The Outliers Malcolm Gladwell
What makes a person successful has been a question that’s challenged individuals through the ages. What fuels the force behind some of the most famous figures in history? And most of all; how? Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Outliers: The Story of Success”, suggests many theories and explanations on how one can become an “outlier” of society by analyzing the triumphs and failures of the people and events that we know very best.
Gladwell goes about this book by bringing success down to something that is most relatable in every human. Life. Not just escaping death, but living a full and healthy life. Success, as Gladwell explains it, has a systematic solution. Genes, environment, and practice are the key factors in every story told. Bill Gates’ success didn’t just come about because he was just gifted. It came about because he had access to this “amazing thing.” A computer club at his local college, a rare commodity during the 1960’s. Gates had the access and the intelligence to achieve his status in the world, by Gladwell’s standards. As did the Beatles, practicing for large amounts of time before they “made it in America.” “They were no good onstage when they went there and they were very good when they came back” (pg. 48) Philip Norman told. Even John Lennon described their time in Hamburg, Germany as a …show more content…
Anyone can follow these steps or at least try. But you don’t know if your environment is beneficial, you don’t know what opportunities will come your way. Everyone has a different life, challenge, and passion. Without having that passion one will not have the motivation to take those opportunities. The same goes for environment, some people become inspired by being in a “bad environment.” Anyone can play guitar, anyone can work with computers. That’s what makes Bill Gates “Bill Gates” and The Beatles “The Beatles”, the motivation and passion behind the talent. “…it’s not so much ability as attitude” (pg
Gladwell goes about this book by bringing success down to something that is most relatable in every human. Life. Not just escaping death, but living a full and healthy life. Success, as Gladwell explains it, has a systematic solution. Genes, environment, and practice are the key factors in every story told. Bill Gates’ success didn’t just come about because he was just gifted. It came about because he had access to this “amazing thing.” A computer club at his local college, a rare commodity during the 1960’s. Gates had the access and the intelligence to achieve his status in the world, by Gladwell’s standards. As did the Beatles, practicing for large amounts of time before they “made it in America.” “They were no good onstage when they went there and they were very good when they came back” (pg. 48) Philip Norman told. Even John Lennon described their time in Hamburg, Germany as a …show more content…
Anyone can follow these steps or at least try. But you don’t know if your environment is beneficial, you don’t know what opportunities will come your way. Everyone has a different life, challenge, and passion. Without having that passion one will not have the motivation to take those opportunities. The same goes for environment, some people become inspired by being in a “bad environment.” Anyone can play guitar, anyone can work with computers. That’s what makes Bill Gates “Bill Gates” and The Beatles “The Beatles”, the motivation and passion behind the talent. “…it’s not so much ability as attitude” (pg