Why have all the sprinters who have run the 100 meters in under ten seconds been black? What's one thing Mozart, Venus Williams, and Michelangelo have in common? Is it good to praise a child's intelligence? Why are baseball players so superstitious? Few things in life are more satisfying than beating a rival. We love to win and hate to lose, whether it's on the playing field or at the ballot box, in the office or in the classroom. In this bold new look at human behavior, award-winning journalist and Olympian Matthew Syed explores the truth about our competitive nature—why we win, why we don't, and how we really play the game of life. Bounce reveals how competition—the most vivid, primal, and dramatic of human pursuits—provides vital insight into many of the most controversial issues of our time, from biology and economics, to psychology and culture, to genetics and race, to sports and politics. Backed by cutting-edge scientific research and case studies, Syed shatters long-held myths about meritocracy, talent, performance, and the mind. He explains why some people thrive under pressure and others choke, and weighs the value of innate ability against that of practice, hard work, and will. From sex to math, from the motivation of children to the culture of big business, Bounce shows how competition provides a master key with which to unlock the mysteries of the world.

馬修·薩伊德，英國乒乓球名將，憑藉自學考入牛津大學攻讀政治學、哲學與經濟學，以一等成績畢業。他雄踞英國乒壇榜首近十年，並兩次代錶英國參加奧運會。

現為《泰晤士報》知名專欄作傢，英國廣播公司時事節目《新聞之夜》（Newsnight）撰稿人和賽事解說員，也是美國有綫電視新聞網的常客。

他曾榮獲英國新聞界重要的“年度體育記者”稱號和英國體育記者協會的“年度體育特寫”奬項。