The Sports Gene

An important book on the relative roles of genes and environment—nature and nurture—in the building of a professional athlete ... bound to put the cat among the pigeons

Wall Street Journal

Captivating...fascinating...His answer to the questions "Nature or nurture?" is both. If that sounds like a hedge, it isn’t: instead, it’s a testament to the author’s close attention to nuance.

New York Times

A wonderful book. Thoughtful... fascinating.

Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers

A fascinating, thought-provoking look at the leading edge of sports performance, written by a guy who knows the territory. David, besides being a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, was a collegiate runner for Columbia University. More to the point, he’s a terrific researcher and a fine, thoughtful writer

Dan Coyle, author of The Talent Code

David Epstein's illuminating synthesis of the latest research into the nature v nurture debate as applied to sport

Simon Redfern, Independent

Full credit to David Epstein, a Sports Illustrated journalist with a serious and deep knowledge of genetics and sports science, for his terrific and unblinking new book, The Sports Gene, a timely corrective to the talent-denial industry

Ed Smith, New Statesman

Provoking spirited debate about the merits of the 10,000 hour rule

Rick Broadbent, The Times

Epstein’s book does not try to simplify the argument, but it does provide a welcome corrective to those who have deliberately underplayed the notion that genetic make-up is irrelevant

Mike Atherton, The Times

Provides a powerful and convincing analysis of how genes influence all our lives, especially the careers of elite sportsmen

The Times

Endlessly fascinating

John Harding, Daily Mail

Intelligently, rigorously and politely debunks the "10,000 hours" myth

Ed Smith, New Statesman

Perhaps the most fascinating book of the year... Absorbing and full of fascinating detail

Chris Maume, Independent

This subtle, enthralling study by the Sports Illustrated writer avoids making excessive claims for genetics

Financial Times

David Epstein's The Sports Gene has a discussion that badly needs to happen at all levels in sport; about the relationships between talent, genetics, practice and success in sport

Dave MacLeod, Scotsman

Respect is due to Epstein…for injecting some objectivity into the debate with his gripping new tome

David Bradford, Cycling Active

The Sports Gene offers a fascinating insight into the topic of nature v nurture…a great read

Jason Henderson, Athletics Weekly

A welcome corrective to those who have deliberately underplayed the notion that genetic makeup is relevant

Oldie

An illuminating read

Sport

Fascinating

Rick Broadbent, The Times

Well written and contains important research, and has some wonderful anecdotes

Matthew Syed, The Times

The most intriguing sports books of the year, and possibly the best-researched

Irish Examiner

An enjoyable mixture of easily digestible science, anecdote and argument

Michael Beloff, Times Literary Supplement

This is a book to counter the 10,000-hour rule popularised by Malcolm Gladwell

Mark Gallagher, Daily Mail

In a book packed with fascinating anecdotes, it’s hard to pick out highlights … If sport is a passion, The Sports Gene is required reading

The Score

Highly entertaining and enlightening

Brandon Robshaw, Independent on Sunday

The Sports Gene does not try to simplify the nature vs nurture argument, but it does provide a welcome corrective to those who have underplayed the notion that genetic make-up is relevant

The Times

Epstein explores this territory with canny verve

William Leith, Evening Standard

Interesting reading

Alastair Mabbott, Herald

Dazzling and illuminating

Richard Moore, Guardian

Epstein is too respectful of the complexity of his subject matter to leap to any grand conclusions. The book was conceived partially as a rebuttal to glib theorising, and it is all the more fascinating as a result

Ken Early, Irish Times

Fascinating from start to finish

Amanda Khouv, Women's Fitness

Epstein forces us to rethink the very nature of athleticism

GrrlScientist, Guardian

Looks at the science of extraordinary athletic performance.

Adam Whitehead, Daily Telegraph

Captivating… Dazzling and illuminating

Richard Moore, Guardian

Epstein is not afraid to follow science in "trekking deep into the bramble patches of sensitive topics like gender and race"

Choice

Captivating… In a particularly fascinating chapter, Epstein investigates an old theory that purports to explain why Jamaica produces so many Olympic sprinters

Christie Ashwanden, Scotsman