of things. Stuff that you’ve actually worked really hard to achieve, but I bet you give yourself no credit for whatsoever.” And the book is written with humour and has nice graphics along the way making it something that children could read.
The contents of the book are:
* an introduction – this has some tips for getting good at stuff which are mainly repetition and not giving up (although the author’s language and wording is more lyrical than my quick summary, plus it includes stories).
* “Let’s bust some myths” – this chapter busts some myths using real life examples. For instance a myth might be that you’re either born with a talent or you are not. The author says that he “wasn’t born with the bat in my hand able to do a smash kill… but I eventually made the Olympics”.
* “Learn from the best” – a chapter with stories of real-life people (Beyoncé, Ellie Simmonds, Bill Gates) who worked hard and overcame obstacles to be the best. “Most people who have succeeded didn’t do it on their first attempt.”
* “Take the leap” – this chapter is about conquering the fear of failure and taking the first step, then the second step and so on.
* “Mission control a.k.a. your brain” – a chapter about how the brain improves getting stronger and smarter with more practice (not just any practise though, “effective practice” is the phrase used in the book).
* “Get to awesome” – some things to do to get to awesome: put your goals in writing, hydrate, sleep, eat good food, have a support network, and keep up the effective practise.
* a conclusion.
I enjoyed the book in the most part, and it doesn’t cost that much as it’s a WBD book. The chapter about the brain and how it works felt a bit like the odd one out and could possibly have been left out of the book, but overall the book is a good self-improvement book for children (of which I don’t think there are that many) with some good messages. “Getting good at stuff is Not Easy” but you can do it if you really want to.
September 8, 2021
This book can come across as a very easy read for children, with interesting facts throughout. The book is broken up into short sections which came across well to the child that was reading to me, additionally, the use to famous people appealed to the reader. Overall the book utilising positive and motivational aspects of trying your best which I feel would benefit all children. The book could be read to a younger class or recommended for children throughout years 2/3/4.
March 1, 2020
Really enjoyed this. Aimed at children and inspiring them to never give up and dispelling the myth that you are born with talent, it highlights the importance of effective practice in a child friendly way. I intend to buy a few more copies for our school. Excellent.
May 12, 2020
I think everyone should read this book. It is really short but really important.
I read this with an open mind and then really liked it. The way it’s written is great and just a perfect little book!
I read this with an open mind and then really liked it. The way it’s written is great and just a perfect little book!
August 2, 2021
This is more of a 3.5 but I was feeling generous. There's quite a lot of humour and I liked how he gave examples of mistakes and keeping trying with celebrities. I wouldn't say it was that motivational but it was reasonably good.
April 7, 2020
cute motivational book
January 30, 2021
It was a short book that I picked up somewhere (honestly no idea). It was an easy read at 80 pages and was a fun quick one.
December 8, 2021
Nice, simple description of lots of good stuff about the brain and getting good at things.
January 20, 2022
Such an inspiring read- 4.6
November 25, 2022
Motivational
April 20, 2020
This book is very inspiring for young geniuses!
I loved all the examples that gives out, the tips, the advices, his experiences and those of other people failing countless times before succeeding!
I think it's such a great read, very necessary for pretty much everyone that is struggling or has ever struggled a bit in life.
Highly recommended!
I loved all the examples that gives out, the tips, the advices, his experiences and those of other people failing countless times before succeeding!
I think it's such a great read, very necessary for pretty much everyone that is struggling or has ever struggled a bit in life.
Highly recommended!
November 28, 2020
This inspirational, uplifting book is AMAZING ! It has great illustrations, is factual , is funny , is motivating ... it’s just great!!! I would recommend it to anyone - adults and kids . I am 100% going to get the other books because I have not read them . WOW 🤩!!!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews