Book excerpt: The dramatic findings of a ground-breaking study of 120 immensely talented individuals reveal astonishing new information on developing talent in young people. • The Nature of the Study and Why It Was Done • Learning to Be a Concert Pianist • One Concert Pianist • The Development of Accomplished Sculptors • The Development of Olympic Swimmers • One Olympic Swimmer • Learning to Be a World-Class Tennis Player • The Development of Exceptional Research Mathematicians • One Mathematician: “Hal Foster” • Becoming an Outstanding Research Neurologist • Phases of Learning • Home Influences on Talent Development • A Long-Term Commitment to Learning • Generalizations About Talent Development