To the outsider, an expert seems as if they are doing everything effortlessly. A master chess player, an expert golfer, and a prolific writer seem to be able to quickly home in on what needs to be done and execute flawlessly over and over again. How do we master new skills? How do our brains and bodies transform performance from novice to expert? In Mastery, Arturo E. Hernandez shows that new skills are not built but rather bloom from the combination and recombination of small parts that come to represent a new whole.
The process by which smaller things are blended over and over again is one that is not just restricted to high-level experts. Uniting the latest research findings from a cross section of disciplines and case studies with compelling storytelling, Mastery shows readers how the blooming of abilities can work in their favor and lead them to achieve much more than they thought was possible. Whether mastering a new language, learning to play a musical instrument, improving your tennis serve, or sharpening your memory, Hernandez teaches readers how to take advantage of our adaptability and open our minds to their fullest potential. Rather than hyperfocus and overspecialization, moving our focus from rigid perfection to a form of flexible adaptation can lead to unexpected improvement. This approach to skill sheds light on how to better harness our talents so that we can accomplish things that are seemingly out of reach.
For anyone looking to learn a new skill, teach someone else to do the same, or to better understand how our brains evolve and excel, this fascinating tour of cognition will reveal the path to surprising potential.
Arturo E. Hernandez, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology at the University of Houston specializing in the brain bases of bilingualism. He is the winner of the Wilhelm Bessel Research Award from the Humboldt Foundation in Germany and a Fulbright Global Scholar award, among other awards. He is the author of The Bilingual Brain and has written more than 80 journal articles. As a child, Hernandez was exposed to four languages and became proficient in two of them, English and Spanish. He learned Portuguese as a third language in early adulthood and German in his thirties. He is also an avid tennis player, having competed in tournaments himself and spent time coaching his children.
“Combining a wealth of scientific insight with plentiful case studies, Mastery offers a deep dive into the critical question of how we attain prowess in sports, languages, learning, and life. Whether youre looking to nail your tennis serve or improve your rusty Spanish, this engaging book will help you to improve, advance, and grow.”– Maggie Jackson, author of Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure and Distracted
“If you are seeking to master a new skill—a language, sport, or instrument—or just looking for self-improvement in any domain, you need to read this book.” —Vanessa Bohns, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior, ILR School, Cornell University, and author ofYou Have More Influence Than You Think
“With surprising insights and interesting stories, this book will appeal to a broad audience of readers who want to know more about how humans learn, work and excel.” —Sian Leah Beilock, President of Barnard College at Columbia University, incoming President of Dartmouth College, cognitive scientist and author of Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To
“This fascinating, accessible book is a must read for anyone who has tried, and failed, to master a new skill in adulthood, or to teach others to do so.” —Chantel Prat, Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience and Linguistics at the University of Washington, author of The Neuroscience of You: How Every Brain Is Different and How to Understand Yours
“Using extraordinary research and detail together with real-life case studies, this book leaves the reader with a new way to think about the road to improvement.” —Tom Byer, world renown soccer coach, technical trainer and advisor, winner of the Golden Boot Award from Adidas, and author of Soccer Starts at Home
