Matthew Syed Non-Fiction books in order

The reading order for Matthew Syed's non-fiction books, from the talent myth-busting Bounce to the creative thinking guide Rebel Ideas.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Bounce 2010 Matthew Syed Buy
2 Black Box Thinking 2015 Matthew Syed Buy
3 The Greatest 2017 Matthew Syed Buy
4 Rebel Ideas 2019 Matthew Syed Buy

Matthew Syed’s adult non-fiction draws on research from psychology, sport, business, and science to challenge common assumptions about success. Bounce (2010) made the case that deliberate practice, not natural talent, is what separates top performers from everyone else. Black Box Thinking (2015) examined why some industries learn from failure while others cover it up.

The Greatest (2017) profiles the athletes and thinkers who have pushed human performance to its limits, while Rebel Ideas (2019) argues that cognitive diversity is more valuable than individual genius when it comes to solving complex problems. Each book builds on the last, forming a body of work about how people and organizations get better.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Matthew Syed Non-Fiction series?

There are four books in the Matthew Syed Non-Fiction series, published between 2010 and 2019.

What is the first book in the Matthew Syed Non-Fiction series?

The first book in the Matthew Syed Non-Fiction series is Bounce, published in 2010.

What connects Matthew Syed's non-fiction books?

All four books explore different aspects of human performance. Bounce examines the role of practice versus talent, Black Box Thinking looks at how we learn from failure, The Greatest profiles high achievers in sport, and Rebel Ideas argues that diverse thinking produces better solutions than individual brilliance.

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