Ben-Coyle-Ch3

 

The third chapter of Coyle’s “The Talent Code” gives examples of talented groups of people, explaining their skill set within the theoretical framework of growing myelin. First, Coyle points to the Bronte sisters and their impressive skills as novelists. Coyle refutes the notion that the Bronte sisters were “naturally-gifted” novelists, pointing to evidence that the Bronte sisters practiced writing novels for years in collaborative deep practice. Coyle also extends the notion of deep practice to the “Z-boys,” who were famous for their novel skateboarding: Coyle attributes their skill to deep practice acquired in empty swimming pools. Coyle also attributes much of the success of the Renaissance to deep practice, specifically the deep practice afforded by the artists’ Guilds. Coyle quotes Michelangelo as saying “if people knew how hard I work to gain mastery, it would not seem wonderful at all.”

I think this chapter offers a convincing amount of support for the notion that talent is grown rather than born. In each example given in this chapter, Coyle points to the action of deep practice that sets people apart from their contemporaries, refuting the notion that talent is endowed to “a gifted few,” as well as the “nature/nurture” model for talent.

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