Charity's Reading Log

Outliers: The Story of Success

by Malcolm Gladwell

Having read both of Gladwell's earlier profferings, Blink and The Tipping Point, I anticipated an insightful and thought-provoking codex that translated seemingly mundane data and information in a way I'd never before contemplated. Gladwell surpassed all of my expectations with this book and has added his name to my list of favorite non-fiction writers to date.

As Gladwell immediately points out, the American ideal of success entails someone who comes from the "wrong side of the tracks", works hard, and makes a name for oneself. However, idealistic this might be, he quickly begins to refute the supposition by outlining the various ways in which age, location, opportunity, and even luck affect the success of even the most intelligent of individuals. Would Bill Gates have been BILL GATES if he had been born 15 years earlier in Juaraz, Mexico? Probably not as he would have missed the birth of the computer and wouldn't have been in a location to have taken advantage of unlimited computer usage at such an early age. Gladwell provides example after example of successful people who, although undoubtedly smart and incredibly talented, wouldn't have made a name for themselves had they not been placed in the perfect situation at the right time.

After a lifetime of hearing that if you just work hard enough your dreams can all come true, this book made me think in more realistic and practical terms. The crux of success lies in opportunity, and whether given to sought out, without it success will most likely remain illusive to the vast majority of people.