The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.

I'll say it right away: Dan Coyle's book did much to inspire my quest to "crack the code" of writing. In fact, I named my own book and learning system The Writing Code: The Only Comprehensive Guide To Writing Well in All Fields (The Writing Code Series) . My Coyle-inspired quest transformed my approach to writing -- and to teaching writing to people of all ages and backgrounds. Years ago, when Dan Coyle started work on "The Talent Code," he called me looking for contacts with the baseball world of Curacao. I had just written Little League, Big Dreams , which featured the Curacao team in the Little League World Series. He told me he was trying to figure out the secret of talent "hot spots," and he was intrigued that such a tiny country could produce such talent. I didn;t really know what he was trying to do, but I was happy to help. When "The Talent Code" came out, it was just the book I was looking for. I had started teaching writing at Yale and SUNY-Purchase and I was working on a book about the 1963 March on Washington ( Nobody Turn Me Around: A People's History of the 1963 March on Washington was published in 2010). I had embarked on my own quest to bring my own writing to a higher level and to help my students transform their writing. I read everything I could about learning and the brain. And I started to develop a number of simple tricks to help students to write better and faster. Then Dan Coyle's book came out. I was blown away by his clear, lucid description of "deep practice" and "myelenation." These concepts supplied the missing elements of my own quest. The idea, in a nutshell, is this: We learn better when we break complex skills into their smallest parts, and then focus intensely on those pieces. As Coyle says, the old saying that "practice makes perfect" is not completely right. In truth, practicing the right way, with with total concentration -- and repeating simple actions, again and again -- is what makes the difference. So to master a skill like writing, we need to break it down, isolate each simple skill, and make each one interesting and usable. And we need to figure out a way to "burn" the skills into the brain. I brought that insight into my teaching and writing. What a difference it makes! Following the approach that Dan Coyle explains in this masterpiece, I found it much easier to apply -- and teach -- all of the essential skills of writing. With this system, almost anyone can master all the basic skills of writing in a fraction of the time you spend in school. And, as Dan Coyle suggests, it's fun. Because when you make progress, when you gain real mastery, you develop confidence and a desire to practice what you've learned. I hope this doesn't sound like a commercial. I just want to say how grateful I am for this book -- not just for me and my students, but for anyone who cares about learning. It's hard to imagine a more important book for education and the changing economy that depends so much on creativity.

This brilliantly written book is one of the most impactful I have read this year. Author Daniel Coyle has done an outstanding job of taking research into myelin, a substance that insulates nerve cells, and turning that scientific breakthrough knowledge into a prescription for achieving greatness in a variety of fields, from music to athletics to business. Using powerful case studies, Coyle has identified three distinct key elements that determine how individuals achieve greatness: Deep Practice, Ignition, and Master Coaching. Deep Practice involves short burst of energy - perfecting, identifying errors, repeating. Each time an individual - violinist, tennis player, soccer player - engages in this kind of Deep Practice, the nervous system generates new layers of myelin to further insulate and streamline the flow of electrical energy within neural synapses. In order for an individual to have the motivation, persistence, and determination to engage in this level of Deep Practice, there needs to have been an Ignition event. In the case of Korean women who now dominate the LPGA, the igniting event was Se Ri Pak winning the McDonald's LPGA Championship in 1998, and becoming a visible symbol and role model for young Korean girls. Five years later - enough time for Deep Practice to have made a significant difference - Korean women began to dominate women's golf. The third key element is Master Coaching.. Mr. Coyle calls these master teachers "The Talent Whisperers." Common traits are patience, nurturing spirit and the ability to use years of observation and pattern recognition to know just the right word to say to encourage and motivate the person being coached. IConic UCLA coach John Wooden is cited as a prototype for this kind of Master Coach. The implications of these three key elements that lead to greatness are far reaching. They can be applied to the realm of parenting, teaching, coaching, and business leadership. This is a MUST READ book for anyone who aspires to greatness or to lead others in achieving greatness.

I read this book a while ago and it definitely affected my thinking. The book promises and overdelivers. Strong recommendation.

I always got frustrated when people say all our hard work and struggle is because of this magical thing called ‘talent’. Daniel Coyle says that talent is not born its grown, and goes into fabulous scientific discoveries about connections in your brain, and how so called talented footballers or musicians get so good. Excellent t book

Una lectura muy amena e instructiva. Con numerosos ejemplos representativos.

Although ideas like in Malcolm Gladwells' works (that teach us that 10,000 hours, identity and mentorship are more important than talent) are not totally new, this book is very inspiring through the real life examples and different angles it provides.

Here are some key highlights that make this book a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and nurturing talent: 🧠 Science of talent: The book delves into the fascinating science behind talent and skill development, shedding light on how greatness can be nurtured and cultivated in individuals. 💡 Myelin and skill-building: "The Talent Code" introduces the concept of myelin, a neural insulator, and explains its crucial role in accelerating skill acquisition and mastery. 🌟 Talent hotbeds: The book provides intriguing case studies of various "talent hotbeds" across the world, revealing the secrets behind their extraordinary success in nurturing talent. 📚 Deep practice: "The Talent Code" offers valuable insights into the concept of deep practice and its role in fostering exceptional skills and abilities in individuals. 👥 Ignition and motivation: The book explores the power of ignition in sparking motivation and drive in individuals, emphasizing the importance of passion and determination in achieving greatness. 🚀 Master coaching: "The Talent Code" highlights the critical role of master coaches in nurturing talent and shares effective coaching techniques to inspire and guide individuals towards their full potential. 🌱 Growth mindset: The book reinforces the importance of a growth mindset, encouraging readers to view talent as something that can be developed and cultivated over time.