Recommendations based on Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Successby Matthew Syed

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. The Talent Code: Unlocking the Secret of Skill in Sports, Art, Music, Math, and Just About Everything Else

    by Daniel Coyle
    Unlocking the mysteries of developing skill and talent through the science of myelin.

    What is the secret of talent? How do we unlock it? This groundbreaking work provides readers with tools they can use to maximize potential in themselves and others.,Whether you’re coaching soccer or ... (Barnes & Noble)

  2. Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else

    by Geoff Colvin
    An exploration of the science behind extraordinary success in professional fields.

    One of the most popular Fortune articles in many years was a cover story called: "What It Takes to Be Great." Geoff Colvin offered new evidence that top performers in any field are not determined by ... (Goodreads)

  3. It's Not about the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

    by Lance Armstrong
    A story of resilience and courage, detailing Armstrong’s fight against cancer and recovery.

    In 1993 , 21-year-old Lance Armstrong becomes World Cycling Champion . In Austin, Texas, four years later on October 2, 1996, at age 25, Armstrong is diagnosed with testicular cancer with metastasis ... (Wikipedia)

  4. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

    by Carol S. Dweck
    Examining the impact of mindset on achievement, and strategies to cultivate a growth mindset for success.

    A newer edition of this book can be found, here., After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the ... (Goodreads)

  5. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

    by Malcolm Gladwell
    An exploration of unlikely success stories, examining conventional wisdom and biases.

    In his #1 bestselling books The Tipping Point , Blink , and Outliers , Malcolm Gladwell has explored the ways we understand and change our world. Now he looks at the complex and surprising ways the ... (Goodreads)

  6. Sam Walton: Made In America

    by Sam Walton
    Biography of the legendary retail entrepreneur, tracing his rise to success in the industry.

    As Sam Walton himself said, this is "...a story about entrepreneurship, and risk, and hard work, and knowing where you want to go and being willing to do what it takes to get there. And it's a story ... (Goodreads)

  7. Who Moved My Cheese?

    by Spencer Johnson
    A parable about navigating change through the eyes of four characters.

    It is the amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a maze and look for cheese to nourish them and make them happy. Cheese is a metaphor for what you want to have in life, for ... (Goodreads)

  8. Mastery

    by Robert Greene
    A guide to developing the skills and abilities to reach the highest level of success.

    In this book, Robert Greene demonstrates that the ultimate form of power is mastery itself. By analyzing the lives of such past masters as Charles Darwin, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and ... (Goodreads)

  9. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

    by David Allen
    A guide to improving efficiency and productivity through better organization.

    The book, Lifehack, calls ,"The Bible of business and personal productivity.","A completely revised and updated edition of the blockbuster bestseller from 'the personal productivity guru'",—,Fast ... (Barnes & Noble)

  10. 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot

    by Richard Wiseman
    Evidence-based self-help book that provides practical tips to improve various aspects of life in under a minute.

    In "59 Seconds," psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman presents a fresh approach to change that helps people achieve their aims and ambitions in minutes, not months. From mood to memory, persuasion ... (Goodreads)

  11. Fermat's Enigma

    by Simon Singh
    Uncovering the centuries-old mathematical mystery of Pierre de Fermat's Last Theorem.

    xn + yn = zn, where n represents 3, 4, 5, ...no solution "I have discovered a truly marvelous demonstration of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain." With these words, the ... (Goodreads)

  12. Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl

    by Stacey O'Brien
    A remarkable story of an owl's unconditional love and the bond between a woman and her beloved pet.

    When biologist Stacey O'Brien first met a four-day-old baby barn owl with nerve damage in one wing, she knew he had no hope of surviving on his own in the wild, so gave him a permanent home living ... (Goodreads)

  13. Models: Attract Women Through Honesty

    by Mark Manson
    A guide to attracting women through honesty, vulnerability, and authenticity, rather than manipulation or deceit.

    Models is the first book ever written on seduction as an emotional process rather than a logical one, a process of connecting with women rather than impressing them. It's the most mature and honest ... (Barnes & Noble)

  14. Influencer: The Power to Change Anything

    by Kerry Patterson
    A guide to becoming an influencer, with practical advice on how to change behavior and make a difference in the world.

    "From the New York Times bestselling authors of Crucial Conversations . . . Whether your goal is to change minds, change markets, or change the world-anything is possible for an influencer.Everyone ... (Barnes & Noble)

  15. The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness

    by Steve Peters
    A guide to understanding and managing the inner workings of the human mind, using the analogy of a chimp to explain our emotional responses.

    Leading consultant psychiatrist Steve Peters knows more than anyone how impulsive behaviour or nagging self-doubt can impact negatively on our professional and personal lives. In this, his first ... (Goodreads)

  16. The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to The Sports Guy

    by Bill Simmons
    A deep dive into the history and culture of the NBA, from the perspectives of a lifelong basketball fan.

    There is only one writer on the planet who possesses enough basketball knowledge and passion to write the definitive book on the NBA.* Bill Simmons, the from-the-womb hoops addict known to millions ... (Goodreads)

  17. Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World

    by Liaquat Ahamed
    An exploration of the economic decisions of four central bankers that changed the course of history.

    The book discusses the personal histories of the four heads of the Central Banks of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Germany, and their efforts to steer the world economy from the period ... (Wikipedia)

  18. Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success

    by John C. Maxwell
    Strategies for turning mistakes into opportunities for growth and success.

    America's most trusted leadership expert will transform your attitude and belief about failure and empower you to make positive changes in your life to achieve your full potential. Are some people ... (Barnes & Noble)

  19. The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

    by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
    A study of the role of randomness in life, and how it can lead to unexpected events.

    A black swan is a highly improbable event with three principal characteristics: It is unpredictable; it carries a massive impact; and, after the fact, we concoct an explanation that makes it appear ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Wisdom of Crowds

    by James Surowiecki
    Examining the power of collective intelligence to solve problems, make decisions and drive innovation.

    In this fascinating book, New Yorker business columnist James Surowiecki explores a deceptively simple idea: Large groups of people are smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant–better at ... (Goodreads)

  21. The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence

    by Josh Waitzkin
    An inspiring story of how to attain excellence through the martial art of Tai Chi.

    Josh Waitzkin knows what it means to be at the top of his game. A public figure since winning his first National Chess Championship at the age of nine, Waitzkin was catapulted into a media whirlwind ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon

    by Brad Stone
    The story of Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos, from its humble beginnings to becoming one of the world's largest companies.

    The definitive story of Amazon.com, one of the most successful companies in the world, and of its driven, brilliant founder, Jeff Bezos. Amazon.com started off delivering books through the mail. But ... (Goodreads)

  23. Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems

    by Cesar Millan
    A practical guide on how to train and understand dogs, in a way that is natural and beneficial for both.

    There are at least 68 million dogs in America, and their owners lavish billions of dollars on them every year. So why do so many pampered pets have problems? In this definitive and accessible guide, ... (Goodreads)

  24. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

    by Charles Duhigg
    Uncovering the science of habit formation and how to use it to achieve success.

    A young woman walks into a laboratory. Over the past two years, she has transformed almost every aspect of her life. She has quit smoking, run a marathon, and been promoted at work. The patterns ... (Goodreads)

  25. A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

    by Daniel H. Pink
    Exploring the rise of right-brain thinking and how creativity and emotion are shaping our world.

    The future belongs to a different kind of person with a different kind of mind: artists, inventors, storytellers-creative and holistic "right-brain" thinkers whose abilities mark the fault line ... (Goodreads)

  26. Business Model Generation

    by Alexander Osterwalder
    A guide to crafting business models and creating new sources of value.

    Business Model Generation is a practical, inspiring handbook for anyone striving to improve a business model or craft a new one. 1) Change the way you think about business models Business Model ... (Goodreads)

  27. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void

    by Mary Roach
    Exploring the science, technology and culture of human space travel.

    The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity. From the Space Shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA’s new ... (Goodreads)

  28. Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

    by Martin E.P. Seligman
    A guide to developing an optimistic outlook and mental strength to overcome life's challenges.

    Known as the father of the new science of positive psychology, Martin E.P. Seligman draws on more than twenty years of clinical research to demonstrate how optimism enchances the quality of life, and ... (Goodreads)

  29. Think Like a Freak

    by Steven D. Levitt
    How to approach life's problems with a fresh perspective and solve them with unconventional solutions.

    The New York Times bestselling Freakonomics changed the way we see the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything. Then came SuperFreakonomics, a documentary film, an award-winning ... (Goodreads)

  30. Ball Four

    by Jim Bouton
    A candid account of the life of a professional baseball player, exposing the realities of the sport.

    Twentieth-anniversary edition of a baseball classic, with a new epilogue by Jim Bouton. When first published in 1970, Ball Four stunned the sports world. The commissioner, executives, and players ... (Goodreads)