I’ve heard a lot of great things about Malcolm Gladwell’s writing. Friends and co-workers tell me that his subjects are interesting and his writing style is easy to follow without talking down to the reader. I wasn’t disappointed with Outliers. In it, Gladwell tackles the subject of success – how people obtain it and what contributes to extraordinary success as opposed to everyday success.
The thesis – that our success depends much more on circumstances out of our control than any effort we put forth – isn’t exactly revolutionary. Most of us know it to be true. However, I don’t think I’m lying when I say that most of us also believe that we if we just try that much harder and develop our talent that much further, it will be enough to become wildly successful, despite bad or just mediocre beginnings. Not so, says Gladwell.
Most of the evidence Gladwell gives us is anecdotal, which is my favorite kind to read. I can’t really speak to how scientifically valid it is, but it sure makes for engrossing listening. For example, did you know that successful hockey players are almost all born in January, February, or March? Kids born during these months are older than the others kids when they start playing in the youth leagues, which means they’re already better at the game (because they’re bigger). Thus, they get more play time, which means their skill increases at a faster rate, and it compounds as time goes by. Within a few years, they’re much, much better than the kids born just a few months later in the year. Basically, these kids’ birthdates are a huge factor in their success as adults – and it’s nothing they can do anything about. If anyone could make hockey interesting to a Texan who only grudgingly admits the sport even exists, it’s Gladwell.
Gladwell also talks at length about Bill Joy, one of the co-founders of Sun Microsystems. Joy is brilliant, yes, but he also had a wealth of opportunity presented to him when he attended the University of Michigan in the 1970s. One of Gladwell’s main arguments is it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at any one thing. At Michigan, Joy had access to a computing center where he could program continuously for hours. It was one of the few places in the country where this was possible. Joy didn’t go to Michigan intending to become a computer programmer, but once he got there, the circumstances provided a way for him to get in his 10,000 hours. Pretty darn lucky.
I could go on and on with the examples. With so much emphasis on circumstances rather than effort determining our success, it can get a little discouraging at times, but Gladwell stops short of saying circumstances are all that matters. All of the people he profiles had both luck and talent. It actually made me think of the ways my own circumstances contributed to my current success, and I realized that I’m a pretty lucky woman (but I work hard too).
I really enjoy nonfiction in audio format, and Outliers was no exception. Gladwell narrates the book himself, and his voice is great for the conversational tone of the book. Like his writing, he’s friendly and easy to follow. I’d pick up another audio by him any day.
I had to read this for my leadership institute this year. It was a fascinating book and for me, one of the few nonfiction titles that was really actually readable.
This has been on my list FOREVER. Maybe I'll try the audiobook. Thanks for the great review!
Outliers was my first exposure to Gladwell. I quickly picked up Tipping Point and Blink and talked non-stop about his books until others picked them up. Fascinating!
I've really loved all his books. Truly fascinating.
I liked this one too, and I'm sort of in your camp, Kim. I appreciate the anecdotal manner of Gladwell's books. Even if he's not always regarded highly (then again, that comes from sources like the NYT which doesn't regard a lot highly), it doesn't matter. He tells a compelling story, which is sort of key in writing GOOD non-fiction.
MAH TBR LIST IS EXPLODED.
Thanks for that last little paragraph — I really needed to know that there was hope beyond my own circumstances…ahem, I mean, I knew that already, but still. I've never read any of Gladwell's work, but this will definitely be my first.
Man, to think I could've been a successful hockey player. DANGIT.
Loved this book (actually, all of Gladwell's books). Find your comment on luck interesting as I've heard this phrase: "Luck is where preparation meets timing." Certainly agrees with Gladwell's theories!