Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

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Show Notes:

Why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Superstars don’t arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: “they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot.” Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, “some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky.”

Key Points/Chapters:

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.”

“It tells us that our notion that it is the best and the brightest who effortlessly rise to the top is much too simplistic. Yes, the hockey players who make it to the professional level are more talented than you or me. But they also got a big head start, an opportunity that they neither deserved nor earned. And that opportunity played a critical role in their success.”

  • The 10,000 Hour Rule (The Beatles)
  • The Trouble With Geniuses
  • Robert Oppenheimer Story
  • Rice Paddies and Math Tests

“No one who can rise before dawn 360 days a year fails to make his family rich.”

Our Cocktail Party Statements:

Phil – “Everything we know about success is wrong.”

Aaron – “Success isn’t random.”

Karin – “Success is a virtuous circle, the result of persistence.”

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