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Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing Audiobook
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(3.05) - 111 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
Some people just seem to have a knack for success. Great athletes, successful politicians, Fortune 500 CEO's and other prominent individuals may not seem to have much in common, but they all share a remarkable capacity for identifying and achieving their goals. In the audiobook Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing, Po Bronson and Ashley Merriman take an original look at the minute differences between a successful and unsuccessful performance, and reveal the hidden facts behind the nature of competition.
Combining knowledge from fields ranging from athletics to finance, Bronson and Merryman examine the factors separating the triumphant from the disappointed using cutting edge scientific methods. By elucidating the complex factors behind competition, they allow the reader to discover his or her own competitive nature and use this to gain an edge in whatever field they themselves are involved in.
Bronson and Merryman's research delves into historical events and scientific analysis in order to comprehend the many factors of a successful competitor of any kind. Research of home field advantage and its pertinence to business and diplomacy as well as sports, examination of why younger siblings tend to be more competitive, and even the correlation between a CEO's hands and business plan are woven together in a riveting narrative that concludes with the reader gaining a significant competitive advantage.
An experienced and widely read business author, Po Bronson has published many books on what it takes to be successful in the world of business, or anywhere. He has published six books, two co-written with Ashley Merriman, and his book What Should I do with My Life was a New York Times #1 best seller. His articles in New York magazine, co-written with Ashley Merriman, have received the journalism award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, along with Mensa and Clarion awards. Ashley Merriman served as a researcher for the Clinton Administration, and worked as a speechwriter for former Vice President Al Gore. She has published several articles on the science of parenting, and has written a play called Metanoia.
"Interesting read - the explanation of studies got to be a littler cumbersome but definitely the science behind competition was interesting, the stresors and how it affects performance, etc. I'm grateful he didn't go too far into the science as not my bailiwick but enough that I could understand....."
— Mary (4 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
New York Times Bestseller
Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's work changes the national dialogue. Beyond their bestselling books, you know them from commentary and features in the New York Times, CNN, NPR, Time, Newsweek, Wired, New York, and more. E-mail, Facebook, and Twitter accounts are filled with demands to read their reporting (such as "How Not to Talk to Your Kids," "Creativity Crisis," and "Losing Is Good for You").
In Top Dog, Bronson and Merryman again use their astonishing blend of science and storytelling to reveal what's truly in the heart of a champion. The joy of victory and the character-building agony of defeat. Testosterone and the neuroscience of mistakes. Why rivals motivate. How home field advantage gets you a raise. What teamwork really requires. It's baseball, the SAT, sales contests, and Linux. How before da Vinci and FedEx were innovators, first, they were great competitors.
Olympians carry Top Dog in their gym bags. It's in briefcases of Wall Street traders and Madison Avenue madmen. Risk takers from Silicon Valley to Vegas race to implement its ideas, as educators debate it in halls of academia. Now see for yourself what this game-changing talk is all about.
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Quotes
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“Accessible for fans of pop science, yet substantial enough to have practical applications, Bronson and Merryman’s investigation will have folks rethinking the impulse to win at work and play.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Illuminating and entertaining, with some surprising insights from current research in neuroscience and endocrinology.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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A Barnes & Noble Best Book of February2013
Top Dog Listener Reviews
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" I don't have a lot to say about this one. It was an interesting and quick read in the same vein as, but not on the same level as, Freakonomics, Outliers, NurtureShock, etc. Informative and interesting but not in a paradigm-shifting kind of way. "
— Tori, 1/16/2014 -
" I liked this book and recommend it for elementary and secondary educators and parents of young children. It's not hard science, although the studies are interesting. It clarifies competitive behavior and 'cut-throat' behavior. "
— Ann, 1/8/2014 -
" was hoping for more information that would HELP me win.....but it pretty much told me why I suck hahaah "
— Phil, 9/23/2013 -
" Informative, yet not as convincing as Nurture Shock. "
— Aubrey, 8/24/2013 -
" Not as gripping as Nurtureshock but still chockful of useful info. Plus, it's always nice when half the book is endnotes so you're done much faster than anticipated. I expect to see more chapters excerpted in the New York Times. "
— Virginia, 7/2/2013 -
" Illuminating book on the research on competition. Interesting findings that often contradicted my assumptions about competition. I have always known that competition is beneficial but I learned much about how to make it more effective. "
— Rolando, 5/16/2013 -
" This book is an easy, engaging read. Not sure I agree with all of the conclusions, but it made me think. "
— Steve, 4/28/2013 -
" Interesting case studies cited and some surprises about the effects of competition on people. Gets bogged down in a few spots, but still worth the read. "
— victor, 4/14/2013 -
" This is a good read in and of itself but the real beauty of the book is applying the information to a host of endeavors and situations. "
— Don, 2/25/2013 -
" This book made me reevaluate my attitude that all competition is bad and brings out the worst in people. I love Po Bronson's books and I've always walked away surprised at how his work has changed my mind on so many things. "
— Jessica, 2/10/2013 -
" This was OK, but I liked his earlier books better. "
— Marci, 2/6/2013
About the Authors
Po Bronson is the author of five books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller What Should I Do With My Life? His New York magazine articles with Ashley Merryman on the science of parenting have won the Magazine Journalism Award and a Clarion Award. Their articles for Time magazine have won the award for outstanding journalism from the Council on Contemporary Families. Bronson lives in San Francisco, with his wife and two children.
Ashley Merryman is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller NurtureShock. She coauthor Po Bronson have won numerous awards for their reporting, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Award and the Mensa Press Award. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including Newsweek and Time. She lives in Los Angeles.