Both books contain the evolutionary theories and beliefs of the authors but I would recommend you filter through this part and get to the larger (and I believe true and biblical) message -- that we are responsible for our actions and lives. With God's help and our obedience, our supposed limits are much less than we previously imagined.
Sure, there are elements of opportunity and also talent itself (certain folks are simply unsuited to be, say, an NBA center), but the larger point of the books remains. You are capable of much more than you realize, so get to it.
Here are some insights/quotes from "Bounce" that I found noteworthy:
Expertise (created through practice) leads to instinct.
The "child prodigy" myth is just that -- a myth. And yes, that includes Mozart, whose father was a master teacher and was working with Mozart at a very early age.
"Mere experience, if it is not matched by deep concentration, does not translate into excellence."
"Research across domains shows that it is only by working at what you can't do that you turn into the expert you want to become."
Making mistakes can lead to mastery if you are being stretched and learning in the process.
Training with superior players increases learning.
Why the smart get smarter and the good get better: " ... the very process of building knowledge transforms the hardware in which the knowledge is stored and operated."
A good practice is one that stretches your limitations each time.
Creative innovation also results from the rigors of purposeful practice.
Good practice also contains feedback that communicates what is going right/wrong.
Those who believe that intelligence/performance are transformed by practice have a growth mind-set. Those who labor under the talent myth stall and stagnate in the face of difficulties.
Michael Jordan: "Mental toughness and heart are a lot stronger than some of the physical advantages you might have."
"Praising children's intelligence [or talent] harms their motivation, and it harms their performance."
" ... [T]each others to see challenges as learning opportunities rather than threats."
In competition, fear causes athletes to worry about results and an overemphasis on mechanics that leads to tightening up.
Go back to perspective. Value what really matters, as opposed to the particular result/outcome. Then the result becomes much easier to attain.
Good routines are a key part of excellent performance.
Those who truly excel are able to get past both triumphs and failures sooner. It takes maturity and a healthy perspective to keep driving on.
The brain is more involved in perception than the eyes.
Attention is a resource with "severe capacity limitations," but experts "create more bandwidth" by automating a number of tasks.
It takes about 10,000 hours of purposeful practice (individual work on specific areas of need) to reach world-class status at a particular craft.
Bottom line: The number one factor that is present in, and distinguishes top performers from their counterparts, is the amount of time they practice on their own.
"It is practice [on your own], rather than talent, that holds the key to success."
Maybe some of these high-caliber performers can be homeschoolers?
