While I enjoyed reading this for sure, I didn't think you had to define success based off of others' numbers: http://www.examiner.com/review/book-review-outliers-the-story-of-success-by-malcolm-gladwell

There are a few good ideas in here. One is that those blessed with intellect and other gifts may not become successes at all, but rather have life seemingly treat them poorly. This may be due to what they have learned in early life which has caused them to not have that sense of "entitlement" which others have. In addition, their lack of skills of dealing with others often lead poor consequences. This may be a pointer to us to un-learn those bad habits and acquire new skills on how to get people to help us along the way. The other idea is that some people have learned a work ethic, and their apparent success is actually due many hours of hard work. This may be a pointer to us to work hard if we hope to achieve those lofty goals. The other notions of certain characteristics being passed down through generations is quite belaboured.

The stories in this book were very good and interesting, but I didn't agree with most of what he had to say. He basically ruled out the chances of certain groups of people from being successful, that's what I felt. I think it's more important to attain the qualities needed to be successful than to worry about advantages people had because it's about searching and taking advantage of opportunities that matters, not being discouraged because you are born in a certain year or place. We can't change our circumstances, so should we blame others for having certain opportunities. Everybody can find opportunities, regardless of your background, if you have the passion to do so. 1 thumb up on stories, 2 thumbs down to what the book was explaining and trying to get you to believe.

This book presents Gladwell’s thesis that a person’s success is as much attributable to external circumstances as it is to talent, imagination and effort. He states that once a person has a basic level of talent and ability, success is dependant on other factors. The successful may look like they did it all by themselves but in fact they are the beneficiaries of hidden advantages, extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot. He describes examples showing the effects of birth month, birth year, family background, parenting style, IQ, ethnicity, demographics and cultural legacy. The ideas are very interesting and many of the arguments are convincing. However, there are no counter-arguments presented to contradict these ideas – and I am sure there are some. There is a lack of discussion around the question of why everyone presented with the hidden advantages and opportunities does not succeed on the same scale. I found the section describing the importance of 10,000 hours of practice to be quite weak. While I can accept the hypothesis that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a complex skill, Gladwell does not ask what motivates someone to put in that amount of time. I would suggest that these are the people who have an exceptional talent and therefore a passion to develop it. A person without that potential would find it difficult to be motivated to expend the required effort. I believe that there is such a thing as in-born genius that provides the spark that allows these highly successful people to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them. Gladwell seems to reject this idea. He does, though, come to a valid conclusion that “to build a better world we need to replace the patchwork of lucky breaks and arbitrary advantages that today determine success – the fortunate birth dates and the happy accidents of history – with a society that provides opportunities for all.” The content of this book could provide an excellent starting point for that journey. The writing style is average. It is simple, conversational and easy to understand but it is at times a bit “flabby” and there is no brilliant use of language.

Does success in life (hockey stars, wealthy lawyers, computer millionaires) come to those who are born with special skills? Or is there more? Journalist Malcolm Gladwell defines “an outlier” as a person out of the ordinary “who doesn't fit into our normal understanding of achievement.” He uses meticulous research, an interesting writing style and an inquiring mind to show that successful people are not self-made, but are the beneficiaries of being born at a good time in the right culture and taking the time to practice their skill. His most interesting anecdotes investigate the effect that cultural legacies have on success. For example, growing rice accustoms one to working hard.

This book by Malcom Gladwell is my favorite of his main troika because he adds personal information about his own family. The book is well written and very easy to follow. Gladwell covers how success is attained and why he believes it occurs. His analysis is logical and very interesting, but one must realize that it is an opinion backed by his analysis. I am a bit bias when it comes to Gladwell’s books as I feel his writing is a perfect combination of intelligent, thought provoking, interesting and very simple. This is a great book that I finished in hours not days.

Fascinating...a firm rebuke to the cult of the "self-made man". With clear, logical prose, Gladwell demonstrates how such high achievers as Bill Gates, Robert Oppenheimer, the Beatles, and members of his own family owe their successes as much to lucky circumstances as to innate qualities of intelligence or character. What is most revealing is the chapters on those who did NOT have great success in life, despite high intelligence and motivation. Gladwell ruefully concludes that much native talent is squandered because of societal factors that could be easily remedied. While his theories on the role played by cultural heritage will make many uncomfortable, Gladwell takes pains to state that no one culture is superior or inferior overall, but that traits developed in the descendants of rice growers versus those in sheep herders have longer term consequences than we might suppose. He never suggests that cultural heritage is destiny, but that it is a powerful factor which can not be ignored.

Malcolm Gladwell is the antidote for boredom. In his latest outing, Gladwell argues that geniuses are not born, they are made. Bill Gates and the the Beatles, for example, appear on the surface to be people born with extraordinary gifts. In fact, what the commonality is among these men is the extraordinary opportunities they had to practice their craft before their appearance on the world stage. You can agree or disagree with his conclusions and it won't affect the predictably delightful experience of reading one of Gladwell's books. Also recommended: the audiobook of Outliers read by the author.

Very interesting reading. Gives great insights into what makes people successful, and on how little differences make a big difference in the long run.

Very easy read, fairly shallow content - most of these ideas have been covered elsewhere, and several chapters seem to belong to another book altogether.