In his new book, the sports gene, he looks at whether big. David epstein, sports gene author, on what makes natural. As it turns out, some of the traits that appear innatelike the bulletfast reactions of a major league baseball hitterare learned, while others that seem to be entirely acts of will, like the. Hi, im david epstein, author of the recent nyt bestseller the sports gene, a look at the naturenurture of elite sports performance. I heard the author speak last year and his presentation on how to discover and develop natural talent was fascinating, whether or not youre an athlete. Inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance is composed by david epstein. Aug 01, 20 mclaughlin appears in the sports gene, a new book by david epstein, a senior writer at sports illustrated. Oct 02, 20 the sports gene covers all that we have learned in the decade since the sequencing of the human genome as to what genetic science can tell us about athleticism. The sports gene is a new york times bestseller about exactly what it sounds like. In the sports gene, david epstein, a senior writer at sports illustrated, takes on the nature vs. Michael shermer, the wall street journal this is the book ive been waiting for since the early 1960s. What makes the perfect athlete david epstein yellow jersey, 352pp.
Caucasians are stockier, with thicker, stronger upper bodies. This is adapted from david epsteins new book the sports gene. The sports gene, written for top athletes and just plain weekend duffers one of whom tests the bounds of all things human to try to become a pro golfer, is a story told elegantly and with david epstein s indefatigable powers of investigation. Jul 09, 2014 the sports gene by sports illustrated senior writer david epstein was published last year to great acclaim and a number of raised eyebrows. It was january 2002, my senior indoor track season at. Jim epstein is the executive editor of reason tv and reasons podcasts.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The sports gene is bound to put the cat among the pigeons in the blankslate crowd who think that we can all be equal as long as we equalize environmental inputs such as practice. David epstein, writer for propublica and author of the sports gene, talks with. Publishers weekly in the sports gene david epstein blows up the notion that 10,000 hours is all that is required for dominance in a sport and reveals the true complexity behind excellence. The sports gene takes a look at the physiological traits that are beneficial in various sports, and at their hereditary background. It tapped into the ideal of gentlemanly effortlessness.
David epstein is an awardwinning investigative reporter at propublica, and was previously a senior writer at sports illustrated. A mere four moleculesadenine, cytosine, guanine and thyminepair off three billion times to make up our dna, the instruction manual for our. The sports gene, on the science of athletic performance, by david epstein donald thomas was bragging to his pals on the college track team about his dunking skills on the basketball. View essay david epstein, the sports gene 1 from soc 1710 at brown university. This is adapted from david epstein s new book the sports gene. Yet as sports journalist david epstein points out, many factors are at. I learned a whole bunch of stuff from it, but here i will. The sports gene is a nonfiction book written by david epstein, at the time a senior writer for sports illustrated, on the effects of genetics and sports training on human athleticism. The science behind the worlds greatest athletes mother. The science behind the worlds greatest athletes mother jones.
Speaking of epo and things like that, todays guest is david epstein, who wrote an. To return to abernethys point, thinking about an action is the sign of a novice in sports, or a key to transforming an expert. In his fantastic new book, the sports gene, epstein broaches a wide range of topics in a way that is. Inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance. Africans have longer legs and slimmer hips, allowing them to run faster. He worked as the economics editor of barrons magazine from 1993 to 2017. The winner of the 2012 olympic marathon would have beat the winner of the marathon of the 1904 olympic marathon by more than 1 hour and 20 minutes. Micheno lawrence was a sprinter on my high school track team. He has masters degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as an investigative reporter for propublica and a senior writer for sports illustrated. Aug 14, 20 epstein takes a look in the sports gene. Are stars like usain bolt, michael phelps, and serena williams genetic freaks put on earth to dominate their respective sports. Inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance ebook written by david epstein. The sports gene by david epstein 338 pages, 20 a summary introduction in search of sports genes imagine the genome all 23,000 or so regions of dna that contain genes as a 23,000page recipe book that resides at the centre of every human cell and provides direct instructions or genes for building proteins. Aug 05, 20 in the sports gene, david epstein, a senior writer at sports illustrated, takes on the nature vs.
The book takes the reader around the globe to meet cultures, elite athletes, and the scientists who study both, in a search for answers, and provides the most uptodate explanations that science has produced. The sports gene ultimately suggests that you need a strong dose of both nurture and nature to succeed as a highlevel athlete. The book is a little heavy on the science for the typical reader, but its well worth diving into if the topic interests you. The sports gene, on the science of athletic performance, by david epstein donald thomas was bragging to his pals on the college track team about his. Hi everyone, thanks so much for coming by, i truly enjoyed the discussion, and the questions were fantastic and astute. Through investigative journalism, epstein takes the reader through his experiences regarding what makes the difference between an amateur and a proathlete. The data clearly supports a view of skill acquisition as innate hardware and learned software.
Sports illustrated senior writer david epstein says scientists are learning a lot more about the role of genetics in athletic performance. It also examines why people in certain parts of the world have evolved in their particular way, and how this is beneficial in the realm of certain sports. David epstein is the author of the new york times bestseller the sports gene. Endlessly fascinating john harding daily mail full credit to david epstein, a sports illustrated journalist with a serious and deep knowledge of genetics and sports science, for his terrific and unblinking new book, the sports gene, a timely corrective to the talentdenial industry ed smith new statesman a fascinating, thoughtprovoking look at the leading. Aug 01, 20 david epstein has a masters degree in environmental science and is an awardwinning senior writer for sports illustrated, where he covers sports science, medicine, and olympic sports. The high jumps route through the big bang of body types was radically altered by. Apr 26, 2014 the sports gene contains the answers epstein found in his quest to understand why athletic performance varies. Many athletes went along with the lazy labels attached to them, and naturals despite the casual. Talent, practice and the truth about success by epstein, david isbn.
Why generalists triumph in a specialized world, and of the bestseller the sports gene. The sports gene by david epstein by sarah stichter on prezi. In the end, he concedes that any case for sports expertise that leans entirely either on nature or nurture is a strawman argument. Inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance by david epstein. Aug 08, 20 enter sports illustrateds david epstein. An avid runner himself, he earned alleast honors on columbia universitys. If there are, do only elite athletes have them, or do the pros separate them selves from the rest of us. The sports gene chapter 2 august 18, 20 devon mcgregor david epstein, fitness, outliers, sports, the sports gene, the ten thousand hour rule, training leave a comment a tale of two highjumpers or. His memorable pieces include a feature story on the secret, dangerous world of venezuelan bitcoin mining.
Humans seem to have gotten faster, better and stronger in almost every way. Epstein earned a ba from brandeis university and an ma in economics from the new. Leaders caught up with the author to see what his research revealed, and to learn a little more about the nature v nurture debate. The physical activity that one trains in is very specifically automated in the brain. Why generalists triumph in a specialized world, and of the new york times bestseller the sports gene, which has been translated in 21 languages. Yes, there are exceptions to the 10,000hours rule, as there are exceptions to people playing in the nba at less than sixfeet tall but not many. Please ask me anything about sports science or book writing. David epstein has a masters degree in environmental science and is an awardwinning senior writer for sports illustrated, where he covers sports science, medicine, and olympic sports. The sports gene contains the answers epstein found in his quest to understand why athletic performance varies. One of the stories david epstein tells in the sports gene concerns stefan holm, whose sport was the high jump. As it turns out, some of the traits that appear innatelike the bulletfast reactions of a major league baseball hitterare learned, while others that seem to be entirely acts of will, like the compulsive drive to train, have. Jul 26, 2014 epstein says mantyrantas epor mutation is the clearest example of a sports genea single genetic variant that has the ability to turn someone into a superior athlete. Mclaughlin appears in the sports gene, a new book by david epstein, a senior writer at sports illustrated.
In his new book, sports illustrateds david epstein says science now has answers or at. The sports gene introduction, i discussed the opening pages of senior sports illustrated writer, david epstein, the sports gene. He earned alleast honors on columbia universitys varsity track squad, and has a masters degree in environmental science. Today, im honored to bring you a conversation i recently had with author of the book the sports gene, david epstein. The sports gene is an implicitand, in one chapter, explicitrefutation of the 10,000. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the sports gene.
The sports gene is a nonfiction book written by david epstein, at the time a senior writer for sports illustrated, on the effects of genetics and sports training on. Through investigative journalism, epstein takes the reader through his experiences regarding what makes the difference between an amateur and a pro athlete. Gene epstein is a director for the soho forum with eight videos in the cspan video library. May 29, 2015 the sports gene by sports illustrated senior writer david epstein was published last year to great acclaim and a number of raised eyebrows.
Inside the science of extraordinary sports performance, how i would publish my views on the book, as it relates to the work that i do in my own gym with my. Sep 10, 20 the sports gene, a conversation with author david epstein and olympic medalist dara torres duration. Inside the science of extraordinary sports performance, how i would publish my views on the book, as it relates to the work that i do in my own gym with my clients. To be called talented or a natural was once the highest praise.
Aug 07, 20 one of the stories david epstein tells in the sports gene concerns stefan holm, whose sport was the high jump. The new york times bestseller with a new afterword about early specialization in youth sports from the author of range. The sports gene is an implicitand, in one chapter, explicitrefutation of. Combine that genetic diversity with the most genetically diverse. Aug 05, 20 sports illustrated senior writer david epstein says scientists are learning a lot more about the role of genetics in athletic performance. Epstein, the author of the book the sports gene, starts by taking a look at runners. Many athletes went along with the lazy labels attached to them, and naturals despite the casual image they. Anders ericsson accumulated practice is the true reasons experts excel in particular fields sports, music, careers idea distorted by the media retrospective theory and biased reported average not. Endlessly fascinating john harding daily mail full credit to david epstein, a sports illustrated journalist with a serious and deep knowledge of genetics and sports science, for his terrific and unblinking new book, the sports gene, a timely corrective to the talentdenial industry ed smith new statesman a fascinating, thoughtprovoking look at the leading edge of sports. Inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance paperback april 29, 2014. The sports gene, a conversation with author david epstein and olympic medalist dara torres duration. The sports gene covers all that we have learned in the decade since the sequencing of the human genome as to what genetic science can tell us about athleticism. An avid runner himself, he earned alleast honors on columbia universitys varsity track squad. His investigative pieces are among sports illustrateds most highprofile stories.
His memorable pieces include a feature story on the secret, dangerous world of. Of the 81 men who have run the 100 meters in less than 10 seconds, 80 are black, but subsaharan africans have never won an olympic weightlifting medal. Do elite athletes have innate gifts or can they be produced. The sports gene by sports illustrated senior writer david epstein was published last year to great acclaim and a number of raised eyebrows. An avid runner himself, he earned alleast honors on columbia universitys varsity track. The analogy epstein uses is that of computer hardware and software. And i think jamaica is this phenomenon where you sort of combine a good talent pool. Inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance epstein, david on.
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