Nick Pateras | Outliers
BOOK REVIEW
Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell
Offers new perspectives on factors to success, but plagued with frivolity
It’s thanks to this book that I’ve come to crystallize my view on Gladwell and his works. Undoubtedly incisive though the man is, those who boastfully reference him as a self-awarded badge of honour must be seen for what they really are: quasi-intellectuals with a distinct inability to recognize his writing’s inherent flaws and shortcomings. In Outliers, Gladwell attempts to elucidate how the formulae of many success stories are not just functions of intelligence and ability, but of circumstance too. For example, he highlights the benefit of being Jewish in making it as a lawyer in the hectic life of mid-20th century New York, explaining further how many of these top lawyers of immigrants also shared the uncommon characteristic that their parents did meaningful work in the garment industry. He also discusses how Korea Air’s unenviable record of aviation accidents prior to 2000 – a trend of failure rather than success – could be attributed to Korean culture and its high power-distance index (PDI in itself a worthwhile research topic).
"Intellect and achievement are far from perfectly correlated."
As usual, I cannot deny Gladwell’s storytelling approach is easy on the mind for its simplicity and memorable nature, but Outliers really epitomizes my frustration with his work in that I finish the book and ask, “So what? What did I really learn here?” Gladwell demonstrates that in many cases, individuals ascribe their success to timing, good fortune and other cultural advantages just as much they do to their dedication and attitude. But is this really news to anyone with an understanding of the importance of serendipity in life’s unfolding? Too, I am again left unsatisfied that Gladwell hasn’t been selective in his presentation of case studies and supporting data. I shall likely read him again, perhaps once more, but more so for the pleasure of learning about concepts such as his ’10,000 hours’ rule, rather than in anticipation of a cosmic shift in my critical outlook.
-NP, August 2014