Outliers: The Story of Success

by Malcolm Gladwell

Overview

Explore what sets high achievers apart—from Bill Gates to the Beatles—in this seminal work from "a singular talent" (New York Times Book Review) Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author of Blink and The Bomber Mafia and host of the podcast Revisionist History 

In this stunning 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 are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.

Brilliant and entertaining, Outliers is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316017930
Publisher:	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date:	06/07/2011
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	169
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	1080L (what's this?)

About the Author

Malcolm Gladwell is the author of five New York Times bestsellers: The Tipping Point,Blink, Outliers,What the Dog Saw, and David and Goliath. He is also the co-founder of Pushkin Industries, an audio content company that produces the podcasts Revisionist History, which reconsiders things both overlooked and misunderstood, and Broken Record, where he, Rick Rubin, and Bruce Headlam interview musicians across a wide range of genres. Gladwell has been included in the Time 100 Most Influential People list and touted as one of Foreign Policy'sTop Global Thinkers.

Hometown:

New York, NY

Date of Birth:

September 3, 1963

Place of Birth:

England, U.K.

Education:

University of Toronto, History degree, 1984

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Roseto Mystery "These people were dying of old age. That's it." 3

Part 1 Opportunity

1 The Matthew Effect "For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." - Matthew 25:29 15

2 The 10,000-Hour Rule "In Hamburg, we had to play for eight hours." 35

3 The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 1 "Knowledge of a boy's IQ is of little help if you are faced with a formful of clever boys." 69

4 The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 2 "After protracted negotiations, it was agreed that Robert would be put on probation," 91

5 The Three Lessons of Joe Flom "Mary got a quarter." 116

Part 2 Legacy

6 Harlan, Kentucky "Die like a man, like your brother did!" 161

7 The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes "Captain, the weather radar has helped us a lot." 177

8 Rice Paddies and Math Tests "No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich." 224

9 Marita's Bargain "All my friends now are from KIPP." 250

Epilogue

A Jamaican Story "If a progeny of young colored children is brought forth, these are emancipated." 270

Notes 287

Acknowledgments 297

Index 301

Reading Group Guide 311

Editorial Reviews

"In the vast world of nonfiction writing, Malcolm Gladwell is as close to a singular talent as exists today...Outliers is a pleasure to read and leaves you mulling over its inventive theories for days afterward."—David Leonhardt, New York Times Book Review

"The explosively entertaining Outliers might be Gladwell's best and most useful work yet...There are both brilliant yarns and life lessons here: Outliers is riveting science, self-help, and entertainment, all in one book."—Gregory Kirschling, Entertainment Weekly

"No other book I read this year combines such a distinctive prose style with truly thought-provoking content. Gladwell writes with a high degree of dazzle but at the same time remains as clear and direct as even Strunk or White could hope for."—Atlanta Journal Constitution

From the Publisher

"No other book I read this year combines such a distinctive prose style with truly thought-provoking content. Gladwell writes with a high degree of dazzle but at the same time remains as clear and direct as even Strunk or White could hope for."

Atlanta Journal Constitution

"The explosively entertaining Outliers might be Gladwell's best and most useful work yet...There are both brilliant yarns and life lessons here: Outliers is riveting science, self-help, and entertainment, all in one book."

Gregory Kirschling - Entertainment Weekly

"In the vast world of nonfiction writing, Malcolm Gladwell is as close to a singular talent as exists today...Outliers is a pleasure to read and leaves you mulling over its inventive theories for days afterward."

David Leonhardt - New York Times Book Review

The explosively entertaining Outliers might be Gladwell's best and most useful work yet...There are both brilliant yarns and life lessons here: Outliers is riveting science, self-help, and entertainment, all in one book.
— Entertainment Weekly

Gregory Kirschling

In the vast world of nonfiction writing, Malcolm Gladwell is as close to a singular talent as exists today...Outliers is a pleasure to read and leaves you mulling over its inventive theories for days afterward.
— New York Times Book Review

David Leonhardt

"This third book by the author gets under the skin of glib truths we've believed about success. Gladwell unveils studies and similarities that point to opportunity, timing and 10,000 hours of practice as keys to success rather than sheer talent. Gladwell's voice combines knowledgeable professor and gifted storyteller."

The Herald Sun

Did you ever wonder why very successful people become very successful, while other equally smart people do not thrive? Is there a secret to the sensational achievements of the Beatles, Bill Gates, and businessmen who were born in the 1830s, but not the 1840s? This book attempts to answer these questions using sociological, cultural, and generational analysis presented in accessible language. Narrator and author Malcolm Gladwell does an exceptionally effective job reading his book. His tone is informative and matter-of-fact, and he has a soothing voice that presents the information clearly. He also knows when to emphasize key points. Gladwell's diction can be somewhat muddled, but he does a far better job than many authors who read their own works. R.I.G. 2010 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2008 - AudioFile