Purposeful practice is focused on the achievement of specific, well-defined goals. Depending on the activity, we may even see a slight decline in skill over time. So, while we may continue to play regularly, that alone does little to help us get better. However, it’s at this point that most people hit a plateau and stop improving, despite the assumption that additional playing time will help them improve. From there, we may aim to shore up a few clear weaknesses to reach an acceptable level of performance for playing the game. When first setting out to learn a new skill, like playing basketball, we focus on the basics, like dribbling, passing, and shooting. Naive practice starts with the belief that repetition alone will help us improve. Peak explains the critical differences between three approaches: naive practice, purposeful practice, and deliberate practice. Our ability to develop new skills requires that we invest time and effort into practice. Three Different Ways To Engage In Practice Fortunately, this book explains how anyone can take the same approach to achieve similar results in an area of their choosing. By engaging in focused practice over a sufficient period, they now appear naturally talented. Those considered gifted have simply made better use of the brain and body’s ability to adapt. The brain is adaptable and effective training allows us to create skills that did not previously exist. However, what we now know is there’s no such thing as a predefined ability. For example, physical traits like height or size are advantageous for playing basketball. Of course, there are cases where genetic endowment makes a difference. That gift is a brain that is flexible, adaptable, and capable of rewiring itself to unlock entirely new skills and abilities through deliberate practice. Furthermore, we’re all given this same gift, and it’s far more powerful than many people realize. The truth is that talented people do have a gift, but it’s not the one we often assume it to be. The Extreme Adaptability of The Human Brain Furthermore, it covers practical tips and insights for anyone interested in improving themselves.

It explains the remarkable adaptability of the human brain and how ‘deliberate practice’ allows us to master new skills and abilities.

Peak by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool is about the real secret behind the success of expert performers. In other words, they are gifted with an unfair advantage that we simply lack. This belief maintains that some people are born with innate abilities that make it far easier to do great things. One of the most common myths about experts and world-class performers is that natural talent plays a significant role in their success.

Peak k anders ericsson