Publishers Weekly
Bronson and Merryman (coauthors of NurtureShock) praise healthy competition as a force that not only spurs individuals to excel but drives the progress of entire cultures, convincingly pegging the development of democracy as a side-effect of the original Greek Olympics, and the composition of Bach’s masterpieces as a product of musical/religious politics. Citing studies that explore individual performance in the contexts that offer only intrinsic motivators versus those that provide a peer challenge, they find that performance is most enhanced when a competitor feels externally judged, opponents are few, the roles and goals are clear, and the participants are well-enough matched that the outcome is uncertain until the end. The authors explore physiological components of performance (like enzymes that may correlate with whether an individual needs stress to perform optimally), the role of gender in competition (men are more likely than women to overestimate their chances and take a risk), as well as the culture of competition at large, postulating on the effects of teaching universal self-esteem and the replacement of a “playing to win” ethos with one of “playing not to lose.” 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. Agent: Peter Ginsberg, Curtis Brown. (Feb. 19)
From the Publisher
"You gotta get it . . . [a] fascinating topic that we all deal with on a daily basis."—Fox & Friends
"A terrifically useful book about the science of competition (which you should read right now)."—Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code
"Cutting-edge science behind life's triumphs and failures . . . insight from politics, finance, science, sports and economics to tip the odds in your favor."—NPR.com
"Remarkable . . . this book will help you rise to the occasion . . . wildly counterintuitive."—San Francisco Chronicle (Literary Pick)
"Fiction may lay claim to imagination, but works such as TOP DOG are what push the envelope of our reality . . . stunning . . . Prepare to delve into the external factors and personal dynamos that make you who you are."—Coffin Factory
"I tell my staff, I tell my friends-you must read TOP DOG. I was a good poker player before I read it. Now, I'm even better."—Phil Gordon, World Poker Tour Champion, author, and CEO of Jawfish Games
"Accessible for fans of pop science, yet substantial enough to have practical applications . . . will have folks rethinking the impulse to win at work and play."—Publishers Weekly
"An easy, highly satisfying read . . . surprising . . . fascinating. Grade: A."—AVClub.com
"There is intense competition in just about every aspect of life . . . There's not an app for that, yet, but there is a book: TOP DOG . . . a good primer on the behaviors that can sink or lift us in a competitive world."—Seattle Times
"Illuminating and entertaining . . . surprising insights."—Kirkus
"Intriguing . . . the authors persuasively argue that technical skill is only one part-in many cases, the least important part-of what it takes to come out on top."—Booklist
"TOP DOG should be mandatory reading for every serious athlete, coach, and managers-both on and off the field. Amazing science, terrific storytelling, and insight to burn."
—Pat Williams, cofounder/SVP, Orlando Magic and Basketball Hall of Famer
"Such a provocative text . . . If you read NurtureShock, you already know about the power of their prose . . . game-changing steps to assure success in winner-take-all showdowns, for everyone from adults in offices to students in classrooms."—Tavis Smiley, The Tavis Smiley Show
"A great read for those paralyzed by the fear of failure as well as those who hunger for success."—Huffington Post
"In TOP DOG, Bronson and Merryman turn their attention from the science of child development to competition: why men are overconfident and women are better at gauging risk; the advantage of playing on home field; why younger sibs are more competitive than first-born. And much more."—Toronto Star
"I cannot recommend it more highly . . . An essential book-if you care about competition, winning, losing, or humanity, you must buy this book . . . Fantastic."—Jack Abramoff, The Jack Abramoff Show
"As the beta-dog head of a trophy-challenged family, I was surprisingly inspired by Bronson and Merryman's compulsively readable and rigorously researched book. TOP DOG will turn everything you believe about competition (good, bad, and ugly) upside down. Awesome!"—Sandra Tsing Loh, host, The Loh Down on Science
"The authors provide an exhaustive culling of medical literature as well as reader-friendly anecdotes drawn from business, sports, the arts, and the military."—Inc. Magazine
"An exciting look at the genetic, psychological, and situational factors that impact how people perform when competing . . . abundant research . . . snappy writing."—Audiofile
"Highly recommend to anyone wanting to dig deeper into how we humans really function and why."—Myrtle Beach Sun News
"[The authors] once again poked conventional wisdom in the eye . . . fine and fascinating volume . . . highly readable prose, with great stories . . . I would give this book a lot of stars."—Utah Daily Herald
"[The authors'] breezy, accessible style is backed up with impeccable references to peer-reviewed journals and authoritative books."—Winnipeg Free Press
"Turning common sense on its head . . . an untangling of winners, losers, biology and psychology and how each plays its role in the rise and fall of competitors . . . imploring you to turn up your competitive fire, and, quite possibly, become the next top dog."—Express Milwaukee
"I highly recommend it to anyone who is a coach, business leader, entrepreneur or parent."—Honolulu Star-Advertiser's "Career Changers"
"Groundbreaking book on the science of competition . . . based on cutting-edge science . . . told through easy-to-grasp stories."—Free Lance-Star (VA)
"From every perspective-attorney, administrator, educator, and parent-TOP DOG won me over. I was captivated by the thought-provoking ideas, first-rate prose, and unforgettable science."—William M. Treanor, executive vice president and dean, Georgetown University Law Center
"Brilliant, phenomenal, inspiring. I love this book. Through TOP DOG, I finally have a science-based understanding of competition-and I know how to use that science to bring out my absolute best. Whether I'm preparing for a race or thinking about how to grow my business, TOP DOG's my training manual for excellence."—Roisin McGettigan-Dumas, track and field Olympic finalist, CEO/Entrepreneur, BelieveIAm.com
"If you wake up in the middle of the night worried that you might not have the right stuff, TOP DOG is for you. Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman use lessons from virtuosos in every conceivable discipline-skydivers, ballroom dancers, NASA managers, Renaissance artists-to deconstruct and distill what we need to do to compete successfully in our hyper-competitive age. TOP DOG is that rare thing-intelligent, illuminating and filled with practical advice."—Anne Kreamer, author of It's Always Personal: Emotion in the New Workplace and Going Gray
Leo Laporte
"Amazing . . . mind-boggling . . . Every page, you go, 'Oh, whoa.' Really wonderful . . . just fascinating reading."
Anne Kreamer
"If you wake up in the middle of the night worried that you might not have the right stuff, TOP DOG is for you. Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman use lessons from virtuosos in every conceivable discipline-skydivers, ballroom dancers, NASA managers, Renaissance artists-to deconstruct and distill what we need to do to compete successfully in our hyper-competitive age. TOP DOG is that rare thing-intelligent, illuminating and filled with practical advice."
Roisin McGettigan-Dumas
"Brilliant, phenomenal, inspiring. I love this book. Through TOP DOG, I finally have a science-based understanding of competition-and I know how to use that science to bring out my absolute best. Whether I'm preparing for a race or thinking about how to grow my business, TOP DOG's my training manual for excellence."
William M. Treanor
"From every perspective-attorney, administrator, educator, and parent-TOP DOG won me over. I was captivated by the thought-provoking ideas, first-rate prose, and unforgettable science."
Free Lance-Star (VA)
"Groundbreaking book on the science of competition . . . based on cutting-edge science . . . told through easy-to-grasp stories."
Honolulu Star-Advertiser's "Career Changers"
"I highly recommend it to anyone who is a coach, business leader, entrepreneur or parent."
Express Milwaukee
"Turning common sense on its head . . . an untangling of winners, losers, biology and psychology and how each plays its role in the rise and fall of competitors . . . imploring you to turn up your competitive fire, and, quite possibly, become the next top dog."
Winnipeg Free Press
"[The authors'] breezy, accessible style is backed up with impeccable references to peer-reviewed journals and authoritative books."
Utah Daily Herald
"[The authors] once again poked conventional wisdom in the eye . . . fine and fascinating volume . . . highly readable prose, with great stories . . . I would give this book a lot of stars."
Myrtle Beach Sun News
"Highly recommend to anyone wanting to dig deeper into how we humans really function and why."
Inc. Magazine
"The authors provide an exhaustive culling of medical literature as well as reader-friendly anecdotes drawn from business, sports, the arts, and the military."
Sandra Tsing Loh
"As the beta-dog head of a trophy-challenged family, I was surprisingly inspired by Bronson and Merryman's compulsively readable and rigorously researched book. TOP DOG will turn everything you believe about competition (good, bad, and ugly) upside down. Awesome!"
Jack Abramoff
"I cannot recommend it more highly . . . An essential book-if you care about competition, winning, losing, or humanity, you must buy this book . . . Fantastic."
Toronto Star
"In TOP DOG, Bronson and Merryman turn their attention from the science of child development to competition: why men are overconfident and women are better at gauging risk; the advantage of playing on home field; why younger sibs are more competitive than first-born. And much more."
Huffington Post
"A great read for those paralyzed by the fear of failure as well as those who hunger for success."
Tavis Smiley
"Such a provocative text . . . If you read NurtureShock, you already know about the power of their prose . . . game-changing steps to assure success in winner-take-all showdowns, for everyone from adults in offices to students in classrooms."
Pat Williams
"TOP DOG should be mandatory reading for every serious athlete, coach, and managers-both on and off the field. Amazing science, terrific storytelling, and insight to burn."
Booklist
"Intriguing . . . the authors persuasively argue that technical skill is only one part-in many cases, the least important part-of what it takes to come out on top."
Seattle Times
"There is intense competition in just about every aspect of life . . . There's not an app for that, yet, but there is a book: TOP DOG . . . a good primer on the behaviors that can sink or lift us in a competitive world."
AVClub.com
"An easy, highly satisfying read . . . surprising . . . fascinating. Grade: A."
Phil Gordon
"I tell my staff, I tell my friends-you must read TOP DOG. I was a good poker player before I read it. Now, I'm even better."
Coffin Factory
"Fiction may lay claim to imagination, but works such as TOP DOG are what push the envelope of our reality . . . stunning . . . Prepare to delve into the external factors and personal dynamos that make you who you are."
San Francisco Chronicle (Literary Pick)
"Remarkable . . . this book will help you rise to the occasion . . . wildly counterintuitive."
NPR.com
"Cutting-edge science behind life's triumphs and failures . . . insight from politics, finance, science, sports and economics to tip the odds in your favor."
Daniel Coyle
"A terrifically useful book about the science of competition (which you should read right now)."
Fox & Friends
"You gotta get it . . . [a] fascinating topic that we all deal with on a daily basis."
The San Francisco Chronicle
"The authors of NurtureShock clearly and cogently explain why, physiologically, some of us are at our best when it counts while others choke."
The Onion's A.V. Club
"Approaching competition the same way they did parenting in their New York Times bestseller NurtureShock the authors have produced another fascinating work fusing science and sociology....the writers back all their surprising or controversial findings with research, and they adeptly provide a frame to turn that science into an easy, highly satisfying read. Grade: A"
Inc.
"Nature and nurture combine to make us the competitive (or not-so-competitive) animals we are. By understanding what influences our perceptions of risk and ability to perform under pressure, we can make better decisions....Rigor rating: 9 (1=Who Moved My Cheese?; 10=Good to Great). The authors provide an exhaustive culling of medical literature as well as reader-friendly anecdotes drawn from business, sports, the arts, and the military."
APRIL 2013 - AudioFile
Here is an exciting look at the genetic, psychological, and situational factors that impact how people perform when competing. The abundant research that forms the core of this book covers contests as diverse as ballroom dancing, diplomatic negotiations, and, of course, sports. The authors’ snappy writing works well to lay out their discoveries, which include suggestions for generating competitive fire, managing stress, gaining advantages, and tweaking situational variables. As narrator, Po Bronson sounds like he’s being too careful with the pacing of his words instead of just spitting them out. His speaking is clear and pleasant enough to make this a winning audio, but it would be exceptional if his energy were on the same level as the book’s pop psychology vibe. T.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
Bronson and Merryman (Nurtureshock: New Thinking About Children, 2010, etc.) combine forces again to debunk truisms of positive psychology. "Competition facilitates improvement," write the authors. "At a certain point, those with seeds of doubt actually do best," as they are open to learning from past mistakes and better able to compete. The authors juxtapose what they call adaptive competitiveness (playing by the rules, team spirit and a willingness to accept defeat) with a dog-eat-dog model of ruthless competition and look at how stress can have a beneficial effect on performance. Analyzing record-breaking Olympic performances, high-stakes corporate gambles, competitive chess and more, Bronson and Merryman draw a parallel to sky-diving. "[P]ushing ourselves to the brink is our preferred state. We like competition [because we want]…the thrill ride beyond the limit of our fears." Probing deeper, the authors cite research showing that women are as competitive as men (and willing to take risks to win) but more strategic in evaluating odds. Though men have a higher testosterone level than women, both benefit from testosterone spikes during competition. The benefits from optimism bias, such as belief in good luck and a winning streak, may seem to work against the authors' counter-thesis, as they freely admit, but it can lead to disastrous underestimates of risk. As both stage performers and athletes claim, there is an optimal level of stress that helps them give their best performance. Illuminating and entertaining, with some surprising insights from current research in neuroscience and endocrinology.
