About this title: In this landmark work, the author of "Blink" and "The Tipping Point" asks what makes high-achievers different? Brilliant and entertaining, "Outliers" is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, New York
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780316017923ISBN:0316017922
Description: Very Good in Very Good jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Outliers explains what the Beatles and Bill Gates have in common, the extraordinary success of Asians at math, the hidden advantages of star athletes, why all top New York lawyers have the same resue, and the reason you've never heard of the world's smartest man. 309 pages. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: PENGUIN BOOKS LTD Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9780141036250ISBN:0141036257
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 320 pages. Why are people successful? for centuries, humankind has grappled with this question, searching for the secret to accomplishing great things. this book takes us on a journey to show us what makes an overachiever. it reveals that we pay more attention to what successful people are like, and little attention to where successful people are from. (Paperback) read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Date Published: 2008-11-18
ISBN-13:9780316017923ISBN:0316017922
Description: New in New jacket. Slight wear from handling to book and DJ; Expedited shipping is not available for this item; ** Free USPS tracking and confirm on US orders ** read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Little Brown & Co
Date Published: 2008-11-18
ISBN-13:9780316017923ISBN:0316017922
Description: NEW. Hardcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780316017923. read more
Edition: First edition.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780316017923ISBN:0316017922
Description: Fine in fine dust jacket. Clean and tight spine and pages. One small crease on front of dj. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 309 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Little Brown & Co
Date Published: 2008-11-18
ISBN-13:9780316024976ISBN:031602497X
Description: NEW. Hardcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780316024976. read more
"This book is excellent. It's fascinating, insightful, sometimes even shocking and always entertaining. If you don't read it, you're really missing out on some great research and writing.
Why four stars? In my less-than-humble opinion this book, or rather this author, has the same problem as other books I've read by smart, insightful authors, I agree with their research methods and findings and even most of their conclusions, then they step into the realm of political or economic policy and I go nuts.
In this case it didn't happen until the interview after the epilogue in the audio version of the book. Gladwell, who by the way, is an excellent narrator (it makes me slightly sick that he is so good at everything he does) is explaining his premise--that success is not entirely the result of an individual's grit and brilliance, but is also heavily influenced by their ancestors and environment. Fine. I have read the book and it's a position that I understand and respect. Then he says something along the lines of:
"the idea if that if you make it to the top of your profession you deserve a salary of $20 million a year because you're the one responsible for getting to the top, why shouldn't you be richly rewarded? ... and I think that idea is completely false, it's completely false and it's dangerous."
This is part of his "bedrock philosophy as a human being." Again, I agree with him on the point that people who end up at the top of their careers were likely helped by environmental factors similar to those that helped Bill Gates, Rockefeller etc. But to say that we, the people who weren't in their position and didn't make it to where they are, have some right to say what amount of money they should or shouldn't earn or possibly even a right to some of their money is ridiculous! Sure, they had help along the way, but their success is still fundamentally their success. Bill Gates could have had all the same luck but still never made anything of his life. Instead he, and not anyone else, recognized an opportunity and took advantage of his position for his, and all our benefit. Limiting his salary doesn't mean that there is less money to go around for everyone else.
If you boil it down, what Gladwell is basically saying is the same thing you hear on an elementary school playground "NO FAIR!" Nothing in life is fair. Everyone knows it. You make the best of what you have and try to be happy for, and learn from, those who have more.
It is disappointing to me that Gladwell uses such a well written and otherwise brilliant book as a thinly veiled justification for income redistribution."
""Outliers" those wildly successful people, for whom 'normal rules don't apply.' Are they just lucky, talented? Maybe...but, outliers may not be outliers after all...after reading the entire book, I was slapped by that at the very end. Gladwell looks closely at success, and those who seem to have waltzed into incredible success...Canadian hockey players, who just happened to have been born in the right month of the year; Bill Gates, who just happened to go to a school where the PTA moms bought a new-fangled computer system. Mozart, who didn't hit his stride until ten years after he began composing...the Beatles! Their sound was born of the 10,000 hours of performing in Hamburg -- more than other groups could amass in years of playing.
Success is timing, and hard work...10,000 hours of practice required. It's luck -- having the right family, having the right opportunities -- Gladwell's description: "a combination of ability, opportunity, and utterly arbitrary advantage...beneficiaries or some kind of unusual opportunity."
Gladwell's storytelling is so easy to fall into. We go with him anywhere...to a small town in Italy, to his own Jamaican family, and everywhere in between.
I know Gladwell has an essay in TELLING TRUE STORIES, about narrative journalism, and I enjoyed reading this, more aware of the craft he practices...nonfiction storytelling.
When Bill Gates admits he was very lucky, Gladwell hammers home that point. But to me, the 100,000 hour rule is what I'll take with me. Do you want to be the best? Put in the effort! Talent and opportunity can help, but success is hard work."
"I picked up this book on a whim not knowing anything about it and was captivated by the subject and writing. Malcolm Gladwell explains in an academic yet simple way how seemingly "self-made" superstars in business, sports and life are actually the result of hard work, incredible opportunities, culture and timing. From Mozart to the Beatles to Bill Gates to hockey superstars he builds a case for this very theory. Surprisingly fun and a fast read, this book prompts much thought and discussion involving the secrets to success. Outliers is a book that you read out loud to anyone who is nearby (and will listen) and causes you to bring up these examples in conversation. I am not sure I have read a book recently that covers such a thought provoking ideas while reads so smoothly. Gladwell uses such relevant examples that you have a very easy time "getting it". I highly recommend this book and have already secured my copies of his other two similar books, Blink and Tipping Point. I highly enjoyed this!"
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