Scan barcode
pgck's review against another edition
5.0
The authoritative overview of expertise by the world's foremost expert on expertise.
heckmanity's review against another edition
3.0
Offers plenty of good information & ideas, but gets bogged down in examples and stories that don't offer much insight into anything besides the overarching thesis that deliberate practice is the main factor in predicting success. Whether that's because the state of the research doesn't allow for more specific and useful insights, or because the authors wanted to really drive home that central idea at the expense of not diving very deeply into it, I'm not sure.
rbogue's review against another edition
4.0
How is it that some people just seem to get better and better at what they do? Whether it’s a ballerina, a musician, or a doctor, they just seem to get better with every day of practice. At the same time, how is it possible that most ballerinas, musicians, and doctors don’t improve with practice? They just practice? The answer may be in the idea of “intentional practice” as Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise reveals.
Click here to read the full review
Click here to read the full review
mattneely's review against another edition
4.0
Like Outliers and Flow, 50 pages too long. Leaned heavily on chess and music v. other experts.
redafroninja's review against another edition
5.0
Really inspiring book. Turns out if you put your mind to it you really can do anything. This book has convinced me that if you are willing to practice it you can master it. Written very well too had me hooked after the first few pages
soysoliscarlos's review against another edition
4.0
Recomendado
Me encantó que da buenos consejos para desarrollar la práctica deliberada, no me gustó tanto que habla de muchos estudios que confirman la práctica de liberada. Se lo recomiendo a todos que desean desarrollar habilidades
Me encantó que da buenos consejos para desarrollar la práctica deliberada, no me gustó tanto que habla de muchos estudios que confirman la práctica de liberada. Se lo recomiendo a todos que desean desarrollar habilidades
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
If you've heard of the "10,000-hour rule", then you've heard of the work of Anders Ericsson. I first learned about his work from Malcom Gladwell's book Outliers, and his research has been referenced in many other books that I've read since then. As some of you know, I'm really interested in luck vs. skill and the idea of meritocracy, so I wanted to read this book from the top researcher in the area of expertise. This book is definitely worth the read, and like Philip Tetlock, Ericsson clarifies what people often misrepresent about his research. For example, 10,000 hours might be much less for some people.
Basically, the book cites decades of research when it comes to deliberate practice, but the implications for this are massive. In one of the final chapters, the authors discuss how we often fall victim to the self-fulfilling prophecy idea. When we think that people are "naturals" or "a prodigy", we give up on ourselves way too soon. Through their years of research, the authors conclude there is no such thing as a natural or a prodigy; it's all a result of deliberate practice.
After I finished this book, I texted my son and said, "Remind me to tell you the trick to becoming awesome at anything." With what you learn from this book, you'll see what your real potential is. I've personally benefited from the deliberate practice described in this book, but I didn't know what it was, and now it makes sense. Based on what we know about neuroplasticity and the research from this book, I think it's important for people to realize that they can not only improve specific skills but also their mental health if they're willing to put in the work.
Basically, the book cites decades of research when it comes to deliberate practice, but the implications for this are massive. In one of the final chapters, the authors discuss how we often fall victim to the self-fulfilling prophecy idea. When we think that people are "naturals" or "a prodigy", we give up on ourselves way too soon. Through their years of research, the authors conclude there is no such thing as a natural or a prodigy; it's all a result of deliberate practice.
After I finished this book, I texted my son and said, "Remind me to tell you the trick to becoming awesome at anything." With what you learn from this book, you'll see what your real potential is. I've personally benefited from the deliberate practice described in this book, but I didn't know what it was, and now it makes sense. Based on what we know about neuroplasticity and the research from this book, I think it's important for people to realize that they can not only improve specific skills but also their mental health if they're willing to put in the work.
miikka's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve encountered the concept of deliberate practice many times, but this was so far the best explanation of it - probably because it’s by the psychologist who coined the term. The clears up various misconceptions about the deliberate practice and gives instructions for becoming a top-level performer in any subject. So easy!
categal's review against another edition
4.0
This is an amazing review of how malleable our brains are. Wanna be a chess master? Wanna rock on guitar? Wanna remember your grocery list without writing it down? You can do it! We all can do it, we just need to get off our duffs and practice.
asolorio02's review against another edition
4.0
The books a bit long and sometimes repetitive but Anders Ericsson spent over thirty years studying the question of what makes someone an expert/master in their given field, so I guess you can't blame him for including so much info on the topic.
The "10,000 hours of practice will lead to mastery", popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers was actually taken from Ericsson, and he spends some time debunking Gladwell's misinterpretation of his findings. He also debunks the "He/She was just born with it/God given talent", and the "Just Work Harder" ideas which are so popular in the States.
Ericsson's main idea is based on loads of research and it's pretty damn simple and makes complete sense when you really think about it. It all goes back to Quality versus Quantity in how we practice. They identify three types of practice:
1. Regular
2. Focused
3. Deliberate
10,000 hours of regular practice won't make someone a Kobe or a Mozart, but 10,000 hours of deliberate practice just might.
I'll use the analogy of a youth basketball team to illustrate the differences:
It's the final seconds of the final game of the season for the Rochester Rockets youth team. All the kids on the team dream of playing in the NBA, and this is the moment they've dreamed of since picking up a basketball for the first time: championship game, down by one, ten seconds on the clock, and a final shot to win or lose it.
With the game on the line the coach calls a time-out, and the team goes into the huddle already knowing who's getting the last shot—Darren. He's not the tallest, fastest, or strongest, but everyone knows he's the most talented. It's almost like he was born for moments like this.
What the other kids don't understand is the thing that separates him from them isn't talent, but an attitude and mindset towards practice.
The kids riding the bench attended all the regular team practices, they usually worked hard and sometimes they even concentrated on the drills, but occasionally they'd goof off or go through the motions, thinking about video-games or homework. They never really pushed themselves beyond their limits—practice makes perfect after-all. And now their mindset has them sitting on the bench, staring at the starters in the huddle, wishing they were as talented as them.
The other four kids who are going to be in for the final possession have talent, but they won't be getting the last shot unless the play is busted. They all practiced with focus and intensity. During practices they went all out, worked hard, harder than anyone else, and pushed themselves to their limits. They attended team practices twice a week, did drills on their own, and met at the park to play pick-up ball two or three times a week. Now they're all standing in the huddle, and occasionally stealing glances at Darren, wishing they were as talented as him.
To no-one's surprise, the coach taps Darren's shoulder and tells him the final shot is his. Darren nods, calm, ready for the moment. And why not?
He spent the whole season preparing for a moment just like this. During regular practices he was always 100% engaged. He was the only player who asked the coach for feedback following practice and actually used the feedback to improve.
He always arrived early and left late. During his time alone he worked on parts of his game that were weak, breaking things down into micro-skills, focusing on things he wouldn't be able to work on during team practices. Dribbling and shooting with only his left hand, fade-away jumpers from the baseline, running floaters in the lane, lay-ups off the wrong foot, low-post footwork.
During the week, when his dad got home from work, they practiced in the driveway for an hour or more. Always on things that pushed Darren to the limit of his abilities. His father wasn't a slouch, having played college ball he knew what drills and practice Darren would need to develop his skills. After practicing together they'd go inside and watch an NBA game. Darren's dad would pause the game at various points and ask Darren to evaluate certain plays, asking why they had worked or failed, he'd ask him what decision a certain player made, why it was good or bad. "Did you see how he split the double-team? What would you do in that situation? Why do you think the coach called a timeout there?"
Darren approached practice deliberately, thoughtfully, and learned how to break the game down into skills which he could focus on and practice with a precision the other kids lacked. He had support and feedback from his coach and dad, which helped him finesse his game. Finally, he developed a good mental representation (watching and analyzing games) of how the game should be played. Darren wasn't born dribbling a basketball, like most people he had no particular talent for it, at least not until he began to practice deliberately.
The bench-warmers can put in 10,000 hours of regular practice and they'll never approach Darren, the good players can put in 10,000 hours of focused practice and they also won't be approaching Darren. Because unlike them, Darren practices deliberately. His practice is more precise, more focused, and more geared towards building the specific skills that separate the experts from the amateurs. Not only does he work hard in practice, but he also works smarter in practice. Which is what Deliberate Practice is all about.
The "10,000 hours of practice will lead to mastery", popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers was actually taken from Ericsson, and he spends some time debunking Gladwell's misinterpretation of his findings. He also debunks the "He/She was just born with it/God given talent", and the "Just Work Harder" ideas which are so popular in the States.
Ericsson's main idea is based on loads of research and it's pretty damn simple and makes complete sense when you really think about it. It all goes back to Quality versus Quantity in how we practice. They identify three types of practice:
1. Regular
2. Focused
3. Deliberate
10,000 hours of regular practice won't make someone a Kobe or a Mozart, but 10,000 hours of deliberate practice just might.
I'll use the analogy of a youth basketball team to illustrate the differences:
It's the final seconds of the final game of the season for the Rochester Rockets youth team. All the kids on the team dream of playing in the NBA, and this is the moment they've dreamed of since picking up a basketball for the first time: championship game, down by one, ten seconds on the clock, and a final shot to win or lose it.
With the game on the line the coach calls a time-out, and the team goes into the huddle already knowing who's getting the last shot—Darren. He's not the tallest, fastest, or strongest, but everyone knows he's the most talented. It's almost like he was born for moments like this.
What the other kids don't understand is the thing that separates him from them isn't talent, but an attitude and mindset towards practice.
The kids riding the bench attended all the regular team practices, they usually worked hard and sometimes they even concentrated on the drills, but occasionally they'd goof off or go through the motions, thinking about video-games or homework. They never really pushed themselves beyond their limits—practice makes perfect after-all. And now their mindset has them sitting on the bench, staring at the starters in the huddle, wishing they were as talented as them.
The other four kids who are going to be in for the final possession have talent, but they won't be getting the last shot unless the play is busted. They all practiced with focus and intensity. During practices they went all out, worked hard, harder than anyone else, and pushed themselves to their limits. They attended team practices twice a week, did drills on their own, and met at the park to play pick-up ball two or three times a week. Now they're all standing in the huddle, and occasionally stealing glances at Darren, wishing they were as talented as him.
To no-one's surprise, the coach taps Darren's shoulder and tells him the final shot is his. Darren nods, calm, ready for the moment. And why not?
He spent the whole season preparing for a moment just like this. During regular practices he was always 100% engaged. He was the only player who asked the coach for feedback following practice and actually used the feedback to improve.
He always arrived early and left late. During his time alone he worked on parts of his game that were weak, breaking things down into micro-skills, focusing on things he wouldn't be able to work on during team practices. Dribbling and shooting with only his left hand, fade-away jumpers from the baseline, running floaters in the lane, lay-ups off the wrong foot, low-post footwork.
During the week, when his dad got home from work, they practiced in the driveway for an hour or more. Always on things that pushed Darren to the limit of his abilities. His father wasn't a slouch, having played college ball he knew what drills and practice Darren would need to develop his skills. After practicing together they'd go inside and watch an NBA game. Darren's dad would pause the game at various points and ask Darren to evaluate certain plays, asking why they had worked or failed, he'd ask him what decision a certain player made, why it was good or bad. "Did you see how he split the double-team? What would you do in that situation? Why do you think the coach called a timeout there?"
Darren approached practice deliberately, thoughtfully, and learned how to break the game down into skills which he could focus on and practice with a precision the other kids lacked. He had support and feedback from his coach and dad, which helped him finesse his game. Finally, he developed a good mental representation (watching and analyzing games) of how the game should be played. Darren wasn't born dribbling a basketball, like most people he had no particular talent for it, at least not until he began to practice deliberately.
The bench-warmers can put in 10,000 hours of regular practice and they'll never approach Darren, the good players can put in 10,000 hours of focused practice and they also won't be approaching Darren. Because unlike them, Darren practices deliberately. His practice is more precise, more focused, and more geared towards building the specific skills that separate the experts from the amateurs. Not only does he work hard in practice, but he also works smarter in practice. Which is what Deliberate Practice is all about.