Developing Talent in Young People

Rating:
Summary: Developing Talent in Young People
Review: Bloom's study helps those seriously interested in understanding the differences between different kinds of talent and it can be nurtured. The study describes how the nurturance of gifted athletes and musicians takes a different path than that of intellectually gifted young people. It points out that the families do not choose between the intellectual and athletic areas but follow the talents manifested by their children.

Apparently world-class talent becomes evident in the early years of performance and spurs on the efforts of family and youngster. In the cases of musical and physical talent, in this study it is concert pianists and Olympic swimmers, children show an intitial interest for practice and competition but go through a period of resistance before they make the talent area truly their own. Such youngsters do not succeed without the time and financial support of their families. Much, including regular schooling, needs to be sacrificed. The study concludes that eminent sculptors have a much less clearly defined or supported pathways to prominance.

Although the nurturance and support systems are similar for world-class athletes and musicians, the actual family environments differ considerably. The musicians experience a family environment more like that of the mathematicians and scientists in their youth.

Intellectual talent like that found in expert mathematicians and scientists also requires facilitation by the family. A particular point of interest is the generally overall high intelligence of these young people, and an unusually high degree of family cohesiveness. Few eminent mathematicians or scientists come from families of divorce.

Finally, the types of personalities vary by talent area and the book gives excellent case study examples.

I would give the book 5 stars if it gave more specific information on intellectual make-up of the study subjects or the groups under study.