Siimon Reynolds suggested I read Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin. The book goes into great performers from all fields, and examines how much of a part talent played in their success.

In examining the greats, the book highlights that very few of them were born with any real degree of talent.

Mozart was born to a father who was a professional music composer and an expert in teaching music, particularly to young men.

Tiger Woods was born to a professional golfer who also studied the most effective strategies for training young men. Before Tiger could walk, his father would take him to the garage, sit him in his high chair and start to hit golf balls in to a net in the garage. “It was as if he was watching a movie” Tiger’s father said.

The premise of the book is that talent, a natural aptitude in a specific field, does exist yet when it comes to being great in a particular field, it is irrelevant.

One of Tiger’s childhood coaches said that Tiger was like Mozart, according to these accounts, indeed he was.