The Sports Gene: Talent, Practice and the Truth About Success Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

David Epstein (Author, Narrator), Random House Audiobooks (Publisher)

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In this ground-breaking and entertaining exploration of athletic success, award-winning writer David Epstein gets to the heart of the great nature vs. nurture debate, and explodes myths about how and why humans excel.

Along the way, Epstein exposes the flaws in the so-called 10,000-hour rule that states that rigorous practice from a young age is the only route to success. He shows why some skills that we imagine are innate are not – like the bullet-fast reactions of a baseball player – and why other characteristics that we assume are entirely voluntary, like the motivation to practice, might in fact have important genetic components. Throughout, The Sports Gene forces us to rethink the very nature of success.

Listening Length

10 hours and 22 minutes
Author

David Epstein
Narrator

David Epstein
Audible release date

13 November 2014
Language

English
Publisher

Random House Audiobooks
ASIN

B00P2UF0CG
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	10 hours and 22 minutes
Author	David Epstein
Narrator	David Epstein
Audible.com.au Release Date	13 November 2014
Publisher	Random House Audiobooks
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B00P2UF0CG
Best Sellers Rank	23,966 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 7 in Sports Writing 16 in Genetics (Audible Books & Originals) 20 in Essays & Sports Journalism

Customer reviews

5 star		66%
4 star		23%
3 star		8%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from Australia

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Sean

Interesting

Reviewed in Australia on 12 April 2014

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From the start to the finish I found this book interesting and I doubt it will be called to coin a phrase 'a real page turner' by many but I found I read the book much quicker than expected. The information although detailed was delivered so logically and clearly that I never felt lost in science at all. I have already discussed this book with fellow coaches and followed up by listening to the author in several podcasts. Worth a purchase

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Sam

Hmmm

Reviewed in Australia on 24 April 2021

Verified Purchase

Ok but a little repetitive in argument structure and set up - was expecting the com rots to taken further than they were

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Jon.M

Subjectively, one of the best books I've ever read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2021

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In short, we all know that basketball rewards tall athletes, gymnasts are smaller, marathon runners look a certain way etc...

In a world where people insist "Nothing is impossible" it's refreshing to discuss (and acknowledge) the ingrained qualities which actually contribute to becoming elite in sport.

Fascinating insight which is rooted in science & fact, not hyperbole and speculation.

One person found this helpful

Rugby Coach

Good but became quite repetitive.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 October 2019

Verified Purchase

Good book, however, Epstien overdid the storytelling which became quite frustrating as the book progressed. Epstein's writing style is very readable but he lost the balance in the latter stages and he took too long to make his points, many of his points were to often repeated. Having said that i would buy his follow up to this "Range".

2 people found this helpful

Tim Walker

Fascinating, and full of quotable trivia

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2014

Verified Purchase

If you've watched David's TED talk (as I had), then you probably have a fair idea of what this book will be about - suffice it to say, I was not disappointed, the book was very interesting and a nice insight into the many unusual ways that natural/genetic talents influence sport today.

As a fan of cycling, one must concede that performance enhancing drugs have altered the landscape of competition, and it is hard to know how far this has distorted the fields and results - although this question isn't ignored (particularly with respect to female competitors) it would be an improvement to the book if somehow it could have peered back behind that curtain, although I appreciate that this is a big task given the obvious secrecy involved!

4 people found this helpful

Weeble

A sports person must read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 October 2019

Verified Purchase

Every sports person & especially coaches should read this book. Basically if you aren’t born with it doesn’t matter how hard you try you ain’t gonna be the best. Unless it’s a sport nobody does.

2 people found this helpful

Saflo

Fascinating book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 November 2016

Verified Purchase

Some of the stuff went a bit over my head as I don't have a scientific background but I find that even for those like me with a casual interest in sports, genetics, human nature vs nurture etc Epstein manages to share sometimes complex findings in a fairly approachable manner. His writing style is quite entertaining at times which considerably compensates for the dryness of the subject. A scientific page turner if there ever was one! Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

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The Sports Gene: Talent, Practice and the Truth About Success Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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