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Peak

By: Robert Pool, Anders Ericsson
Narrated by: Geoffrey Beevers
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Publisher's Summary

Mozart wasn't born with perfect pitch. Most athletes are not born with any natural advantage. Three world-class chess players were sisters whose success was planned by their parents before they were even born.

Anders Ericsson has spent 30 years studying the special ones - the geniuses, sports stars and musical prodigies. And his remarkable finding, revealed in Peak, is that their special abilities are acquired through training. The innate 'gift' of talent is a myth. Exceptional individuals are born with just one unique ability, shared by us all - the ability to develop our brains and bodies through our own efforts.

Anders Ericsson's research was the inspiration for the popular '10,000-hour rule', but, he tells us, this rule is only the beginning of the story. It's not just the hours that are important but how you use them. We all have the seeds of excellence within us - it's merely a question of how to make them grow.

With a bit of guidance, you'll be amazed at what the average person can achieve. The astonishing stories in Peak prove that potential is what you make it.

©2016 Anders Ericsson (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks

What listeners say about Peak

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Outliers barely skimmed the surface.

Peak provided a much deeper look into mastery and expertise than I had imagined. I'd listened to Ericsson talk in podcasts and heard much of what others had learned from his work but this book cleared up a lot of the information superbly. A couple of chapters felt like brainwaves, especially the key one on building mental representations.
A great book for anyone interested in how we can learn effectively, and particularly those seeking any kind of excellence.

The narrator was fantastic, except that whenever he would quote anyone they'd sound American, but a sort of unintelligent sounding American. Which missed the mark completely in a number of instances. But perhaps it was only jarring compared with the rest of his eloquently British narration throughout the book.

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4 people found this helpful

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Stick with it

The listener will need to break through the early thresholds of the annoying over-articulated narration and the repetition of the content for the first 4 chapters. But stick with it and this book pays huge dividends.

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2 people found this helpful

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Awesome, liberating, inspiring

This book put to the sword many of the myths that have held me back and allowed me not to try. It enabled me to start challenging myself to at 53 to start learning mandarin and write a book. Let's see what it helps u do. Listen to what Anders says and U too will believe in ur ability too revolutionize yourself and the world of those who surround you. Listen enjoy, practice and just watch what happens! 😳😊

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persevere to be rewarded

A book well worthwhile staying with as the conclusion brings it all together. Definitely practical and of use to me, my team, and above all my children.

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1 person found this helpful

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best practice for becoming or coaching experts

listened to thrice and still continue to soak up the knowledge. Research, stories and really useful points to direct your training to improve as much as you want.

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Interesting, practical and highly motivating book

I loved the presentation of research, the overall message, the myth busting, and the focus on different kinds of performers/achievers and how they learn to master their craft. It’s given me new ways to look at life. I’ll be listening to it again and recommend it to others

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EXCELLENT book

Powerful, must read for anyone aspiring to learn ANYTHING and parents and people struggling with hopelessness

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Repetitive beyond belief

I was really excited for this book but It was the hardest book to date, an absolute chore to finish. Some excellent content only to be repeated over and over again and when you think it’s finished… it just keeps going

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Loved it.

This is my second reading of Peak and it was just as inspiring. The final paragraphs excited me about humanity’s potential using the principles of deliberate practice combined with good old hard work. Also loved the clarity and style of the reader. Thank you. I’m sure I’m about to read it a third time in order to study it more closely.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Decent

I would like this book more if it weren't for the narrator's annoying way of saying "decade." Ericsson's book is decent but repetitive and lacks much content in terms of actionable tasks for deliberate practice.

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