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Outliers: The Story of Success |  | Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: CDN$ 30.99
Buy New: CDN$ 15.49
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Rating:  40 reviews
Sales Rank: 39
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 309
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.1
ISBN: 0316017922
EAN: 9780316017923
ASIN: 0316017922
Publication Date: November 18, 2008
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Amazon.ca
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
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 40
 An Amazing Read - really does make you think! August 29, 2010
O. Ladipo (Toronto, ON, Canada)
This is one of those books that once you pick up, you dont want to drop. Makes you think and ponder. Author wakes you up to some truths and realities. You may find yourself saying "aha ...i knew there was more to that guy!"
:)
Another Extraordinary Book by Gladwell August 23, 2010
Jenn Meyskens
In another extraordinary book by Malcolm Gladwell, he examines what makes extremely successful people so successful. As his title alludes, Outliers: The Story of Success are those top 1% of people that excel in a given area. They are the difference between making it to the Olympics and winning a gold medal. They are the difference between a medical graduate and an award-winning Harvard Medical Graduate.
Gladwell interprets and analyses common everyday scenarios in our society to uncover the situations in which Outliers may be born. The results may amaze you (or anger you if you have a late birthday!). The moral of his story though, is that you can create a life for your children that will increase the probability of excelling if you take heed of some of Gladwells findings.
The research in the Outliers: The Story of Success identifies several simple factors that lead to extraordinary greatness for any individual:
1. Be Born Between January April
2. Practice Your Craft for 10,000 Hours
3. Access Unique Opportunities
4. Time Your Moves Strategically
While Gladwells findings are certainly intriguing, I must admit that reading the book was a little bit like a chore at times. Since he is examining and interpreting various statistics there are parts of the writing that are a bit slow and cumbersome, but he certainly tries to make up for that with the insertion of interesting stories and examples. Overall it is definitely a book you need to read if you want to go from good to great or have aspirations for your childrens lives to be more successful than yours.
Greatest Lesson
The most intriguing part of Outliers: The Story of Success for me was the factor that you need to spend more than 10,000 hours practicing your craft to become a world-class expert or leader. Gladwell points out several examples including Bill Joy of Sun Microsystems, Mozart, The Beatles, Bill Gates and more by describing their history and path to greatness. In each case, these individuals had an opportunity to gain more than 10,000 hours practicing in their field at a young age. Prior to those crucial hours they were all relatively unknown and it was until they crossed over that peak that their fame started to hit.
You are probably wondering the same thing I was when I learned about this factor how long does it take to reach 10,000 hours? Unfortunately that is equivalent to approximately 10 years in ones life. So, if youre mid to late career you may want to start adding a few practice hours to the beginning or end of your day if youre not there yet!
Practice isnt the thing you do once youre good. Its the thing you do that makes you good. (page 42)
Recommendation
There are so many great examples and tidbits of knowledge in this book that is a worthwhile read for anyone looking to advance their own career or the success of their family. I have left out many of the stories discussed in the book so I dont ruin it for you! But I have to leave this one little teaser if you travel a lot you have to read the section where Gladwell explains plane crashes! I highly recommend Outliers: The Story of Success for those of you who enjoy understanding the world through the statistics. If you prefer a light story-like read, this book might not be for you.
perfect order! August 20, 2010
cath
book arrived in great shape in a mere matter of days... great service! and great price!
I've looked at clouds from both sides now July 28, 2010
bernie (Arlington, Texas)
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
Malcolm Gladwell points out the obvious. Or what should have been the obvious. Using statistics and a type of insight, he finds that to be successful there is a minimum of natural ability and downright luck. Even them it does not guarantee want Malcolm supposed success is.
This book is a fun and easy to read book. But do not let it fool you into thinking that this is light reading or just the popular science of the day. There is a dead serious theory that appears to really apply (split infinitives allowed here.) Knowing this theory will help you to make the requirements for success instead of just guessing at them.
At least I came away with a different paradigm, and now see everything in the world differently.
It has been suggested that regardless of the factors in this book that one may be content with a job that fits his/her value-system.
I must have been schizophrenic in a job sense. In the U.S. Army and Reserves, I well enjoyed being a mechanic and power systems maintenance sergeant. While at the same time, I was a business/engineering systems analyst in the civilian world. So this book helps me look back to see how I found myself in the situation.
With a little bit of blooming luck.
How to Lie with Statistics
 Don't waste your time March 3, 2010
M. Weedmark (Ontario CANADA)
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
There are no woman in this book!!
Dude - you've left out half the population!
I can think of many female outliers:
ROSALIND FRANKLIN discovered DNA
Vandana shiva - Physicist
Arundati roy
Hilary Clinton,
Amelia Earhart
bell hooks
MARIE CURIE
Coco Chanel
Malcolm, could you not think of even one????
This book captures the the subtitle of his previous book: The power of thinking without thinking.
VERY DISAPPOINTED.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 40
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