The Sports Gene

By David Epstein

Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance. Penguin Group, 2013.

0.0 / 0

21 mins read

17 Key insights

A brief summary of The Sports Gene

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.

Key insights in The Sports Gene

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

Who should read The Sports Gene

Sports enthusiasts • athletes • coaches • fitness trainers • scientists • sports doctors

About the author of The Sports Gene

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.

David Epstein

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