The Science of Winning and Losing

Top Dog

The psychology and science behind our competitive drive by the New York Times number one bestselling author

Fascinating ... Bronson and Merryman, the award-winning authors of the 2011 bestseller NurtureShock, clearly and cogently explain why, physiologically, some of us are at our best when it counts while others choke.

Bronson and Merryman’s investigation will have folks rethinking the impulse to win at work and play

Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman have won nine national awards for their reporting on the science of human development, including the PEN USA Award for Literary Journalism and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Award for Outstanding Journalism. Their work has been cited as scientific authority in nearly 30 peer-reviewed journals. Prior to collaborating, Bronson authored five books, including the number one New York Times bestseller What Should I Do With My Life? Merryman's journalism has appeared in The Washington Post, Newsweek, and numerous other venues. Bronson lives in San Francisco, with his wife and two children. Merryman lives in Los Angeles.

Compete better... 
 
In a competitive situation our bodies can experience the same level of stress hormones as jumping out of a plane. Competition is often the key to outstanding achievement. But what is it that makes the difference between rising to the challenge and buckling under pressure? 
 
Using groundbreaking studies in diverse scientific fields, Bronson and Merryman demonstrate that understanding how to harness our competitive fire means we can perform our best – whether the contest is sporting, academic or in the workplace. 
 
Why are men typically prepared to gamble on long or even stupid odds and women aren’t? 
 
Why do some less talented students consistently outperform their smarter class mates in crucial exams? 
 
Why do higher levels of testosterone actually make you less selfish and more cooperative and cognitively astute? 
 
Why do so many market-leading companies cede their top position because they become risk averse at the wrong times? 
 
Why do sports teams where the pay differential between players is the greatest win more? 
 
The answer to all this and more is in New York Times no.1 bestselling authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's Top Dog:The Science of Winning and Losing 
 
 
‘A great read for those paralyzed by the fear of failure as well as thosewho hunger for success’ 
Huffington Post

Why Everything We Thought About Children is Wrong

Nurtureshock

Groundbreaking work that will change the way we think about parenting forever

An explosive new book... Many of the findings in Nurtureshock are not what we parents expect or want to hear, but we have to hear it

A wake-up call for parents... the Freakonomics of child-rearing... a fantastic read

The least touchy-feely [parenting book] ever... hard to put down and easy to take seriously.

Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's New York Magazine articles on the science of children have won the magazine journalism award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as the Clarion Award from the Association for Women in Communications. Their articles for Time Magazine have won the award for outstanding journalism from the Council on Contemporary Families. Bronson has authored five books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller What Should I Do With My Life?

What if we told you... 
 
that dishonesty in children is a positive trait 
 
that arguing in front of your kids can make you a good role model 
 
and that if you praise your children you risk making them fail 
 
...and it was all true? 
 
Using a cutting-edge combination of behavioural psychology and neuroscience, award-winning journalists Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman have produced an innovative, counter-intuitive read that will change the way we interact with our children forever. 
 
They demonstrate that for years our best intentions with children have been our worst ideas, using break-through scientific studies to prove that our instincts and received wisdom are all wrong. Nurtureshock is the Freakonomics of childhood and adolescence, exploring logic-defying insights into child development that have far-reaching relevance for us all.

What Should I Do With My Life?

'A fascinating social document, and a kind of superior self-help book' Guardian

Inspirational... This book fascinates because of the broad spectrum of testimonies

Something more than the usual self-help guff. What Should I Do with My Life? is closer to the oral histories of Studs Terkel or This American Life than to Tony Robbins

The 'ultimate question' is a topic always in season, worthy of Bronson's skillful probing and careful anecdote selection. Brimming with stories of sacrifice, courage, commitment and, sometimes, failure, the book will support anyone pondering a major life choice or risk without force-feeding them pat solutions

A remarkable social document, raised to the level of literature by Bronson's own deep level of involvement, his candour and compassion-as a work of research, the book is wide-ranging and impressive

A superior self-help book... Very readable

Po Bronson

My choice for the beach... The Nudist on the Late Shift is the riveting tale of California's Silicon Valley

A remarkable piece of reportage - the finest evocation of Silicon Valley to emerge so far

Bronson is a snappy writer who goes light on the street slang and technical jargon. Furthermore he is excellent at describing complex processes in simple, easy-to-grasp terms. Like all the best reportage, this is research laced with anecdote and adrenalin

The world's best, smartest, funniest and most complete tour of the Temple of Prosperity.... To call it a travelogue doesn't convey the elegance of this book. Bronson is one of America's most talented rising young novelists, and brings a literary grace to his reporting

and Other Tales of Silicon Valley

Entrepreneurs and tech wizards, immigrants and investors, dreamers and visionaries are heading West to seek their fortune.Their Mecca is Silicon Valley - where one person can achieve so much with just initiative, talent and a good idea. 
 
Meet David Filo, co-founder of Yahoo and worth over $500 million, who still sleeps under his desk one night a week. Meet the 26 year-old who is already on his fifth start-up venture. Meet the man with the biggest brain in the world. Meet the nudist who works the late shift.

Po Bronson

Praise for The Nudist On The Lateshift

My choice for the beach... The Nudist on the Late Shift is the riveting tale of California's Silicon Valley

A remarkable piece of reportage - the finest evocation of Silicon Valley to emerge so far

Bronson is a snappy writer who goes light on the street slang and technical jargon. Furthermore he is excellent at describing complex processes in simple, easy-to-grasp terms. Like all the best reportage, this is re ...

My choice for the beach... The Nudist on the Late Shift is the riveting tale of California's Silicon Valley

A remarkable piece of reportage - the finest evocation of Silicon Valley to emerge so far

Bronson is a snappy writer who goes light on the street slang and technical jargon. Furthermore he is excellent at describing complex processes in simple, easy-to-grasp terms. Like all the best reportage, this is re ...

My choice for the beach... The Nudist on the Late Shift is the riveting tale of California's Silicon Valley

A remarkable piece of reportage - the finest evocation of Silicon Valley to emerge so far

Bronson is a snappy writer who goes light on the street slang and technical jargon. Furthermore he is excellent at describing complex processes in simple, easy-to-grasp terms. Like all the best reportage, this is re ...

Books by Po Bronson

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