Outliers
by Malcolm Gladwell · first published 2008
33% recommend58% neutral9% critical
Why HN recommends it
Readable look at how opportunity, timing, and small early advantages shape success alongside hard work; suits anyone weighing talent versus circumstance, or thinking about education, practice, and hiring.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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
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…people. I want to inspire and provoke them." And Gladwell is good, while trying out ideas, at crediting his sources. Any reader of a Malcolm Gladwell book (as I know, from being a reader of the book Outliers) can check the sources, and decide from there what other sources to check and what other ideas to play with. Gladwell doesn't purport to write textbooks, but I give him a lot of credit for finding interesting…
on “Why Malcolm Gladwell Matters and Why That's Unfortunate” ↗…but he writes interesting and thought-provoking stories about leading scientists in disciplines facing tough problems. Any reader of a Malcolm Gladwell book (as I know, from being a reader of the book Outliers ) can check the sources, and decide from there what other sources to check and what other ideas to play with. Gladwell doesn't purport to write textbooks, but I give him a lot of credit for finding interesting…
on “Malcolm Gladwell's Reponse to the Culturalism Post” ↗…"outlying cases" as you call them. The outlying cases are when someone manages to use his/her intelligence to get over all those challenges and switch into a different social class. A cool book called "Outliers" comes to my mind now. It's one of the classics and I highly recommend it: http://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwel...
1. Thinking fast and slow - Kahneman 2. Outliers - Malcom Gladwell 3. How to read and do proofs - Daniel Solow All of these were packed with great insights and are books I'm sure I will return to in the future for multiple re-reads.
on “Ask HN: What is the best book you read on 2017?” ↗…don't see this as being Hacker News. PS - I think you meant to write "read" instead of "ready" here: "In particular, the Freakonomics audio books are quite good as they are ready by the author, as is Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell."
on “Weight Lifting for Hackers” ↗…out to convert people. I want to inspire and provoke them." is good, while trying out ideas, at crediting his sources. Any reader of a Malcolm Gladwell book (as I know, from being a reader of the book Outliers) can check the sources, and decide from there what other sources to check and what other ideas to play with. Gladwell doesn't purport to write textbooks, but I give him a lot of credit for finding interesting…
on “Self-examination is the Secret Ingredient for Success” ↗Your points are fair. What I have liked about Gladwell's writings on the issues he treated in Outliers (the only book of his I have read) is that he found authors who do all of the "Present your argument from first principles" and "Present a full, nuance pictures of the state of present day research" you…
on “Why Malcolm Gladwell Matters and Why That's Unfortunate” ↗1) Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell: I bought this book after it was referenced in one of Alex Ferguson's books. It's a fascinating tale of how people became to be successful by being the right person in the right environment…
on “Ask HN: What three books impacted your career the most?” ↗…random acts, and of course dedication, around 10.000 hours is need it for be an expert in any field, any. What if "grandfather who was a grocer" was a plumber instead? I Strongly recommend this book: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. He studies outliers, their family, culture, timing. One of many fun facts is that almost every pro-hockey player in Canada is born in the early's month jan, feb, mar. Why? they…
on “Compounding Knowledge” ↗…Victor Frankly Books on process improvement The Phoenix Project The Four Hour Work Week - Tim Ferriss (ignore the outsourcing bit, listen to his podcast) Books on breaking out of your thought bubble. Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell Ishmael - David Quinn Books for understanding how sales works Ultimate Sales Machine - Chet Holmes Negotiate As If Your Life Depended on It - Chris Voss Any of these books are…
on “Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?” ↗…Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos by Michio Kaku 2) The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (I haven't read Atlas Shrugged yet. So cannot compare them.) Yesterday I finished Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and it is a very good book too. Currently reading: What They Teach you at Harvard Business School: My Two Years Inside the Cauldron of Capitalism by Philip Delves Broughton
on “Ask HN: Please name two of your most favorite books.” ↗I'm currently reading Malcolm Gladwell's new book, Outliers: http://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwel... It's a fascinating account of what makes people successful. Major points I've picked up so far: * the contribution of IQ to success maxes…
on “The Science of Success” ↗Some recent engaging reads: * Dan Ariely, Predictably Irrational * Christopher McDougall, Born to Run * Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers * Jeb Brugman, Welcome to the Urban Revolution * Richard Florida, Who's Your City?
on “Ask HN: Interesting (Non software) books?” ↗…school has a fixed tempo of learning, challenge him in other areas; sports, music, critical thinking, computers, social skills, moral values and ethics, practical skills, helping others, etc. 2. Read "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell. He has a few points that made me realize just how much it means to come from a good background, with parents that realize how their kid should be raised to become a independent and…
on “Ask HN: How do I give my son a head start?” ↗…into Reddit as it becomes more popular. It's sad. Back on topic, the ten thousand hours is supposed to be deliberate practice to achieve mastery. One good source for this is Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers.
on “This is what happens when one guy practices art every day for nine years” ↗