1.39k reviews for:

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

David Epstein

4.09 AVERAGE

scarletw0lf's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

_kaylee_m_'s review

4.0

"Which among my various possible selves do I want to explore now?"

Short summary of the book: Grown-ups need to play to be good at their jobs. Hierarchical authority needs to be balanced by open communication at all levels. Nonlinear career paths are normal and beneficial to society.

I still love the idea from "The Giver" that children have lots of opportunities to explore all sorts of careers. Although 12 is way too young to have a specialty. It would be awesome if the public school system supported a sampling time period for youth and young adults well into their twenties.

svec's review

5.0

Innovation occurs when disciplines meet. Specialisation has diminishing returns.

philsimon's review

5.0

Epstein checks all of my boxes for a compelling text. First, he clearly did a great deal of research. Second, he is a gifted storyteller. Third, he supports his claims with plenty of data.

For a long time I've argued for an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving. Unfortunately, many higher-ed institutions discourages this at many levels. To this end, I hope that decision makers in colleges and universities heed Epstein's timely and essential advice.

Just a joy to read.

maraqp's review

5.0

Fantastic, a must read for all to use both for themselves and in understanding others

drkottke's review

5.0

Tired of hearing the 10,000 hours metric on expertise? Feeling disempowered by the eminent achievements of brilliant younger people and wondering where your time went? Discover an alternative framework for thinking about talent and success. Howard Gardner's Five Minds for the Future described "The Disciplinary Mind" in which one masters a single body of knowledge, and this depth of expertise is indeed necessary in our world. It requires the kind of dedication to a single specialized pursuit as described in Outliers. However, that's only one of the five minds that Gardner posited as necessarily interdependent in the modern world. At least three other minds described in Gardner's book - "The Synthesizing Mind," "The Creative Mind," and "The Respectful Mind" - are defined by a breadth of knowledge, experience, and perspective that can integrate thinking across diverse fields to create novel solutions to vexing problems. Joseph Campbell observed in The Power of Myth that the blessings of any given faith's promised afterlife might elude him, given his stance as a generalist across mythologies and religions rather than as a devout follower of any single path. While Range doesn't say anything about the afterlife, it does affirm that Campbell's meandering curiosity is a virtue in this life.

marigarbage's review

3.0

Ok I’m just not a nonfiction girlie bc like after the third chapter I felt like I got the gist and didn’t need much more convincing…
…also cue the anxieties of not having enough Range™️ while carrying out a PhD

timallenrip's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.75

jcj25's review

5.0

Expertly written, thoroughly researched (and then some), and sprinkled with intriguing stories about fascinating people. An important read for anyone and everyone, but may be especially timely for new graduates, college students, and anyone switching careers. I was already a David Epstein fan after reading The Sports Gene years ago, but Range was just as surprising and convincing, and perhaps even more (ultimately) reassuring. Please do yourself a favor and read it. I listened to the audiobook, which is great, and also bought a hard copy.

functionalstoic's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0