In this provocative and inspiring book, Malcolm Gladwell looks at everyone from rock stars to professional athletes, software billionaires to scientific geniuses, to show that the story of success is far more surprising, and far more fascinating, than we could ever have imagined.
He reveals that it's as much about where we're from and what we do, as who we are - and that no one, not even a genius, ever makes it alone.
Outliers will change the way you think about your own life story, and about what makes us all unique."
Probably the best endorsement for Outliers I can give is that this is the first book I can remember my Dad reading. Ever. I think at one point, about eight years ago, he flicked through a golf book (Into the Bear Pit?) but I can honestly say that I have never seen him read anything other than a weekend newspaper, a car guide or a golf magazine. So for him to sit down and read through a whole book is a major talking point in our family.
Off the back of that I read through Outliers, and it's an excellent book that builds a convincing portrait of the social foundations that are required for truly exceptional success. Picking up a range of success stories, Gladwell demonstrates that each benefitted from innate privilege and was fortunate to be given unique opportunities, giving lie to all those that argue that hard work alone is all that is required.
In a culture which emphasises personal responsibility, and villifies failure as the deserved consequence of not trying hard enough, it's refreshing to read about how little true success owes to being an exceptional individual, and how much it's down to where and when you were born.
Also Try:
Malcolm Gladwell, Blink
Michael Lewis, Moneyball
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