Book Review: The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle

The Little Book of Talent is a follow-up book to Daniel Coyle’s previous publication, The Talent Code. In this book, Coyle organizes the thoughts of his first book into 52 simplified and succinct tips to help individuals in the process of motivation, progress and talent-building. Coyle’s advice is built on the premise that talent is not in-born. Anyone can cultivate talent given the right set of tools. The book is organized into three main sections: “Getting Started: Stare, Steal, and Be Willing to Be Stupid,” “Improving Skills: Find the Sweet Spot, Then Reach,” and “Sustaining Progress: Embrace Repetition, Cultivate Grit, and Keep Big Goals Secret.”

The first set of tips is largely focused on gathering sources of inspiration and ideas. Coyle references the Suzuki method in tip number 2, which is about engraving skills. Suzuki’s focus on listening is an effective method of engraving that essentially creates a model in the brain off of which a learner can base his/her practice. Another key element to the “Getting Started” phase is reflected in tips #7-10, which discuss building skills. Suzuki students start off by learning the basics of holding their bow and instrument, rhythms, ear training, and more, all of which are described by Coyle as “hard skills.” These are precision-based skills that require consistent, repetitive practice in order to hone them. “Soft skills” are more fluid, and involve things like interpreting the emotion of a piece. The last tip, “five ways to pick a high-quality teacher or coach,” contains good advice, not only for the student who is looking for a teacher, but for the teacher who wants to become better to benefit their students. Coyle advises students to look for a teacher who scares them a little bit, instills respect, gives clear directions, teaches fundamentals, and has experience.

The second section is all about practicing: in Coyle’s words, “to stretch yourself slightly beyond your current ability, spending time in the zone of difficulty called the sweet spot.” Coyle discusses how to find the “sweet spot,” which is the place where most of our learning occurs, and several methods of making the most of our practice time. In addition to practicing effectively, it is important to find enjoyment in it; in other words, make it fun. Progress happens much faster when you are happy doing what you are doing. Personally, my favorite piece of advice from this section is to “take off your watch.” Instead of saying “I’m going to practice for 30 minutes,” measure your practicing in the number of repetitions, or in small, concrete goals. This is a highly effective way of transforming your practice from a punishment into something that can be enjoyed and beneficial. This section closes with a set of tips for teachers, which line up well with the advice given to those who are looking for a teacher (Part One). Coyle encourages teachers to create a learning environment where students spend most of their time actively learning, or reaching, create independent learners, use clear and concise language, and to connect with their students on an emotional level.

Lastly, Coyle provides his readers with a set of tips for sustaining progress. It is easy, after that first burst of momentum, to hit a plateau, where we get stuck on autopilot and no progress is being made. When this happens, Coyle’s advice is to “make a shift.” Change up your practice routine so that you find more areas that need improvement. Challenge yourself to make familiar moves faster, or practice slowly to find out where the mistakes are. The other common thread in this last section is to have patience. Coyle uses the analogy of thinking like a gardener, and working like a carpenter. Both gardening and carpentry take a lot of time and patience. Just as you would not get impatient with a little seed for not yet becoming an oak tree, you should not get impatient with yourself for making slow progress. Simply continue to work consistently and diligently, like a carpenter, to develop your skills over time.

The Little Book of Talent is perfect for a wide variety of people. Students can learn many useful tips for developing their practice and finding motivation to continue. Parents who read this book will find reassurance in the potential of their children to develop their talent, as well as ways to help them in their journey. Teachers, whether just starting out or have several years of experience, can find different perspectives on how to improve personally and in their teaching. Daniel Coyle provides insightful knowledge into the world of practicing and talent-building, and gives his readers the inspiration they may need to get started (or re-started) on their journey.