Outliers tries to debunk the theory of “self-made-men”; about how we often associate success with just the personal qualities of individual like intelligence, hard work, courage. The point in the book is that there are many men with same qualities out there but not everyone is as successful. We owe something to our parentage and patronage. It makes a difference when we are born, where we are born, our cultural legacy and the opportunities presented to us (sometimes by just luck). We cant simply reach top on our own.
The takeaway from the book for me is not to look down upon successful people but appreciate the ones who were not as lucky enough to reach there. The book is dotted with interesting stories of Bill Joy, Bill Gates, Mozart, Beatles, Jewish lawyers in New York and Oppenheimer. It is interesting to read that today’s software tycoons were born between 1954-56 and that most successful Jewish lawyers in NY were born in early 1930s.
Just like in “Tipping point” and Blink, the author presents some interesting theories in the book like the 10,000 hour rule. Another one is “Hofstede’s Dimensions” of cultural differences and how our culture shapes our thinking. I shall be reading Hofstede’s book “Culture’s Consequences”.