Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

This book had been on my list for a long time, and I finally got it on audiobook and went through it. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell describes the phenomenon of competitive advantage, oftentimes a product of life’s circumstances, and how such an advantage ultimately leads one on the path towards success.

Gladwell describes why a large proportion of NHL players are born in January, whereas those making it to the MLB are often born in July. I found this to be very interesting.

While hard work and determination I still believe to be major factors in success, this book made it clear to me that the circumstances to which you are born most certainly play a large role. As Gladwell puts it, opportunity often matters more than grit or determination.

Bill Gates, as I learned from this book, was a product of his circumstances. He lived near the University of Washington as a young adult, which allowed him to walk to campus and experiment with their computers after hours. This is where he learned all about computer programming.

Gladwell describes two individuals with equally exceptional IQ’s, ultimately showing that the one with the right circumstances ultimately excelled in life whereas the other never quite made it due to various competitive disadvantages.

I won’t belabor the point of this book any further. It is a good read and I highly recommend it.

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