A groundbreaking bestseller book, Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin, punctures the myth of natural talent and makes a convincing case for targeted hard work with innate motivation. He cites extensive scientific research to substantiate his thesis.
The book’s key theme, i.e., genius is made, not born, debunks the myth of talent as a gift of God bestowed upon a few fortunate chosen. The real source of great performance is not natural talent. Instead, it is a product of years of practice and hard work.
With extensive scientific research, Colvin proves what makes the world-class performance so remarkable. It is not innate talent nor good old hard work but a specific kind of work and years of practice behind their achievements, which he calls “deliberate practice.”
If you found this book appealing and it influenced you, we have recommendations for more books like it that will change your mindset regarding excellence and unravel the myth of talent that people traditionally know.
1. Peak By Anders Ericsson:
The author uncovers the myth-shattering scientific evidence. The evidence is that top performers in sports, music, chess players, and memory mavens reach the top through powerful strategies. That revolutionary insight of a strategy is fundamentally different from what people traditionally believe about acquiring new abilities.
Ericsson argues that we have greater mental adaptability than we generally acknowledge. This is because people have enamoured themselves with the traditional idea of “talent” that cripples their ability to pursue excellence.
Key Takeaway:
If you want to break the pattern of a creativity rut in your work and improve your performance, whether, in sports, music, education, or helping your child achieve academic goals, the book Peak has the answer. Unfortunately, the answer is a method of deliberate practice rather than a natural propensity for life-changing transformation.
2. Mindset by Carol S. Dweck:
Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck uncovers the power of psychology in our mindset approach to outstanding accomplishments. She provides the latest scientific research in psychology to build and prove her case. A fixed mindset that believes abilities are fixed would never flourish.
Key Takeaway:
The author scientifically proves that success in school, sports, the arts, and almost every field of human endeavour is influenced by the psychology behind mindset. Like a life coach, she makes us beware of false growth mindsets and guides us toward a deeper, accurate growth mindset. The mindset concept covers individuals and transcends to groups and organizations’ cultures. The principle of the right attitude is responsible for making a difference and transforming our lives.
3. Grit by Angela Duckworth:
It is not talent but a unique combination of passion and persistence, what Angela Duckworth calls “grit.” In her New York Times bestselling book GRIT, she tells her own story as the daughter of a scientist who worried about her lack of genius. She proves this through her story of stints as a teacher, market consultant, and neuroscientist that it is not genius. Instead, the greatest message of the book is a special blend of passion and long-term perseverance of successful people that makes them stand out. She values grit above all for greater impact in achieving excellence.
Key Takeaways:
- Grit can be learned regardless of IQ, skills, and circumstances.
- You can ignite and keep your lifelong interest alight.
- The magic of the hard thing rule.
- A warm embrace or high standard, which is better for your child?
4. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg:
The award-winning and leading business reporter Charles Duhigg presents his expert opinion that being productive and achieving success is understanding how habits work. He explains why habits exist and how they can be changed and developed. The author takes us to the bedrooms of business leaders, entrepreneurs like Proctor & Gamble, the sidelines of the NFL, and the front lines of the civil rights movement.
Key Takeaways:
All these engaging narratives discover a new understanding of human nature and its potential. By hardwiring our brains with positive habits, we can transform our businesses, societies, and others’ lives. The book will benefit the readers by changing their perspective of ourselves, our organizations, and the world.
5. The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin:
Waitzkin became a chess champion at the age of nine and became the world champion in the martial art Tai Chi Chuan. Achieving fantastic performances in the fields that seem poles apart, Waitzkin remarked that he is not best at Chess or Tai chai but at the art of learning.
Key Takeaways:
Some important lessons from the book are:
- A well-thought-out and conscientious approach to training is what separates success from failure.
- Any achievement is a function of a lifestyle that fuels a creative and resilient growth process.
- Mastering your emotions and channelling them into creative fuel during competitions.
- Challenges are obstacles that spur growth by turning weaknesses into strengths.
