The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance

By David Epstein

Book Overview

The New York Times bestseller - with a new afterword about early specialization in youth sports - from the author of Range.

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 161723012X
• ISBN13: 9781617230127
• Release Date: April 2014
• Publisher: Portfolio
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Marathoners, casual athletes, all sports participants, will become enriched with examples and data!

All athletic coaches will not be comfortable putting this book down! Statistics with medical research throughout. Clearly documented with interesting stories of the great athletes; and, the unfortunate who succumbed during the athletic performance because of their Gnome. Read On!!!