The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance

· Sold by Penguin
4.4
73 reviews
Ebook
352
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

The New York Times bestseller – with a new afterword about early specialization in youth sports – by the author of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.

The debate is as old as physical competition. Are stars like Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and Serena Williams genetic freaks put on Earth to dominate their respective sports? Or are they simply normal people who overcame their biological limits through sheer force of will and obsessive training?

In this controversial and engaging exploration of athletic success and the so-called 10,000-hour rule, David Epstein tackles the great nature vs. nurture debate and traces how far science has come in solving it. Through on-the-ground reporting from below the equator and above the Arctic Circle, revealing conversations with leading scientists and Olympic champions, and interviews with athletes who have rare genetic mutations or physical traits, Epstein forces us to rethink the very nature of athleticism.

Ratings and reviews

4.4
73 reviews
Jason Cherry
August 13, 2023
More interested in the portions of the book about physiological dimensions and how it affects biomechanics but overall a great read. In fact, I read it, listened to it on audio book, then bought it for future reading/reference. I guess that's the exercise science enthusiast in me.
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Lien Le
June 24, 2015
As a person who is self-described as uncoordinated and first to die in any athletic competition, this book is just okay. I don't love the writing style of the author, but I do get interested in the scientific studies he cites. I'm only about 80 pages into the book and I'm finding it dull and challenging to continue (but I will, for science, and to try to understand what fascinates people so much about sports, but mostly because I assigned this as one of the summer reading books for my students).
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Simon G
September 9, 2013
After the popularization of the 10000 hours of practice as being he be all and end all of success in life, The Sports Gene lends much needed perspective to what goes into creating a top athlete.
6 people found this review helpful
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About the author

David Epstein has a master’s degree in environmental science and is an award-winning senior writer for Sports Illustrated, where he covers sports science, medicine, and Olympic sports. His investigative pieces are among Sports Illustrated's most high-profile stories. An avid runner himself, he earned All-East honors on Columbia University's varsity track squad. This is his first book. He lives in Brooklyn.

For more information visit http://thesportsgene.com.

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