The Other Talent: The Curiously Complex Role of Mental Health in Athletic Greatness and Why It's Never Too Late to Harness Your Potential

by Matt Fitzgerald

Take a deep dive into the psychology that drives legendary athletes to push themselves to the limits of human ability—elevating them from good to great.

On the playing field, natural talent isn’t enough—there’s a mental component that determines whether athletes win the race or wipe out before the finish line. But what separates standout sports stars from the rest?

In a paradigm-shifting new theory, acclaimed sportswriter Matt Fitzgerald identifies two key traits behind athletic strict self-regulation over thoughts and emotions and an unquenchable psychological need to pursue victory—even when it means enduring extreme mental and physical suffering.

Drawing on modern psychology, neuroscience, and performance theory, The Other Talent offers a fascinating exploration of the best athletes' winning mindset, revealing how you can tap into your own potential and strengthen your self-discipline for better emotional intelligence and sustainable performance improvements.

Listeners will

Why physical talent does not guarantee athletic achievement—and how high achievers get the most out of what they have How mental-health challenges and deep psychological needs can empower and propel athletes to succeed The key differences between athletes who enjoy success early in life vs athletes who find their stride as adults The relatable struggles of legendary athletes—including barrier-breaking boxing champion Jack Johnson and record-breaking 63-year-old marathon runner Mariko Yugeto An eye-opening journey into sports philosophy and the competitive nature of the human mind, The Other Talent is a galvanizing resource for both amateur and elite athletes, coaches, parents, and anyone in pursuit of excellence.

Genres: Sports, Audiobook

272 pages, Paperback

Published August 13, 2024

About the author

Matt Fitzgerald is the author of numerous books on sports history and endurance sports. He has enjoyed unprecedented access to professional endurance athletes over the course of his career. His best-sellers include Racing Weight and Brain Training for Runners. He has also written extensively for Triathlete, Men's Fitness, Men's Health, Outside, Runner's World, Bicycling, Competitor, and countless other sports and fitness publications.

Reviews

[Walter Ullon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy Matt Fitzgerald's writing, 80/20 Running and Running the Dream are some of my all-time favorites in terms of training programs and sports writing, respectively. Matt is also a great dude, I contacted him once through email with some questions and he actually got back to me the same day and offered solid advice (at no cost :)).

Unfortunately, I didn't find this book as compelling as the others, in fact, I think it's a bit of a reach. The problem is not with the writing itself, which is top-notch, but with the examples and the reported science Fitzgerald leans on to make his point.

What we get are some cherry-picked cases that exemplify some key mental-toughness indicators and attributes such as early struggles, resilience, cruel-parenting, good-parenting, etc. And therein lies the problem.

Matt spends not an insignificant amount of time detailing the lives of athletes whose parents ruled on them with an iron fist. And this, of course, is presented as a method that seems to provide results, though the author makes it plain-and-clear that no parent should seek to terrorize their children into greatness, nor pick a sport for them to excel at an early age without their input.

So, ok, "tough love" breeds competitive greatness it seems but then, in the last few chapters, SURPRISE!!! It turns out great, caring, loving parenting is also a solid method for instilling and developing a healthy competitive and athletic drive. For these, he chooses to rely on the stories of Andre Agassi (who had a cruel dad) vs. Tatiana McFadden (who had very supporting parents).

So, at the end of the day, his whole thesis just struck me as inconclusive. There's really no shortage of great athletes we could pick from if we wanted to make either case. And until there's a comprehensive study of top-flight athletes from all over, the evidence will have to remain inconclusive.

So, if you come for the stories and the studies - right on! But if you are expecting to close the book having been convinced - then you might be disappointed. I do applaud Fitzgerald for his message regarding everyone's ability to find their greatness even if they think their time has passed. We need more of that!

Recommended (w/ above caveats).

[Joshua Nickell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoy 80/20 methodology and Matt Fitzgerald. For me this was a bit too many individual stories and less generalizations that could be applicable to a typical athlete

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The Other Talent: The Curiously Complex Role of Mental Health in Athletic Greatness and Why It’s Never Too Late to Harness Your Potential by Matt Fitzgerald is a thought-provoking exploration of the psychological factors that drive athletic success. Fitzgerald, a seasoned sportswriter, delves into the often-overlooked mental aspects of athletic performance, offering readers a comprehensive look at how mental health and psychological resilience play crucial roles in achieving greatness.

This book is structured around the idea that natural talent alone is not enough to reach the pinnacle of athletic achievement. This paradigm-shifting perspective challenges the traditional focus on physical prowess, highlighting the importance of mental fortitude and emotional intelligence.

Fitzgerald’s writing is engaging and informative, making complex psychological concepts accessible to a broad audience.

One of the standout features of The Other Talent is its practical application. Fitzgerald explores the theoretical aspects of mental health in sports and offers actionable advice for athletes, coaches, and anyone looking to harness their potential.

The Other Talent is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of mental health and athletic performance. Fitzgerald’s insightful analysis and engaging storytelling make this book a compelling and enlightening read. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or simply someone looking to understand the psychological underpinnings of success, this book offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

[Carter Geer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book manages to get better as you read, which is astonishing because I think 90% of books don’t do that. I started this with healthy skepticism, ready to argue against the concepts in my head and I did a lot of that. By the end I think me and the author both came to the same conclusion built on everything he lays out, but also totally irrelevant to the claims he makes. Everyone has the ability to pursue greatness and in some sense the obligation to pursue greatness given they were born with some gifts and developed some gifts and not putting them to use would be a front to whatever cosmic force made existence possible. I think based on how much I enjoyed this and what I got from it I have to dive into the rest of his collection.

[Rev James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good study on what seems to make some people even more elite than others. I think it's kind of a compilation of things we know intuitively, but a lot of unique observations and all bundled together in one book.

[Lee Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fitzgerald’s best book yet.

[Dale Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great life motivator. It inspires to become more. It motivates to become more.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook version

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest conversation about what goes on in the heads of people who pursue athletic greatness (hint, it's not all positivity).