I wrote previously about “Winning Ugly” by Brad Gilbert which is an excellent read for any sportsperson, and in particular those who play tennis regularly. Recently I picked up a copy of “Bounce” by ex-England table tennis player Matthew Syed. Having read it through cover to cover I would recommend this to anyone who plays sport, watches sport or indeed has any sort of interest in psychology and inherited personality traits.
The book mixes biographical anecdotes, scientific research and contemporary examples from the world of sport and treads the right side of the line between entertaining read and valid observations. There are some excellent examples of how circumstance and upbringing affect people’s playing styles. The strapline of the book is the “Myth of talent and the power of practice” – and the book in essence seeks to debunk the myth that sporting prowess is inherited and that practice alone is how champions are made. It is interesting to note though that as the book moves forward it emphasises the need for “purposeful practice”.
There is a lot of good advice to be had from the book, and as it is out in paperback finding a copy for around a fiver should be no problem – Amazon currently has it in stock.
