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chamlet5127's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know if it's "spoilers" for a non-fiction "self-help" book, but it boils down to -- instilling drive and actively practicing beyond your current limits. And praising effort is often better than intelligence as a sustained and effective motivator. It was written in 2009 though, so this might have been news then. A lot of anecdotes and very little substantial data. Nice as a motivator perhaps, but not a "magic secret". Also, has a weird fixation on myelin.
rissaleighs's review against another edition
4.0
So if I've got this right, there's this stuff called myelin in your brain, and it insulates the circuits involved in the skills you develop (everything from motor skills to music or language), increasing speed and efficiency in response to the continued firing of these circuits.
This was both a fascinating and inspiring read. Fascinating, to look back on the "gifted program" I was put into in elementary school and the classical music training of my teenage years and see myelin played a role and was harnessed --or not-- in different ways. Inspiring, because with all the Gibson stories my girlhood friends and I wrote, there is apparently no reason why we can't pick up where we left off and become the next Bronte sisters. ;)
This would be an excellent read for teachers, parents, or just any ol person working on developing a skillset
This was both a fascinating and inspiring read. Fascinating, to look back on the "gifted program" I was put into in elementary school and the classical music training of my teenage years and see myelin played a role and was harnessed --or not-- in different ways. Inspiring, because with all the Gibson stories my girlhood friends and I wrote, there is apparently no reason why we can't pick up where we left off and become the next Bronte sisters. ;)
This would be an excellent read for teachers, parents, or just any ol person working on developing a skillset
anomoly's review against another edition
4.0
Read many like it, a good one to read, I like 'bounce' or 'talent is overrated' a little more.
catherineabarrett's review against another edition
4.0
This was great. I regret that I didn't know about myelin when I was younger and inclined to only stick with activities I had natural talent for--so many missed opportunities! Fortunately, it's not too late, and I'm very motivated to learn something new (and fail at it as often as necessary) to build some more myelin.
opheron's review against another edition
4.0
Decent but somewhat slow-paced and repetitive. Could have gone more into depth.
nlfrey's review against another edition
5.0
This is an absolutely fantastic book.
The premise of this book is basically that we give "talent" and "genes" waaay too much credit. Great artists, musicians and athletes aren't great because they were born that way - or even because they were born with some genetic advantage so they could more easily become great. Simply put, they worked their way to greatness. They put in hours of practice (the right kind of practice) and found ways to stay inspired and motivated.
I know that sounds overly simple. Trust me, it's not.
This book kinda blew my mind. It was also very empowering - skill is just that, skill. How good you become at something doesn't have nearly as much to do with your genes or "talent" as it has to do with how you approach learning that thing. How you practice and stay motivated and interested in whatever it is you're learning.
Also, as a musician, this is a great one for me to point people to when they start praising my "talent" too much and/or wondering why I don't do "more" with my skills. I get to turn the question around and let them know that they could be just as good as I am if they decided to - why aren't they doing more with their skills?
The premise of this book is basically that we give "talent" and "genes" waaay too much credit. Great artists, musicians and athletes aren't great because they were born that way - or even because they were born with some genetic advantage so they could more easily become great. Simply put, they worked their way to greatness. They put in hours of practice (the right kind of practice) and found ways to stay inspired and motivated.
I know that sounds overly simple. Trust me, it's not.
This book kinda blew my mind. It was also very empowering - skill is just that, skill. How good you become at something doesn't have nearly as much to do with your genes or "talent" as it has to do with how you approach learning that thing. How you practice and stay motivated and interested in whatever it is you're learning.
Also, as a musician, this is a great one for me to point people to when they start praising my "talent" too much and/or wondering why I don't do "more" with my skills. I get to turn the question around and let them know that they could be just as good as I am if they decided to - why aren't they doing more with their skills?
henshw's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A must read on the development of talent. Helpful for personal improvement and mentorship/coaching
emmanuelbg's review against another edition
3.0
Solid book. It had some great ideas and some lazy sections. I especially enjoyed the neurological explanation of skill-building, how components like the nerve fibers, myelin, and oligodendrocytes work together to achieve mastery over something, instead of "innate" ability or talent.
The other 2 sections were subpar. They were about "Ignition" (motivation for the myelinization process) and coaching (finding a tutor, teacher that can help you stay motivated and myelinization better, through the correction of mistakes, mainly). They lacked clarity and practical usefulness, on my opinion.
Even still, the book introduces many thought-provoking concepts. Worth the read.
The other 2 sections were subpar. They were about "Ignition" (motivation for the myelinization process) and coaching (finding a tutor, teacher that can help you stay motivated and myelinization better, through the correction of mistakes, mainly). They lacked clarity and practical usefulness, on my opinion.
Even still, the book introduces many thought-provoking concepts. Worth the read.
luqwqw1's review against another edition
4.0
Skill is insulation that wraps neural circuits and grows according to certain signals.
Myelin!Myelin!Myelin
After all, we are myelin beings.
Will review this book soon
Myelin!Myelin!Myelin
After all, we are myelin beings.
Will review this book soon