Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise

Peak (by K. Anders Ericsson) is without a doubt the most interesting and enjoyable popular psychology book I have ever read. I read it when it came out a few years ago, and still believe this. The book basically outlines research on the development of expertise. Along the way are stories of musicians, chess masters, athletes, educators, and others who have developed outstanding abilities in different areas. While I generally get bored pretty quickly with repeated stories like these, this wasn’t the case with Peak. Even though I was already aware of some of the research described, I still found the descriptions interesting, and was never tempted to skip over them. In short, this is a very well written book.

The general theme is intriguing, and inspiring. The authors conclude, based on evidence, that people can develop any skill – if they put in the time, and practice in the right way. As the book progresses the different steps of deliberate practice are outlined. The conclusion is that if you apply these steps, you can greatly improve your performance in any area of human activity. And, if you continue to do this you will be very, very, very, good at that particular activity.

While it is possible to outline the steps to efficient deliberate practice briefly in a paragraph, or in bullet points, this would not provide the detail necessary to allow you to effectively put the principles into practice. Ericsson, one of the authors, has spent a career of around 30 years studying the development of expertise. This comes through in the detail he can offer, and in the clarity of his explanations.

A conclusion that some could jump to, at least if you’re a psychologist with a smattering of knowledge in the area or someone who has developed a skill to a high level, is that this is common sense. Yes, it is in a way. But like the best common sense it is only really obvious once someone explains it to you.

To give you a taste of what Peak offers, here is a brief summary of how to develop skills.

Get a teacher or a mentor – learn from an expert. Follow a clear plan, break things down into parts and practice a well-defined progression of increasingly difficult skills.

• Work to the edge of your ability – don’t stay within your comfort zone.
• Understand the mental models behind each skill - i.e., know it and do it,
• Establish specific performance goals.
• Consistently measure your performance and get feedback against those goals.

It is important to get this feedback and to keep moving to the very edge of your skill level otherwise you will keep practicing mistakes.

I found this book both entertaining, and inspirational. It got me thinking about how I could apply the principles of deliberate practice in my everyday life. And it helped. But the struggle of course is to put these principles into practice consistently. Even knowing the correct way to practice does not mean we will do it. It takes ongoing commitment. Everyday. That is why we are all not experts. We let other things get in the way. Sometimes its laziness, and other times it is what an ACT therapist would call competing values; like work commitments.

If only I listened to my guitar teacher earlier; tap your foot, count the rhythm, use a metronome, practice what you are not good at, try to improve everyday (work to your limit). If I did that, then I would be a psychologist who could really play the guitar.

By the way, if you are looking for a music teacher who teaches and encourages deliberate practice, although he doesn’t call it that. Check out Phil at: https://dunedinguitar.nz/