What is one supposed to do with this book? It was the literary equivalent of cotton candy - full to the brim with sweetness but with a very faint aftertaste, and you begin to wonder if it was even worth it. But then again, it was interesting in the moment, right?
Outliers is also spectacularly optimistic ('successful' people become that way because of luck and destiny, and not only because they are geniuses! The traditional notion of modern genius is antiquated. It probably needs to be quashed altogether) or pessimistic (if it's going to take so much luck and embracing your cultural heritage and being born in January for success, then I might as well not bother), depending on how you look at it. Plus, the fact that the author's claims that not having summer vacation is good for learning outcomes for poor students just annoyed me because apparently - good teachers and learning paradigms are not good enough? And some 'sacrifice' is expected?
Here, you always get the feeling the author is working backwards - starting from wanting to quash the notion of outliers, and cherrypicking his way into feel-good neoliberal 'meritocratic' discussions, without offering or even hinting at a structural change. I also didn't feel the topic was deep enough to warrant a book written on it. Magazine article in the Economist? Sure. But a 300-page book? Not the best idea. ( )

This book was definitely thought provoking. Especially as someone who grew up playing hockey, his example using the sport made a lot of sense.

Friends have shown me things that contradict this but really this book should not be taken as a definitive and more of something that can help make you understand, accept or motivate successes in your life. All depends how you take it! ( )

“The world could be so much richer than the world we have settled for.”

This is a must read to better understand our world and social processes. ( )

Brilliant and thought provoking. I learned about cultural differences resulting in plane crashes, why the Eastern world is good at math, and when you are born in the early part of the year you get certain privileges. Everyone should read this book; and then send their kids to school as outlined in the chapter "Marita's Bargain". ( )

Outstanding
Thought provoking
high school students should read it too. ( )