>>Research quoted in the book describes numerous attempts to find "natural" talent, i.e. gifted, people but have found none. The most talented athletes, scientists, musicians, chess players, whatever have achieved their talent through decades of determined and dedicated practice, usually with the aid of teachers and mentors and usually from an early age.
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>>Apart from being physically endowed in some special way, like the height of a basketball player or the vocal chords of a singer, the idea of natural or God given talent is primarily a myth. It is a convenient myth, however, because we can point to it as explaining why we can’t do something. But basically it’s a myth and there is no supporting evidence for it outside, as I said, of being endowed with some physical advantage.
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>Sorry, I don't buy it. I think nurture is important in developing talent, but I've seen too many kids with natural gifts in particular areas to believe that abilities are handed out evenly. Siblings who vary tremendously in their abilities, for example.
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>That said, there's no question that using that gift in a way that makes you one of the best in the world requires a lot of hard work and determination.
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>Tamar

Funny, the author actually starts off explaining how much resistance there is to this view. Well, the book is available for purchase and review - the research speaks pretty clearly for itself. Malcolm Gladwell writes on the same topic and has essentially the same conclusions in Outliers: The Story of Success - http://tinyurl.com/b23fnm