Helpful Score: 7
Outliers is a book that challenges the notion of what makes a person successful, and that anyone is a self-made millionaire. This book has implications well beyond Blink or Tipping Point, to looking at what can be done to improve the US education system, educational expectations, becoming an expert, or to make "prodigies"/geniuses. Another fascinating section addressed why southerners in the US are so quick to anger/feuding - I wanted all my southern friends to read this book and see if they could address their anger issues! Had some insights into why certain immigrant groups succeeded when they arrived, while others continued to linger in poverty. Many of the chapters in this book were so mind-blowing, I hope that people can get these ideas out into the general discourse and change the way people act/think and public/corporate policies.
Helpful Score: 7
Malcolm Gladwell's latest bestseller addresses success - why some people such as Bill gates rise above the rest to phenomenal success. He terms these people "Outliers."
The chapters all follow a format which Gladwell likely has likely used frequently in his magazine writing: he begins by telling a story of an interesting individual or group of people, then proceeds to expand upon his example to make his point. The early chapters which address the influence of birth month on the chances of athletic and academic success and his study of Bill Gates are the most interesting. One overly-lengthy chapter concerning a group of immigrants slowed the momentum of the book, as did the author's telling of his own family history. Fortunately, the chapters that are good are really, really good: easy to understand and insightful.
Gladwell is one of the few non-fiction writers who can consistently appeal to the masses. There are enough interesting tidbits here to keep his appeal going.
The chapters all follow a format which Gladwell likely has likely used frequently in his magazine writing: he begins by telling a story of an interesting individual or group of people, then proceeds to expand upon his example to make his point. The early chapters which address the influence of birth month on the chances of athletic and academic success and his study of Bill Gates are the most interesting. One overly-lengthy chapter concerning a group of immigrants slowed the momentum of the book, as did the author's telling of his own family history. Fortunately, the chapters that are good are really, really good: easy to understand and insightful.
Gladwell is one of the few non-fiction writers who can consistently appeal to the masses. There are enough interesting tidbits here to keep his appeal going.
Helpful Score: 3
This was an interesting book, I read it in one sitting. However, it was different from what I expected. I assumed the author would lay out the reasons some people were more successful and then give the template. Instead, this book is truly a thesis in book form. Each chapter forms a case study of a specific example and he tells the story and then leads you down the path of how all of the "just right" circumstances allowed this person to succeed by dint of their month of birth, year of birth, race, etc. Very interesting to read but don't expect any practical advice you can use in your own life!
Helpful Score: 1
A Nonfiction selection for my March bookclub. A book of many examples of successful people and what their common denominators are. At times interesting and at other times I just got distracted with all the footnotes. But as always glad that I have read a book that I normally would not choose.
Helpful Score: 1
Incredibly interesting! This book really stayed with me.
What the Dog Saw is also a great read.
What the Dog Saw is also a great read.
"Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell is a story about successful people and how they got that way, sort of. Gladwell examines the societal advantages and disadvantages, often hidden in plain site, of our cultural pasts. Tales of success not based on perseverance and hard work as we often hear. Although these certainly are a part of the success stories he outlines, he digs into the hidden opportunities and experiences that have created The Beatles, Bill Gates, and numerous others. Often viewed in hind sight, learning to identify patterns and interpreting them correctly, whether learning to reduce airline crashes or 'breaking the chains' of family violence, can change and save lives. [4/5]
Like other Gladwell books and you will like this one. Dont and you wont because it is formulaic. Taking a common idea and selling it like it is the front page new of the NY times is what he is good at. He is a salesman of ideas, not a creator of ideas. And like any salesman only knows how to parrot what is in the specs without really understanding them.
Practice anything for 10K hours and you will be great... so why not 9K and I will be awesome. It is poorly researched but a nice cautionary tale to start early and stick to it if you want to succeed.
Practice anything for 10K hours and you will be great... so why not 9K and I will be awesome. It is poorly researched but a nice cautionary tale to start early and stick to it if you want to succeed.
The Outliers is a look at what author Malcolm Gladwell thinks make a person successful. Gladwell talks about family, location and time of being born. These are all subjects that define us to the point whether we struggle getting the success or stuck at the bottom.
I thought the first half of Outliers was interesting as Gladwell talks about months and years people are born that may factor into a person success.
I was more or less bored reading the second half which discussed families, and locations that define how hard you are going to work to be successful. I also did not agree some of the facts discussed in the second half.
Outliers is an interesting read. I picked it because some of the other books I had been reading mentioned it. I would be interested in some of Gladwells other books.
I thought the first half of Outliers was interesting as Gladwell talks about months and years people are born that may factor into a person success.
I was more or less bored reading the second half which discussed families, and locations that define how hard you are going to work to be successful. I also did not agree some of the facts discussed in the second half.
Outliers is an interesting read. I picked it because some of the other books I had been reading mentioned it. I would be interested in some of Gladwells other books.
Matthew was given this book to read at HSC. Borrow it to read. Interesting sections. Overall not that exciting.
This was an interesting book, I read it in one sitting. However, it was different from what I expected. I assumed the author would lay out the reasons some people were more successful and then give the template. Instead, this book is truly a thesis in book form. Each chapter forms a case study of a specific example and he tells the story and then leads you down the path of how all of the "just right" circumstances allowed this person to succeed by dint of their month of birth, year of birth, race, etc. Very interesting to read but don't expect any practical advice you can use in your own life!
This was an interesting book, I read it in one sitting. However, it was different from what I expected. I assumed the author would lay out the reasons some people were more successful and then give the template. Instead, this book is truly a thesis in book form. Each chapter forms a case study of a specific example and he tells the story and then leads you down the path of how all of the "just right" circumstances allowed this person to succeed by dint of their month of birth, year of birth, race, etc. Very interesting to read but don't expect any practical advice you can use in your own life!
Certainly an interesting read. The concept of lengthening the school year has appeal to me.
The author points out that many southerners have a Scotch-Irish background, and those people have a history of honor, which, if you cross them, can lead to violence.
Well, my father's side of the family came from southern Italy. Tick me off and and I'll send my cousins over to break your legs. :-)
The author points out that many southerners have a Scotch-Irish background, and those people have a history of honor, which, if you cross them, can lead to violence.
Well, my father's side of the family came from southern Italy. Tick me off and and I'll send my cousins over to break your legs. :-)
I've read Blink, & The Tipping point & find Gladwell's ideas very interesting & are an insight into my own education & behavior
Great read. Very interesting. Told so many people about this book!
My favorite among Malcolm Gladwell's books.
In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers" -- the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.
Brilliant and entertaining, OUTLIERS is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.
Brilliant and entertaining, OUTLIERS is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.
