Book Review: Outliers
Book Reviews July 28th, 2009
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Why Some People Succeed and Some Don’t
Gladwell continues to intrigue me with his unconventional research, presentation and writing. I’ve enjoyed both of his other books, The Tipping Point and Blink and so I fully expected another enjoyable book. I can happily say he delivered yet again as I definitely enjoyed his latest book, Outliers as well. Outliers is a book not unlike his others, where he presents a collection of findings and stories that uncover a truth that is not your expected outcome.
There are two basic messages that Gladwell outlines in the first half and second half of the book. First, there are those who have surprising success not by their skills, work ethic and own abilities, but by circumstances, advantages and inheritances from there life and environment that contribute to those individuals’ success. The notion behind this is explained with various examples of how our environment shapes our lives and behaviors to a large degree as well. One example used is how professional hockey has ended up with a high statistical number of players born very early in year and extremely few players born near the end of the year. This is caused by how age categories are split from hockey players at young ages when developing their skills. Those who who born early in year are older and statistically have more months of practice by the cut off point for each age group. This gives them a serious advantage from an early age and it is these players that get coached the most, move up the leagues and become the superstars more than the players born near the end of the year. These age categories result in similar distributions in other sports and in other countries where different birthdates and splits are used. They all seem to have a bias or advantage based on factors outside the skill of the players.
The second message is how an individual’s intended contribution is largely a factor of the time required to become an expert in some area. He reveals that this time frame is around 10000 hours of practice in order to become an expert. Those who are considered to be more skilled or even genius are really just evidence of a person who has put in more time to become a 10000 hour based expert sooner than others.  So while it is typically believed that there is a huge difference between very smart or talented students over average, his findings show that this is really just a case of practice. Students who are initially worse at a skill or expected to be worse develop just as well as the next student who seems to impress others and appears to be a smarter or quicker student. This implies that anyone, regardless of circumstance can become an expert if the time to practice is applied.
Aligning Expert with Circumstance
Gladwell takes things even further then at examining the 10000 hour expert level. Not everyone who becomes an expert in something by practice also has the circumstances contributing to them to help them find success. Therefore, there is a required alignment of expert level practice and contributors from one’s environment that must both occur to truly bring someone into the highest success levels. The examples in the book not only highlight some of the evidence for these findings but also make evident the problems that many of our societal systems impose limitations on people or put unintended hardships for success in place. Overcoming this requires that our systems look not at categorizing or classifying people early on, but instead provide equal opportunities for those who do put in expert levels of practice
In finishing this book, you will have a very different idea of what makes a person extraordinary. It’s not their intelligence or skills as much as it is the circumstances and environment that contributes or triggers them to develop key abilities. The date a person is born, the social atmosphere one learns their work ethic from or even the attitude one develops from overcoming hardship are key items that shape a person’s behaviors and ultimately their lives. This is contrary to most people’s beliefs and the book directly challenges some of our political and social development systems which is one of the reasons I really like it. I see a lot of parallels with problems areas I’ve already been exposed to, especially school systems and this book makes one think twice about the typical success factors we tend to focus on.
For me, it leaves me encouraged to continue to promote expert practice levels as obviously that is important in developing skills but it is also a wake up call to examine systems I’m involved in that form unintended prejudice because of circumstance or environmental influence. We can’t really impact chance circumstances but in spending more time working towards something, we do increase our exposure to related areas which I think does improve our opportunities, as long as we can recognize them and take advantage of them. Also, we ought to remove as many limits and boundaries imposed on people as possible and provide equal opportunity to teach, train, develop and coach anyone who is dedicated and committed, regardless of their environment.
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Mike King
July 28th, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Hi Mike.
I am glad to see this because, although I have read Outliers, being reminded of some of its main points is good. I like the message about how anyone can become an expert in a field, regardless of their current position in standings on it. The addition of circumstance to this expertise could be helped upon by seeking out certain circumstances or events that lend themselves to favorable outcomes.
I think one take-away message is to put a little more priority in picking the right actions to make based on what is favorable to circumstances, versus what our first gut instinct tells us we should do.
July 28th, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Hi Mike,
So good to read this review. I’ve been hearing about Gladwell’s books, and thinking about reading one (or more). And so this is good to read. And it also validates to me, that by keeping at “it”, we can become expert.
The hockey example is really eye-opening for me, and something I hadn’t really thought about before. Hmmm….
July 28th, 2009 at 10:01 PM
@Armen – Definitely great points you’ve highlighted there Armen and I totally agree how useful going back to a book review can bring back some of the points and items to put into action from a book. Thanks for the additional comments.
@Lance – I think you’d love this book for how it makes you look at becoming an expert and how we unintentially and subtly affect those learning to become experts as well. The hockey example is a significant part of the book with many areas used for research of the outliers which is quite interesting. I love Gladwell’s books for their style and unique way of looking at uncommon stats or oddities, in this case, the outliers…
July 29th, 2009 at 12:29 AM
Hi Mike
I have not read outliers yet but it was on my listening list from audible and your review makes it a must read or must listen to :).
July 30th, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Hi Mike, another point that Gladwell brings is how ridiculous it is to designate future “leaders” based upon their actions on the playground.
People tend to assume that those who are physically larger are smarter and more mature, whereas they were just born earlier in the year and have had more time to grow.
August 1st, 2009 at 3:53 AM
Their are many reasons behind success of a man. But some time you can’t because circumstances are not in your favor. You had all quality for become success in any field. But if you have bad luck and circumstances are not in your control.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:24 PM
[…] Book Review: Outliers (LearnThis.ca) […]
August 13th, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Hiya Mike. I haven’t heard of or read this author before, but I like the way he thinks. The 10,000 hour practise critical mass point is iinteresting, and he really is onto something here. I’m definitely looking at purchasing this book, and his other two that you recommended as well.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Thanks Steven, glad to inpsire another reader of this one. I’m sure you will enjoy it!
@Miki – thanks for that added point. Yes, its such a mistake to label people according to these false early predictions instead of developing anyone who wants the help with equal opportunities.
@sus – exactly one of the points of the book as well. Circumstance plays a big role and as a society, we must be careful not to impose those harmful circumstances on people undeserved. Often, we don’t even realize the impact it causes, which is exactly what the examples show in Outliers.
@Industry News – Oh he is well worth reading, I assure you especially if you have interest in the topics and topics from such reviews. I like his style of writing very much as well, it much intrigues me. Thanks for the comment!
September 7th, 2009 at 10:38 PM
I have heard about the author for the first time. And going to read some of the books with great desire.The points described there are very important for many people including me.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:54 AM
I’m an enormous fan of Blink and The Tipping Point, but as yet haven’t read Outliers. This post has moved it to the top of my reading list. Thank you!
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:15 PM
This was a great book, I was surprised that it comes back to hard work. 10,000 hours seems like a lot but its a true measure of expertise
December 10th, 2009 at 9:34 PM
hey! I just read the Outliers book and I’m thinking of two key points that leads to success? I was thinking opportunity and effort, what do you think?
December 11th, 2009 at 8:19 AM
I have heard about the author for the first time.
October 17th, 2011 at 10:40 PM
[…] in your new learned skills/tasks/etc. One aspect of mastery is the concept by Gladwell in “Outliers” about the 10,000 hrs it takes to become an expert in any skill or area. Â An expert in a […]