Outliers

This book by Malcolm Gladwell is dedicated to determine how a person becomes an outlier. Is it intelligence, luck, destiny, hard work, family, year of birth, month of birth, or any other factor or a mix of all the above?

The book gives us a variety of examples of successful personalities like Bill Gates, Bill Joy, Beatles etc. He associates their success to a 10000 hour rule. (as per this rule if a person has dedicated 10,000 hours into his work then they have achieved a level of excellence.). In particular to software industry or computers if a person was born around the year 1955 then it aids in his success since it gives the person the unique ability to be ready at the time (1970) when the first computers were ready to be used. The example of the Canadian hockey team illustrates how being born in the first couple months of the year can raise your chances of being a professional player.

The book also included the fact that being intelligent or having a high IQ does not guarantee success. He gives the example of John who is highly intelligent however did not turn into a successful person like Mr. Gates.

What does all this mean? Does it mean that being a outlier needs opportunities and hard work and excellence and intelligence? Well then why make a fuss about it in a book when it's a well known fact!

My Rating: 7/10