Outliers: The Story of Success
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Overview
An investigation into the roots of success is conducted by the author of the bestselling "The Tipping Point" and "Blink."
In this stunning new audiobook, 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.
In this stunning new audiobook, 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.
Reviews (13)
Outliers
Written by Anonymous on January 17th, 2010
- Book Rating: 5/5
Simply a wonderful book. I am listening to it twice. It's just as good the second time through.
Well covered and discussed topic
Written by Anonymous from Sunnyvale, CA on November 25th, 2009
- Book Rating: 4/5
The author does a good job covering such questions as how Bill Gates, Bill Joy and other immensely wealthy people stood out from the others and succeeded. He makes a strong point that no one is successful on their won. Rather, due to their upbringing and/or special circumstance they were given unique opportunities to be successful. Other topics such 'why asians are good at math' and 'how our schools can be improved - hint smaller class size is not the answer, are effectively discussed as well. While this book did drag in some parts - the 10,000 hour training discussion was a bit hard to believe and went too long, I did really enjoy this book and learned a few good things.
Great storyline, but overly broad conclusions
Written by BenjaminC on November 19th, 2009
- Book Rating: 3/5
Although I only gave it a 3 star rating, I do recommend listening to the book. Gladwell has a great ability to tell stories and make data interesting. That said, I think he really overreaches on this book -- he tries very hard to attribute as little of a great achievement as possible to individual effort. It is certainly true that Bill Gates, the Beatles, and others Gladwell illustrates benefited from astonishingly favorable circumstances -- but they were the ones who took those opportunities and made something of it. Many others with very similar opportunities have made nothing of them. He touches on this principle with the 10,000 hour rule, but apparently ignores it in his very broad final conclusions. Still worth reading/listening to once; it made me think, even if I didn't agree with everything.
interesting
Written by mandy on November 9th, 2009
- Book Rating: 4/5
i really liked this book. it was assigned to me for my sociology class, but i would have read it even on my own. it made alot of sense and made me think.
As Good as the First
Written by Shane from Whitsett, NC on October 26th, 2009
- Book Rating: 4/5
I actually thought BLINK, though MUCH more revolutionary in idea wasn't up to the standard Gladwell set for himself in Tipping Point. With this offering he returns. GREAT STUFF!
The myth of the individual
Written by Anonymous from Silver Spring, MD on August 28th, 2009
- Book Rating: 4/5
This is an interesting account of how societies arbitrarily select winners before the contests have begun. it is heartfelt, reasonably well researched and follows the sociological tradition of "Men make their own history but not in circumstances of their own choosing." The concluding chapter is most telling, in that Mr. Gladwell applies the lessons of the book to his own life.
Outstanding
Written by Greg from Sugar Land, TX on August 20th, 2009
- Book Rating: 5/5
This book was outstanding. Very informative and interesting. I not only listened to it, I gave it to my wife to listen to and I'm buying copies of the books for my children to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone. You'll learn something and you won't be disappointed.
Interesting
Written by Patti on June 18th, 2009
- Book Rating: 4/5
The book didn't hold my attention quite as well as "The Tipping Point" but I enjoyed it overall. Got a little bored about midway through, but I loved the beginning and I thought the stories and examples got more interesting again at the end. Great insights about often overlooked factors that contribute to the success of those who are leaders in their fields.
Must Listen
Written by Josh on May 28th, 2009
- Book Rating: 5/5
Malcolm Gladwell is a brilliant writer, and tackles the issue of diversity and privilege in a realistic way that rings true to any listener.
Outstanding
Written by Mandi Scott Chestler on May 15th, 2009
- Book Rating: 5/5
Rugged individualism is out. Cultural legacy is in. Success is not a pure meritocracy, but the result of ability combined with cultivated opportunity and/or arbitrary advantage. No superstar stands alone. If you want to be a safe and successful airline pilot, learn to speak truth to power. If you want to be a math wizard, learn to farm a rice paddy. These are just a few of the insights documented in Malcom Gladwell's best book yet.