The Sports Gene
By David Epstein
Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance. Penguin Group, 2013.
Summary of The Sports Gene book by David Epstein
A debate over the controversial question of “nature vs nurture” as it relates to athletic performance, with data-backed research and revealing interviews from Olympic champions, professional athletes, and leading scientists.
Chapters in The Sports Gene book summary
What do you get from this book? Discover whether genes or the environment is the driving force behind athletic success
Scientists have long debated whether it’s nature or nature that influences athletic ability—the Human Genome Project proves it’s both
Jenny Finch is able to strike out baseball all-stars because of “chunking” and “automation,” demonstrating nurture’s significance
The “10,000-Hours Rule” demonstrates that training can lead to expert status, but genetics still play a significant role
Human bodies are like computers that need both nature and nurture to develop into elite athletes
Men are more athletic than women due to higher levels of testosterone, though we all start with the same genes
Trainability is predicted by family DNA, which can also result in genetic mutations that influence athleticism
The “Big Bang of Body Types” demonstrates that average human bodies are giving way to frames ideal to each sport
Black NBA players have a longer wingspan and longer legs than white players, giving them a statistical advantage
Every human began life in Africa, but the emergence of the ACTN3 gene has given Black sprinters an athletic advantage
The sickle cell gene robs you of oxygen but increases fast-twitch muscle fibers, thus increasing speed
Kenya and Ethiopia produce the world’s fastest runners due to cultural similarities, not genes
DNA demonstrates a connection between exercise and desire, as well as troubling mutations that can hurt athletes on the field
There are genes that decrease pain and increase your likelihood of winning gold medals, but nature still needs nurture
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
Unlock all 17 chapters of The Sports Gene — Get full access to this book summary and thousands more on Lobab.
The Sports Gene — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read The Sports Gene book
- Sports enthusiasts
- fitness trainers
- sports doctors
About the author of The Sports Gene
David Epstein
David Epstein is an American reporter and New York Times bestselling author with master’s degrees in both environmental science and journalism. His diverse career includes working as a senior writer at Sports Illustrated and an investigative journalist at ProPublica, and hosting Slate‘s “How To!” podcast. Epstein’s popular TED Talk has been viewed over ten million times.
Books similar to The Sports Gene
Related books that explore themes found in The Sports Gene
A.J. Baime
Ford, Ferrari and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans. Bantam, 2010.
Jennifer Wright
History's Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them. Henry Holt and Company, 2017.
Jeffrey A. Lieberman
The Untold Story of Psychiatry. Hachette Book Group, Inc., 2015.
Ed Caesar
The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon. Simon and Schuster, 2015.
Topics related to The Sports Gene book
Explore topics that share themes with The Sports Gene across Lobab's library
Categories The Sports Gene book belongs to
Discover other book summaries in the same categories as The Sports Gene
If you liked The Sports Gene, you might also enjoy
Books on different topics that Lobab readers often explore alongside The Sports Gene
Walter Isaacson
Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race. Simon and Schuster, 2021.
David A. Sinclair
Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To. Atria Books, 2019.
Wallace J. Nichols
The Surprising Science that Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. Little, Brown Spark. 2014.
Ed Caesar
The Quest to Run the Impossible Marathon. Simon and Schuster, 2015.
Aubrey de Grey
The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging In Our Lifetime. St Martin’s Press, 2007.
Stephen Le
What Our Ancestors Ate and Why It Matters Today. Picador, 2016.
Brendan Buhler
The Enormous Impact of Tiny Microbes. Simon and Schuster, 2015.
Emily Prokop
The Extraordinary History of Ordinary Objects. Mango Publishing Group, 2018.
Richard Dawkins
The Long Reach of the Gene. Oxford University Press, 1982.
Can't decide where to start?
With thousands of book summaries across multiple categories and topics, there's always something new to discover. Browse the full library to find your next great read.
Your library
All-you-can-read
Categories
15 categories
Topics
120+ topics
Today's free book summary
Every day, one book summary is completely free to read. Subscribe to unlock the entire library — or just enjoy today's pick on us.
Splash!
Howard Means
A wet’n’wild romp through the history of swimming, from humans’ earliest days of survival to amazing mythical and real modern-day swimmer heroes, showing how this aquatic activity has mutually influenced infrastructure, fashion, sexism, racism, health, and nearly every other facet of our existence.
Library
All-you-can-read
Formats
Text & audio
Free daily
1 book / day
What Lobab readers are saying
Not sure if Lobab book summaries are for you? Here's what our community thinks.
“Lobab is a standout in the world of book summary apps, offering concise, insightful summaries of a wide range of books. Its user-friendly interface and well-crafted summaries allow users to quickly grasp the essence of complex works, making it an invaluable tool for those looking to learn more in less time. Whether for personal growth or professional development, Lobab is a game changer for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge efficiently. Highly recommended!”
Ramogh
Lobab Reader
“Top quality app with plenty of brilliant summaries!”
Benjamin Roche
Lobab Reader
“I found a really great book app that has made reading even more enjoyable ⭐️📚. It is super easy to use, has a lot of books to choose from, gives personalized recommendations, works well with e-readers, has an active community, and is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to all book enthusiasts!”
Nedal Ahmed
Lobab Reader