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Outliers

by Malcolm Gladwell
Reviewed by Jane Sunley

Malcolm Gladwell is one cool chap and his latest offering yet again provokes discussion and interest on several levels. 'Outliers' is written on the principle that it is not the most intelligent people whom succeed nor the sum of decisions and efforts made. Rather, he poses, success is a 'gift' - Outliers are super-achievers, those who have had the drive and presence of mind to seize opportunities. Of course it's much more complex than that, yet Gladwell's clear, engaging style makes the theories and arguments easy to understand and relate to.

He makes his points through stories which, unusually for what is essentially an academic theory, very engaging. The book starts by examining individual greatness such as the Beatles and Bill Gates. Gladwell looks back at how Gates started out and discovers that, unusually for the 1960s, Gate's school had a computer club. He subsequently had an opportunity to use University computers for hours on end. All this practice (over 10,000 hours by the time he turned 20), argues Gladwell, means that Gates had become an expert at an early age. He was, therefore, more likely to succeed by spotting and seizing the opportunities. Gladwell asks whether, given the same opportunities as Gates, there would have been many Microsofts.

Unlike his other titles (The Tipping Point, Blink see www.learnpurple.com/news/book-reviews ) this is more of a 'manifesto' which urges everyone to rethink the opportunities we offer people which will foster success. We agree that people need to be given opportunities to grow, develop and practice. As well as the educational system, employers have a responsibility here and that's definitely food for thought...

I enjoyed reading 'Outliers' as it's full of infinitely palatable life lessons.

28 September 2009