Who Would Like This Book:
Malcolm Gladwell’s "Outliers" is packed with fascinating stories about success and what really drives achievement - spoiler, it’s not just talent or genius! Gladwell weaves together captivating anecdotes with research to argue that things like timing, culture, opportunities, and good old-fashioned hard work (cue the 10,000 hour rule) play a massive role. If you’re curious about what separates the super-successful from the rest, love a good real-life story, or just like having great conversation starters, you’ll find this book both eye-opening and entertaining. Perfect for readers who enjoy pop science, psychology, education, or sports, as well as budding business leaders and anyone questioning the myth of the self-made superstar.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers didn’t vibe with Gladwell’s heavy reliance on anecdotes, wishing for more hard data and rigorous evidence. Critics point out that he sometimes cherry-picks examples to fit his theory, glosses over counter-examples, or overstates the significance of certain factors - like the almost-mythical 10,000 hour rule. If you’re looking for airtight science or prefer books with clear practical advice you can apply tomorrow, you may find "Outliers" a bit frustrating or simplistic. It’s not a how-to guide, nor does it provide a foolproof recipe for success.
About:
'Outliers: The Story of Success' by Malcolm Gladwell delves into the makings of success, exploring the concept that success is not solely based on ability but also on external circumstances such as timing, opportunities, luck, and cultural backgrounds. Through compelling stories and examples, Gladwell challenges the traditional beliefs about success, highlighting the role of factors like practice hours, family background, and societal influences in shaping exceptional individuals. is praised for its thought-provoking insights on why some people excel while others lead ordinary lives, offering a fresh perspective on the true determinants of success.
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From The Publisher:
Learn what sets high achievers apart - from Bill Gates to the Beatles - in this #1 bestseller from "a singular talent" (New York Times Book Review).
In this stunning 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.
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2 comment(s)
4.5 stars
We are made to believe at the very young age that some people are born with talents and some just do not have it in them. I am glad that I read this book which tells exactly opposite of this myth.
Gladwell tells that Success is tightly coupled to opportunity and the hours one spends on the task. He also gives examples of several famous people and how their birth period and a change in social trend helped them to peek their interest and resulted in them putting extra effort. Which obviously made them experts and famous in turn. He talks about hockey, tech tycoons, athletes etc.
Gladwell also shares his insights on how a culture or where you came from also matters. The environment where you are growing up impacts on your thinking and behavior shaping you to become you.
Summarizing short- A person's success depends on his time period of birth, the social & business changes happening in the market, his culture (his homelife, people around him) and his own efforts. As only one aspect of these four is in my hands, I would call it fate. Its just fate , isn't it ?
But actually being aware of these aspects also can change one's perspective to build a life according to the change around and ignore the stuff which are not helping. So its a really great read. I think it was one of the best information books I have read so far.
Happy Reading!!
Had to read for a seminar. Pop psychology, junk science, not impressed.
What can you read after
Outliers: The Story of Success?
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