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vexyspice's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely changed how I look at success and the people who achieve it.
carolinekysela's review against another edition
1.0
not the book for me personally. i can see the appeal of it all.
found the statistics interesting, but not useful. how am i going to book a job as an aspiring actor knowing how those born earlier in the year have statistic disadvantages? i just can't apply that. many of the book's lessons were simple facts that could've been put on one single page. but then gladwell wouldn't have a book i guess...
TDLR: this book is the epitome of "this meeting could've been an email".
found the statistics interesting, but not useful. how am i going to book a job as an aspiring actor knowing how those born earlier in the year have statistic disadvantages? i just can't apply that. many of the book's lessons were simple facts that could've been put on one single page. but then gladwell wouldn't have a book i guess...
TDLR: this book is the epitome of "this meeting could've been an email".
andotherworlds's review against another edition
3.0
3 (perhaps 2.5 i am still undecided) // I don't think anyone can come even close to comprehending how elated I truly am to have finished this slow trudge of a novel. Before I elaborate I would like to preface that I read this as part of my classes' summer reading, I would certainly not have picked this up on my own accords.
Anyways, the main issue or note I would like to warn people who are curious about reading this book would be it's incredibly bland and unnecessarily sluggish pacing. While I understand wanting to build up a scene and describe the environment of each story to get a better feeling of the overall tone, writing extra, insignificant details to each story does not do any justice on anyone's part. Rather than feeling as if my reading experience was elevated by these extra details, I more so felt as if Gladwell was a student trying to add filler words to reach the word count of their essay. Paired with my lack of enthusiasm to even read this book, this slow, and wordy pacing simply led me down the cursed rabbit hole of a reading slump.
Overall, while this book covers some important themes, it quite frankly just utilized different stories as a way to rephrase the same concept over and over again. You could really just read the first chapter and understand the entire message and direction the book wants to get across. Hence my advice being to just pass on this one.
Anyways, the main issue or note I would like to warn people who are curious about reading this book would be it's incredibly bland and unnecessarily sluggish pacing. While I understand wanting to build up a scene and describe the environment of each story to get a better feeling of the overall tone, writing extra, insignificant details to each story does not do any justice on anyone's part. Rather than feeling as if my reading experience was elevated by these extra details, I more so felt as if Gladwell was a student trying to add filler words to reach the word count of their essay. Paired with my lack of enthusiasm to even read this book, this slow, and wordy pacing simply led me down the cursed rabbit hole of a reading slump.
Overall, while this book covers some important themes, it quite frankly just utilized different stories as a way to rephrase the same concept over and over again. You could really just read the first chapter and understand the entire message and direction the book wants to get across. Hence my advice being to just pass on this one.
blueceliac314's review against another edition
5.0
Gladwell presents a compelling argument for what generates outliers. The most interesting application lies with the successful people, illustrated by examples of scholars, innovators, lawyers, and athletes. His argument is an encouraging one: what separates successful people is the number of hours they apply themselves in their field. This can then be accompanied by luck, or circumstance, where you complete those 10,000 hours just at the right time to apply them.
What makes this encouraging is that it shows that non-successful people simply have fewer hours to refine and practice their art. This is something within most people's control whether it is in education or sports. His clear example of December athletes being disadvantaged from a young age can be overcome by recognizing that you can still be successful later on with more practice time. It also shows that in many cases, you can become a success in any field and at any point in your life. The most important thing is being interested in something to spend 10,000 hours on it.
What makes this encouraging is that it shows that non-successful people simply have fewer hours to refine and practice their art. This is something within most people's control whether it is in education or sports. His clear example of December athletes being disadvantaged from a young age can be overcome by recognizing that you can still be successful later on with more practice time. It also shows that in many cases, you can become a success in any field and at any point in your life. The most important thing is being interested in something to spend 10,000 hours on it.
bubblegumcreams's review against another edition
4.0
As a late high schooler I felt this book was really eye opening. It was a required read for an AP course. A little tough to get through at times, but for me it was always worth moving on because I wanted to know what came next.
Now with a different view of the world as an adult, I want to reread this book. I think I'll be able to analyze it better now.
Now with a different view of the world as an adult, I want to reread this book. I think I'll be able to analyze it better now.
eckinnison's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Good book, not my favorite. Very good for professional development
yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
This was such an unexpected pleasure to listen to. The narration was fantastic. The information clear and written is such a way that I absorbed and considered the facts presented. For me that is amazing, I am easily distracted and seldom retain most information, ADHD yep. Some of the information seemed stretching, borderline ridiculous, but there were numbers to back the claim. I found his research on the learning systems around the world and the KIPP program the most interesting. It was just another wake up call for American school systems. I listened to this one and want to read it now so I can spend more time thinking about the revelations he explores.
I loved it. I think it was one of the best information books I've read on this subject.
I loved it. I think it was one of the best information books I've read on this subject.