Guess it’s more than a year that I took up this interesting book yet again. I was not oblivious to the reviews this book by Malcolm Gladwell had received. To say the least, it aroused the least interest when I first took to reading it. I get a feeling that probably I was not matured enough mentally to handle this book and get it over my mind. I used to feel lost when I took it up. Speaking frankly, a book that doesn’t entice me doesn’t get my mind to it, though I don’t give it up – I ensure I finish.

But this time around, I realize I have grown more responsible and experienced enough to take it up again. The sense of accomplishment was losing sight of me. I felt I am not doing justice to what all I undertake. I fail to understand what is that I lack – to which ‘Outliers’ seemed to be the way to my quest to answers, whose caption was even more captivating – ‘The Story of Success’.

And it was one fine day when I stumbled across the book in our ‘Information Resource Centre’ while on the lookout for some other book. The very same night had witnessed me diving into the facets that Malcolm enlists to define and determine all about – Outliers!

He mentions ‘Outliers’ as those breed who are different from the commoners. Though the common people possess the skills they possess, but they are extraordinary and different in their own unique way. This helps them achieve peaks of success that only other wish for. Malcolm further dives deep into various scenarios to bring out the points nexus to the entire concept of being an ‘Outlier’.

Malcolm drives the reader to the fact that the successful ones be it in the world of football or software engineering, are the ones who were born in favorable months of the year – the first five to six months. At least, this is what the patterns depict. The point here being that the ones born earlier often tend to have richer experience than the ones who were born during the latter part of the year because of which they are treated younger to them. Well, being older/elder definitely adds to one’s outlook and persona. He then takes the readers to the fact that kids from rich families get better opportunities and conditions that aid them in excelling in whatever they choose. In addition, they are under the guidance of educated parents who can provide them with the best. And, this is where the other set of people fall short of. To excel, talent is not the only requisite. It needs a good blend of experience and guidance.

Another important facet to add is the dimension of ‘expertise’. One can achieve an expertise based on the hard work, no matter how much lies the talent. Malcolm mentions a very important figure in this regard. He says to master any art, one needs a minimum of 10000 hrs of practice and dedication. The one who attains this magnificent figure definitely rises above the rest.

Learning from failures and inheritance from parents/ancestors play crucial roles too.

The road to success is thus a perfect blend of time, opportunities, experience, guidance, hard work and talent. Malcolm tries to explain all this with varied list of examples.

Interesting Read!

Recommended!