and while the list I used was certainly abbreviated and lacking nuanced
An abbreviation of “Not necessarily inherently enjoyable” would be less misleading abbreviation. (Albeit still seeming out of place if found anywhere near the top of the list of tenets.)
Does not mean that it can’t be enjoyable, only that if it is, it will be by random coincidence, so it usually won’t be.
The “usually won’t be” is not implied by the source and isn’t the point they are trying to convey. The “will be by random coincidence” is clearly false. There is a strong (and rational) motive for people wishing to achieve mastery to alter their intrinsic motivation responses (using mind hacking, etc) such that they do find deliberate practice inherently enjoyable. Apart from that there is a significant selection effect in place—people who find deliberate practice inherently enjoyable are far, far more likely to do it in volumes that are at all significant. This applies to me, for example—I take near masochistic pleasure in that kind of physical and mental exertion and so structure my life such that I do more of it.
I couldn’t tell you whether the phrase ‘is not inherently enjoyable’ is in the 1996 reference. I don’t recall it but it also isn’t something I pick out as a take home message in the quote you make so I most likely wouldn’t have included it in my supermemo notes on the subject in any case, at least not with that wording.
Contrasting work, play, and deliberate practice, Dr. Ericsson (author of the book you cite and founder of the study of deliberate practice) writes (emphasis mine):
I again appreciate the overall contrasts we’re considering here. What I reject is the claim “IF enjoyable THEN NOT deliberate practice” which is what is implied by the tenet list. From your reply I don’t think that is a position that you are trying to take and I do appreciate the clarification and reference.
An abbreviation of “Not necessarily inherently enjoyable” would be less misleading abbreviation. (Albeit still seeming out of place if found anywhere near the top of the list of tenets.)
The “usually won’t be” is not implied by the source and isn’t the point they are trying to convey. The “will be by random coincidence” is clearly false. There is a strong (and rational) motive for people wishing to achieve mastery to alter their intrinsic motivation responses (using mind hacking, etc) such that they do find deliberate practice inherently enjoyable. Apart from that there is a significant selection effect in place—people who find deliberate practice inherently enjoyable are far, far more likely to do it in volumes that are at all significant. This applies to me, for example—I take near masochistic pleasure in that kind of physical and mental exertion and so structure my life such that I do more of it.
I couldn’t tell you whether the phrase ‘is not inherently enjoyable’ is in the 1996 reference. I don’t recall it but it also isn’t something I pick out as a take home message in the quote you make so I most likely wouldn’t have included it in my supermemo notes on the subject in any case, at least not with that wording.
I again appreciate the overall contrasts we’re considering here. What I reject is the claim “IF enjoyable THEN NOT deliberate practice” which is what is implied by the tenet list. From your reply I don’t think that is a position that you are trying to take and I do appreciate the clarification and reference.