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adayla's review
4.0
Combo of print and audiobook.
This is a fascinating topic. I am convinced.
Thorough writing, a great premise, and great unfolding of the topic. Some chapters were very intriguing and others were a bit of a slog to get through. I suppose that means there is something in this for everyone. His language can be very technical and that often made it hard to listen/read. It took me awhile to finish this. (I highly recommend the audio. The Afterword is great too.)
He really expanded his ideas into many different domains. There are things in this I would have never read about separately or went out of my way to research. I appreciate that. Forced me to expand out of my well-trod reading path a bit.
I will say, if this book hadn't come highly recommended by trustworthy sources of mine, I don't know if I would have continued reading. Right away, it starts into sports and descriptions of golf and then it moves into chess and it was all so technical and wordy.. BUT I'm so glad I stuck with it. The ideas in it are definitely 5 stars. The slightly lower rating is really all just about the writing and how it felt like I was reading a long science journal article or something. (I know. I can be a snot.)
I was absolutely intrigued by the music section. I have always been so self-conscious of the fact that I can't read music notes and the reactions that come when I have to say this when practicing with a pianist before a solo. And while I can tinker with several instruments, I wouldn't say that I am jaw dropping amazing at any of them. This section was worth the whole read to me personally.
I am surprised that neurodiversity wasn't a topic in this but I suppose that would expand the book into places it's not meant for. But I would be curious to hear those things mixed into a separate, related discussion.
Recommend for sure.
This is a fascinating topic. I am convinced.
Thorough writing, a great premise, and great unfolding of the topic. Some chapters were very intriguing and others were a bit of a slog to get through. I suppose that means there is something in this for everyone. His language can be very technical and that often made it hard to listen/read. It took me awhile to finish this. (I highly recommend the audio. The Afterword is great too.)
He really expanded his ideas into many different domains. There are things in this I would have never read about separately or went out of my way to research. I appreciate that. Forced me to expand out of my well-trod reading path a bit.
I will say, if this book hadn't come highly recommended by trustworthy sources of mine, I don't know if I would have continued reading. Right away, it starts into sports and descriptions of golf and then it moves into chess and it was all so technical and wordy.. BUT I'm so glad I stuck with it. The ideas in it are definitely 5 stars. The slightly lower rating is really all just about the writing and how it felt like I was reading a long science journal article or something. (I know. I can be a snot.)
I was absolutely intrigued by the music section. I have always been so self-conscious of the fact that I can't read music notes and the reactions that come when I have to say this when practicing with a pianist before a solo. And while I can tinker with several instruments, I wouldn't say that I am jaw dropping amazing at any of them. This section was worth the whole read to me personally.
I am surprised that neurodiversity wasn't a topic in this but I suppose that would expand the book into places it's not meant for. But I would be curious to hear those things mixed into a separate, related discussion.
Recommend for sure.
reginaphillange's review
4.0
4 stars for the message and it’s supporting arguments and anecdotes, not for the writing, which though not bad could have gotten its point across more succinctly.
richardbakare's review against another edition
4.0
The saying a “jack of all trades is a master of none,” is regularly used out of context. The full saying is a “jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” This book gets to the heart of that concept. More specifically, David Epstein goes on an exploration into the merits and failings of specialists and generalists alike.
To the surprise of many, the “successful” are often people who weave their way to the final expression of their potential. They go about picking up skills and experiences along the way that congeal into an alchemy of ability, insight, and drive. Conversely, we learn about the dangers of specialization. Specifically, the hyper silos we create that result in tunnel vision and the concurrent systemic issues.
Epstein dismantles the idea of tiger parenting and pathways to expertise from the first page. He shows how flexibility and range in experiences lead to greater potential for success. Using a wide ranging collection of anecdotal stories, study based findings, and personal reflections we get an argument for perhaps the most important perspective shift for education in decades.
To the surprise of many, the “successful” are often people who weave their way to the final expression of their potential. They go about picking up skills and experiences along the way that congeal into an alchemy of ability, insight, and drive. Conversely, we learn about the dangers of specialization. Specifically, the hyper silos we create that result in tunnel vision and the concurrent systemic issues.
Epstein dismantles the idea of tiger parenting and pathways to expertise from the first page. He shows how flexibility and range in experiences lead to greater potential for success. Using a wide ranging collection of anecdotal stories, study based findings, and personal reflections we get an argument for perhaps the most important perspective shift for education in decades.
kasshall's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
I loved this book and related very much to it. I’m someone who has been accused of being unable to commit to a career, yet when I look at my path I see clear links. Really readable book!
allison_bartels's review
3.0
Wasn’t what I expected. Mostly just many, many examples of how a breadth of knowledge is often more beneficial than depth. I agree with a lot of what he shares and found the stories mostly interesting, but didn’t get as much from the book as expected!