Preview
  • Bounce

  • Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success
  • By: Matthew Syed
  • Narrated by: James Clamp
  • Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (716 ratings)

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Bounce

By: Matthew Syed
Narrated by: James Clamp
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Publisher's summary

Why have all the sprinters who have run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds been black?

What's one thing Mozart, Venus Williams, and Michelangelo have in common?

Is it good to praise a child's intelligence?

Why are baseball players so superstitious?

Few things in life are more satisfying than beating a rival. We love to win and hate to lose, whether it's on the playing field or at the ballot box, 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, to genetics and race, to sports and politics.

Backed by cutting-edge scientific research and case studies, Syed shatters long-held myths about meritocracy, talent, performance, and the mind. He explains why some people thrive under pressure and others choke, and weighs the value of innate ability against that of practice, hard work, and will. From sex to math, from the motivation of children to the culture of big business, Bounce shows how competition provides a master key with which to unlock the mysteries of the world.

p> PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2010 Matthew Syed (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers
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What listeners say about Bounce

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great book from an essential perspective

the chapter on drugs felt out of place, but the rest of the book was awesome. even if you are familiar with some of the content (as i was from reading outliers and other similar books), the material in this book is more exhaustive, and Syed's perspective on the topic (as a world champion and an outlier himself) is essential to understanding topics like expert chunking (e.g. the part where he plays tennis with a pro). great book

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Author fundaments concept, but too many stories

is a good book, but stories are too long you have to dig in to get to the wisdom nuggets or you will miss them.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Practice makes perfect

I liked the book. Basically, practice makes perfect. Start early, keep on training, be mindful about it and eventually you will be very good at it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I recommend, I enjoyed the energy of the narrator. His narratives describing the theories were excellent.

Have you listened to any of James Clamp???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to this narrator before, but will listen again.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opening

A varied look at sporting successes that has made me question some of my own beliefs and approaches.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing book for anyone doing anything performance

highly recommend fot anyone playing sports or anything that is competitive and wants to improve

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Insightful to brilliant

One of my favourite books of the year! Well research, thoughtful and keen to read more of his books

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent piece of literature

I learned new things about practicing and just how strong the mind is under immense pressure.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Some parts are super interesting while others not strongly connected

All in all it was enlightening and interesting and made me think on how to raise my kids.

I recommended it already.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Very good

There’s a lot of lessons to learn in this book about being good at anything you do in life, I really liked it. And the performance is very good.

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