Outliers’ Back-of-book Description:

There is a story that is usually told about extremely successful people, a story that focuses on intelligence and ambition. Gladwell argues that the true story of success is very different, and that if we want to understand how some people thrive, we should spend more time looking around them-at such things as their family, their birthplace, or even their birth date. And in revealing that hidden logic, Gladwell presents a fascinating and provocative blueprint for making the most of human potential.

My Thoughts

I loved this book!  Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell was the first non-fiction book I had picked up in a long time and I enjoyed every second of it. It was a fascinating account of how successful people were, at one point in their lives, in the right place at the right time, and how they got to where they are now, including the 10,000 hours theory – the idea that the people at the top of their fields got there because they put in 10,000 hours in that area (think pro sports players, or musicians).

Gladwell touches on several different areas of success, like fashion designers, lawyers, computer geniuses, and more.

It was inspiring to read about hardworking people who made their way to the top by being observant, diligent, and steadfast in achieving their goals. The only thing that bummed me out about it was that it didn’t tell me how to use my current situation to get ahead! Can’t have it all though, I suppose.

I would recommend Outliers to anyone interested in finding a gripping nonfiction book, and to any one who is simply curious why some people succeed and others don’t.

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Favorite Quotes From Outliers:

“Those three things – autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward – are, most people will agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying.”

 

“No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich.”  

 

 

“We all know that successful people come from hardy seeds. But do we know enough about the sunlight?”  

 

In Conclusion

I’d give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you read non-fiction, or are thinking about starting to, definitely put Outliers on your list! It would also probably make a great gift.

Be sure to check out the great Pin-able quotes below!