2013-31 - Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

31 - Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
WHY I PICKED IT: Recommended by my friend Emily
ELAPSED TIME: 3 Days
RATING: Very Good

This is a really interesting read.  Gladwell tries to show that success is more than a product of intelligence and ambition.  Hard work and passion are key components, but so are culture, timing, and opportunity.

Timing - Being born early in the cutoff is a benefit that carries forward in both athletics and academics.  5 year olds who are born in January are more likely to be considered advanced than those born in December (either as hockey players or as students)... and are more likely to get advanced coaching or advanced placement - resulting in added coaching and support that gives them an even greater advantage.

Hard Work - A lot of studies show that talent and innate ability are actually hurdles rather than on a continuum.  Once you have enough talent (IQ or athletic ability), it's actually a tonne of hard work that gets you from Good to Great... about 10,000 hours seems to be the magic number.

Would recommend this book to parents, as there is a lot in here that is relevant to positioning your kids for success.