I have to give Gladwell some credit. Anyone who is making as much money as he is must be doing something right. What that something is, I haven't figured out (even after reading his "story of success"). I will admit that this book did get me thinking, but I don't think that's what Gladwell intended.
Let me sum it up for you. Bill Gates became the increadibly-uber-rich-window-washing stud that he is because of the time and place of his birth and the resources that he had available to him. Nothing more.
Oh wait, Gladwell did have one more point and it's this: In order to be an expert at anything you must have 10,000 hours of practice at that thing. I'm kinda wondering at this point how many hours Gladwell put in to studying success.
There's so much more that I could say. Some of it might even be positive. But, I'm not going to. I've had enough of Gladwell. Up next: Stephen King's "Cell." It's my quick intellectual break (should Gladwell count as that?) before school starts up again.
Anyone else out there read Gladwell? I'd love to hear from someone who likes what he has to say. Surely there's another side of the argument and it's bound to be better than my side, because the guy is rich and published after all.
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I can't comment on Gladwell. Haven't read it and don't know who he is.
ReplyDeleteI can say that I think success is relative. I feel successful in my life, with family, friends and a career that I love. I may not have material wealth beyond imagining, but the currency of my life is different.
I CAN say that I loved 'Cell'. Read it a couple of years ago at Thanksgiving. Let's just say I was glad to be very, very far from cellphone coverage areas as I read that book.
I'm not sure Stephen King is an 'intellectual break'. He's surely as successful in his field as Gladwell is, neh?
I was enjoying your post on PBL (I teach at a no-classes, all pbl school in MN) when I stumbled across your thoughts on Outliers as well. I'm about halfway through the book, and after reading your post, I'm guessing my concerns won't be answered. Sure Bill Gates had to have some fortunate circumstances to become who he is, but how many people are unknowinglly presented with similar opportunities and don't take advantage of them? Opportunity abounds, but it takes a special person to have the drive, take the inititative, put in the 10,000 hours, etc. Gladwell makes it sound like if Homer Simpson were placed in Bill's shoes circa 1966, he would automatically turn into a billionaire software developer. I'm not buying it.
ReplyDeleteThe points about the hockey players were interesting, though. And it does relate to education. But after that first chapter, I've been pretty disappointed.
Thanks for sharing!
Nick Ryan
nickseducationspot.blogspot.com