The Performance Cortex: How Neuroscience Is Redefining Athletic Genius

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The Performance Cortex: How Neuroscience Is Redefining Athletic Genius Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Zach Schonbrun (Author), Thomas Vincent Kelly (Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)

4.2 144 ratings

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Athletic genius explained. A groundbreaking new perspective on the science of elite sporting performance.

Why couldn't Michael Jordan, master athlete that he was, hit a baseball? Why can't modern robotics come close to replicating the dexterity of a five-year-old? Why do good quarterbacks always seem to know where their receivers are?

In this deeply researched book, sports and business reporter Zach Schonbrun explores what actually drives human movement and its spectacular potential. The groundbreaking work of two neuroscientists in Major League Baseball is only the beginning. Schonbrun traces the fascinating history of motor research and details how new investigations in the brain are helping explain the extraordinary skills of talented performers like Stephen Curry, Tom Brady, Serena Williams, and Lionel Messi; as well as musical virtuosos, dancers, rock climbers, race-car drivers, and more.

Whether it is timing a 95-mph fastball or reaching for a coffee mug, movement requires extraordinary computation that many take for granted - until now. The Performance Cortex ushers in a new way of thinking about the athletic gifts we strain to see in our cavernous arenas. It's not about the million-dollar arm anymore. It's about the million-dollar brain.

Includes a bonus PDF with charts and graphs.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Listening Length

10 hours and 21 minutes
Author

Zach Schonbrun
Narrator

Thomas Vincent Kelly
Audible release date

April 17, 2018
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Audio
ASIN

B07C372DHC
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	10 hours and 21 minutes
Author	Zach Schonbrun
Narrator	Thomas Vincent Kelly
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	April 17, 2018
Publisher	Penguin Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07C372DHC
Best Sellers Rank	#68,790 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #54 in Sports Psychology (Audible Books & Originals) #102 in Physiology (Books) #199 in Sports Training (Books)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

144 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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Ryan_D

Very informative!

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2019

Verified Purchase

I loved the information provided in this book about the past, present and future application of neuroscience. The book is scientific in its approach while still reading like a narrative that I could not put down! For anyone working with athletes or just interested in the capabilities of neuroscience research, this is a must read

2 people found this helpful

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michael soriano jr.

Gets too technical once in a while

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2018

Verified Purchase

I was interested in the book because of its sports content. But at times it got too technical in terms of the science content for my tastes

One person found this helpful

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Jason E Gray

Excellent and interesting... on how we’re beginning to understand how the brain truly impacts elite performance

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2018

Verified Purchase

Really enjoyed this. As someone who is interested in innovation and who enjoys sports, I greatly appreciated the look into how the leading edge of neuroscience analysis is being used in baseball. In many ways, Moneyball / analytics have already permeated sports and business... this makes clear we’re at the beginning of the ability to have so much more insight into what drives performance. It’s a book I’ve been sharing around the office too.

3 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Not bad

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2018

Verified Purchase

Book was okay. It’s a neat wrap up of what really is a future in sports to understand the nervous system and it’s control of movement. Felt at times though like words were being written because they were in an anatomy book, as opposed to actually understanding the synthesized material and communicating to a lay audience. There were some good parts, but also bounced around and tough to follow at times.

5 people found this helpful

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Jessica

Bought on Mark Cuban’s reccomendation

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2018

Verified Purchase

Thank you Mark Cuban for bringing this treasure to my attention. It was great to hear from Mark on CC Sabathia’s most recent podcast that this was the book that he was currently reading. I bought the book based on that recommendation as it is great to understand what the leaders in the industry are reading and thinking about. As Mark understands better than anyone, it is extremely important to innovate or you will be left behind and this book gives us insight into the next great innovation in sports.

8 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

A Good Read.

Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

A really good read that takes you on an interesting journey about the brain from the perspective of human performance and movement.

The people stories, progress of the science, and the applications to human performance were interwoven very well throughout.

Worth the read.

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Bama Fan

Solid, not spectacular

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2019

Verified Purchase

This book provided a good overview of some of the newer technologies being used to analyze and sort out baseball players and also provided some history of neuroscience as well. I do read a lot of books, so to me it wasn't the best I've read, but it also wasn't near the worst either. A fairly enjoyable read, particularly if you are a baseball fan and it's written at a level that anyone can access fairly easily.

2 people found this helpful

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Sbro11

Must read for sports fanatics! Great Father’s Day Gift.

Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2018

Verified Purchase

If you are a baseball fanatic, science geek or just want a glimpse of the future, The Performance Cortex is a must read. Zach Schonbrun shares the cutting edge research that is shaping the future of the sports we love. Recently bought copies for my father, father in-law and uncles for Father’s Day.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Ryan Spiegelhalter

Great information

Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book was recommended to me from a fellow hockey coach as a good read and I was not disappointed. I can say I've learned quite a bit about the brain and how it works in conjunction with movement. I have to admit some of it was over my head however I understood a great deal of the information and am happy I read it.

R.Marcos Molina

Latest research about neuroplasticity and motor control .

Reviewed in Australia on September 6, 2018

Verified Purchase

I use this book as a reference for my own research.

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The Performance Cortex: How Neuroscience Is Redefining Athletic Genius Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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