About this title: Expanding on a landmark cover story in "Fortune" magazine, a top journalist debunks the myths of exceptional performance. Colvin offers evidence that top performers in any field are not determined by inborn talents but from practice and perseverance honed over decades.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover
Date Published: 2008-10-16
ISBN-13:9781591842248ISBN:1591842247
Description: New in New jacket. New hardback book with publisher's inventory mark on bottom edges. We ship 6 days a week, generally within 24 hours; single CDs and DVDs upgraded to 1st class! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Portfolio
Date Published: 2008-10-16
ISBN-13:9781591842248ISBN:1591842247
Description: NEW. Hardcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9781591842248. read more
Description: New. 1591842247 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! NEW Book! May have remainder mark. Most orders ship within 1 BUSINESS DAY with ORDER CONFIRMATION. Great Book at a Great Value! read more
Description: Fine. 1591842247 BRAND NEW-I SHIP FAST-Please choose Expedited Shipping for Faster Delivery-remainder mark across bottom page edges- read more
Description: New. Expanding on a landmark cover story in "Fortune" magazine, a top journalist debunks the myths of exceptional performance. Colvin offers evidence that top performers in any field are not determined by inborn talents but from practice and perseverance... read more
"The takeaway from this approachable book is that a particular kind of practice--what Colvin refers to as "deliberate practice"--is what allows mere mortals (which include all of us, even Mozart, he argues) to painstakingly climb toward world-class performance in our respective field. Colvin spends a few chapters arguing that talent, an inborn gift most of us assume is responsible for world-class performance, is a slippery concept whose cause-and-effect relationship to excellence hasn't been born out consistently in studies. Intelligence is important, but not in the way we typically think. Instead, personally designed practice regimens (which he spends the middle part of the book explaining), in which we are periodically evaluated by a mentor, teacher, or other source of insightful feedback, allow us to work on a skill set just beyond our current comfort zones. Much of this work is solitary, and physically and mentally taxing. Almost all of it is remote from the "game-time" exercise of the skill; that is, you don't become a great football player by playing football, but by conditioning in the particular set of skills you need during the game, and by reviewing your past performances with an eye to adjusting your practice routine. Excellence can be attained only by spending countless hours over many years doing this kind of grueling practice, Colvin argues. There are no shortcuts, and the most direct route is to start young and keep working maniacally as one ages. Excellence, he writes, is much more equal-opportunity than we thought, but most of us are not equal to its challenge."
"This book is very similar to Talent Code but tackles the element of practice more deeply. The basic question this book answers is: Are people born with extraordinary talent? He makes case studies available to the reader, from many different skillsets. They challenge the status quo and the answers are surprising. If you have young children or want to become excellent at something this book will be very helpful as a guidebook for that pursuit. There was a lot of information that was interesting to me, I didn't feel they ever talked over my head. Overall I think I liked this book more that the talent code because of the focus being on the development of the person."
"I picked this up because it is referenced several times in the Malcolm Gladwell books. It isn't as compelling as the Gladwell books but it is nice to get some in-depth analysis of recent thoughts and studies about "talent" and examines if such a thing, as popularly understood, even exists. If you've been hearing the buzzphrase "deliberate practice" and wondered what that's all about, this is the book to check out."
Author Geoff Colvin rejects the popular notion that the genius of a Tiger Woods, a Mozart or a Warren Buffett is inborn uniquely to only a few individuals. He cites research that refutes the value of precocious, innate ability and he provides numerous examples of the intensely hard work that high achievement demands. Best performers' intense, "deliberate practice" is based on clear objectives, thorough analysis, sharp feedback, and layered, systematic work. getAbstract finds that Colvin makes his case clearly and convincingly. He shows readers how to use hard work and deliberate practice to improve their creative achievements, their work and their companies. The author's argument about the true nature of genius is very engaging, but, in the end, he makes it clear that the requirements of extraordinary achievement remain so stringent that society, after all, turns out to have very few geniuses. Colvin admits that the severe demands of true, deliberate practice are so painful that only a few people master it, but he also argues that you can benefit from understanding the nature of great performance. Perhaps, he says, the real gift of genius is the capacity for determined practice. You can improve your ability to create and innovate once you accept that even talent isn't a free ticket to great performance. It takes work."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
