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Product: Book
ISBN-10: 0-316-01792-2
ISBN-13: 9780316017923
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Country:
Year: November 18, 2008
Edition: 1
Size: 13.97 x 20.57 x 2.79cm
Number of pages: 320
Weight: 431gr
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN-10: 0-316-01792-2
ISBN-13: 9780316017923
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Country:
Year: November 18, 2008
Edition: 1
Size: 13.97 x 20.57 x 2.79cm
Number of pages: 320
Weight: 431gr
Binding: Hardcover
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Product Description
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.
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.
Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best of the Month, November 2008: Now that he's gotten us talking about the viral life of ideas and the power of gut reactions, Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question in Outliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the »self-made man,« he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don't arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: »they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot.« Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, »some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky.« Outliers can be enjoyed for its bits of trivia, like why most pro hockey players were born in January, how many hours of practice it takes to master a skill, why the descendents of Jewish immigrant garment workers became the most powerful lawyers in New York, how a pilots' culture impacts their crash record, how a centuries-old culture of rice farming helps Asian kids master math. But there's more to it than that. Throughout all of these examples--and in more that delve into the social benefits of lighter skin color, and the reasons for school achievement gaps--Gladwell invites conversations about the complex ways privilege manifests in our culture. He leaves us pondering the gifts of our own history, and how the world could benefit if more of our kids were granted the opportunities to fulfill their remarkable potential. –-Mari Malcolm
Amazon Best of the Month, November 2008: Now that he's gotten us talking about the viral life of ideas and the power of gut reactions, Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question in Outliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the »self-made man,« he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don't arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: »they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot.« Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, »some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky.« Outliers can be enjoyed for its bits of trivia, like why most pro hockey players were born in January, how many hours of practice it takes to master a skill, why the descendents of Jewish immigrant garment workers became the most powerful lawyers in New York, how a pilots' culture impacts their crash record, how a centuries-old culture of rice farming helps Asian kids master math. But there's more to it than that. Throughout all of these examples--and in more that delve into the social benefits of lighter skin color, and the reasons for school achievement gaps--Gladwell invites conversations about the complex ways privilege manifests in our culture. He leaves us pondering the gifts of our own history, and how the world could benefit if more of our kids were granted the opportunities to fulfill their remarkable potential. –-Mari Malcolm
reviews
Great Read 
This is my first book from this author and this book came highly recommended. It did not disappoint. This book is littered with plenty of examples of patterns of success which is not all just 'smarts' and 'family' but a combination of many factors. This is a great illustration for anyone to understand at least in part why some are 'successful' (and make decisions which impact that success). The best thing out of this book is how 'success' is defined and will make you think of your own 'success' in life and fortune.
This is my first book from this author and this book came highly recommended. It did not disappoint. This book is littered with plenty of examples of patterns of success which is not all just 'smarts' and 'family' but a combination of many factors. This is a great illustration for anyone to understand at least in part why some are 'successful' (and make decisions which impact that success). The best thing out of this book is how 'success' is defined and will make you think of your own 'success' in life and fortune.
Sad about the error 
This book attributes much of an individual's success to being in the right place at the right time and to showing great persistence. Not exactly rocket science that. I also found the argument for success in mathematics to be quite thin – that numbers should be brief and consistent – the French after all say sixty, sixty plus ten and four twenties for 60, 70 and 80 and they are no slouches at mathematical achievement. Mr Gladwell has troubles of his own with maths. He talks of standing in a rice paddy the size of a hotel room and he tells us that 15 rice paddies make up a hectare (or about 6 paddies to the acre for those of you who use feet and inches). It must be that lightweight scientific studies like this book pay very well, if the hotel room you are now used to measures 22m x 30m or 72' x 100'.
This book attributes much of an individual's success to being in the right place at the right time and to showing great persistence. Not exactly rocket science that. I also found the argument for success in mathematics to be quite thin – that numbers should be brief and consistent – the French after all say sixty, sixty plus ten and four twenties for 60, 70 and 80 and they are no slouches at mathematical achievement. Mr Gladwell has troubles of his own with maths. He talks of standing in a rice paddy the size of a hotel room and he tells us that 15 rice paddies make up a hectare (or about 6 paddies to the acre for those of you who use feet and inches). It must be that lightweight scientific studies like this book pay very well, if the hotel room you are now used to measures 22m x 30m or 72' x 100'.
A Must Read For Educators 
Gladwell weaves facts, statistics and linguists in a way that is easy to read and understand. I highly recommend this book to educators. In Chapter 8: Rice Paddies and Math Tests, the author theorizes that one reason Asians consistently outperform westerners on math tests has something to do with linguistics: »Four-year-old Chinese children can count, on average, to forty. American children at that age can count only to fifteen,« because of the brevity of Chinese number words. This concept, while new to me, makes sense. The underlying premise of this book is basically, the harder one works, the luckier s/he gets (not a new concept) and that approximately 10,000 hours invested in any discipline or endeavor will likely result in the type of success that others are quick to dub »genius.« I was fascinated by Chapter 4 in which Gladwell makes comparisons between Robert Oppenheimer and Chris Langan, suggesting that Oppenheimer's great success was due to his ability to be articulate and charming. There are also lessons within for parents who want to raise successful children.
Gladwell weaves facts, statistics and linguists in a way that is easy to read and understand. I highly recommend this book to educators. In Chapter 8: Rice Paddies and Math Tests, the author theorizes that one reason Asians consistently outperform westerners on math tests has something to do with linguistics: »Four-year-old Chinese children can count, on average, to forty. American children at that age can count only to fifteen,« because of the brevity of Chinese number words. This concept, while new to me, makes sense. The underlying premise of this book is basically, the harder one works, the luckier s/he gets (not a new concept) and that approximately 10,000 hours invested in any discipline or endeavor will likely result in the type of success that others are quick to dub »genius.« I was fascinated by Chapter 4 in which Gladwell makes comparisons between Robert Oppenheimer and Chris Langan, suggesting that Oppenheimer's great success was due to his ability to be articulate and charming. There are also lessons within for parents who want to raise successful children.
Cool, cool (but … )
This is another Gladwell's cool book. I've read the all and they all are very enjoyable and fun to read. The missing star is because I found as if Mr. Gladwell is repeating himself. The collection of clever ideas and unusual data has become Mr. Gladwell's trademark. But in his previous books everything was based upon some powerful insights. According to my taste the basic premise behind Outliers is not as powerful as the other two. It's worth the money, fun to read, filled with clever data, but I didn't find that »Ooomph!« whack in the head I found in »Tipping point« or »Blink«.
This is another Gladwell's cool book. I've read the all and they all are very enjoyable and fun to read. The missing star is because I found as if Mr. Gladwell is repeating himself. The collection of clever ideas and unusual data has become Mr. Gladwell's trademark. But in his previous books everything was based upon some powerful insights. According to my taste the basic premise behind Outliers is not as powerful as the other two. It's worth the money, fun to read, filled with clever data, but I didn't find that »Ooomph!« whack in the head I found in »Tipping point« or »Blink«.
Sensational Book – A Must Read!
I absolutely loved this book! Malcolm Gladwell does a fantastic job of uncovering and putting an interesting spin on a variety of societal and cultural issues and especially in this book, on our perception of success.
I absolutely loved this book! Malcolm Gladwell does a fantastic job of uncovering and putting an interesting spin on a variety of societal and cultural issues and especially in this book, on our perception of success.
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Prof. Michael Lewis (Eds.)
W. W. Norton & Company, New York City; 2008
Hardcover
© 1994–2010 Sascha Hendel
last update: 3/17/2010
URL: http://www.book-info.com/isbn/0-316-01792-2.htm
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