Outliers: The story of success by Malcolm Gladwell, ISBN 978-0-141-03624-3.

Another interesting read from Malcolm Gladwell. Full of statistical patterns, facts and insights from a variety of fields from hockey to air crash investigation.

So what is the formula for success? Innate talent and IQ seem to have little to do with it. Given a certain level of talent and IQ, the major factors contributing to success seem to be: cultural factors, out-of-the-blue opportunities, serendipity (meeting the right people, being in the right place and right time), a belief in oneself (and the willingness and ability to assert one’s right to life and its opportunities), and hard work.

The many counter-intuitive and counter-conventional-beliefs observations are in themselves worth a read. If you are a parent or educator interested in giving children their best start in life, to maximise their potential over their lifetimes, this book also provides several interesting insights.

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Outliers: The Story of Success