The advantage of earlier drafted quarterbacks is more about opportunity than ability. This aligns with the theme of hidden potential. Research by Danny Southwick, an ex-football player and doctoral candidate, revealed that the match between the quarterback and the system has a greater impact on performance than individual ability. Context accounts for about two-thirds of the variance in quarterback performance. This explains how a bad quarterback can thrive in a different team, often observed in the NFL. It's the Kurt Warner effect.
Today, we’re taking a break from war to talk about the science of human potential and a new book on that subject from the psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant. In 'Hidden Potential,' Grant shares stories and studies across sports, religious history, coaching, and economics to explain why we're bad at cultivating our own potential and identifying ability in others. We talk about education and affirmative action, scouting quarterbacks, coaching Steph Curry, and, for reasons that will soon become apparent, the spread of Protestantism.
If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com.
Host: Derek Thompson
Guest: Adam Grant
Producer: Devon Manze
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