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

Matthew Syed — 2011

Why have all the sprinters who have run the 100 meters in under ten seconds been black? What's one thing Mozart, Venus Williams, and Michelangelo have in common? Why are baseball players so superstitious? We love to win and hate to lose, whether it's on the playing field, 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, from genetics and race to sports and politics, Bounce shows how competition provides a master key with which to unlock the mysteries of the world.

Reviews

linda@lkt

Sep 5, 2022

This book draws heavily on the findings and conclusions of other writers, like Daniel Coyle and Malcolm Gladwell. Even the examples it uses to prove its hypotheses are the same ones used in Blink, the Talent Code, etc. However, Bounce does provide valuable insight into talent and psychology in the sports field. Overall, it does a superb job of disseminating difficult topics for public consumption.