Biology Book Review: The Talent Code
The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle is a brilliantly written book and acts as a great supplement to The Power of Habit. All of the evidence provided in the previous book is put in context of biology by Coyle. This book essentially completes one’s understanding on basic habit forming biology, explaining the underlying phenomenon that makes habits possible.
Coyle focuses this book on the biochemical processes responsible for achieving mastery of a skill. He claims that obtaining a skill utilizes the same pathways in the brain that habit formations use. What is this seemingly magical pathway? Coyle reveals that the chemical myelin is responsible for all of the habits we form and talents we have. I have discusses this phenomenon on my article about habits and myelin.
The myelin argument proposed by Coyle is also backed up by research. He talks about how this molecule acts as an “insulation” for our neuronal wires. This insulation is only activated by frequently firing nervous signals in order to maintain energy efficiency. Thus, repetition of tasks and slow analysis of incorrect actions builds talent, little by little, as myelin insulates the proper circuits.
An interesting result of this learning process is the steady improvement in performance of the individual without their notice. As they make corrections to their technique, they become unconscious of the more simple actions involved in the skill. They have made a habit out of their skill. For example, a professional tennis player does not focus all their attention on the ball. They have practiced so much that they can unconsciously predict the path of the ball. Thus, they can pay more attention to the positioning of their opponents and place their shot behind them.
This book has many examples of what it takes to develop habits and talents in this way. I have analyzed the most important aspects of the post mentioned above, but there are countless nuggets of information that I have not discussed.
This book kept me engaged and was not a challenge to read. I was enthralled by the biology responsible for achieving seemingly impossible tasks. While I knew about myelin as insulation, this book did a great job explaining its function in the formation of habits. In addition, this book provides convincing evidence that innate talent is almost never present. By placing yourself in the proper environment and having the necessary conviction, you can achieve almost anything. After all, solving problems is why our brains evolved.
This book was very readable and provided a great source of knowledge. It is a short book, so the amount of information present can appear limited. This is why I recommend it as a supplemental book. Thus, I rate this book a 7/10 as a standalone and a 10/10 as supplemental to The Power of Habit.
Here is an Amazon link (Audible/Hardcopy) to the book if you are interested in learning more.
Conclusion
These five books have provided be with valuable information regarding the world of biology. Through them, I learned many new things both about the world around me and myself. If you are interested in learning about the wondrous complexity life provides, these books will lay a good foundation on which to build your knowledge. As I continue on my journey to gather new information, I will continue to recommend the best literature I come across via another biology book review.