Very good and interesting book of M. Gladwell "Outliers.." (Russian translation "Гении и аутсайдеры"). I see this book as a book about the system thinking. Roseto viliage – health depend on community environment; success depends on elegibility rules; 10000 hours rule (Beatles, Bill Joy, Bill Gates, 75 richest people in human history), IQ above a threshhold is meaningless; practical intelligence (Oppenheimer) – social savvy; "Success is not a random act. It arises out of a predictable and powerful set of circumstances and opportunities" (p.181); the ethnic theory of plane crashes (7 errors, PDI); rice paddies culture (why Asian learn to count much faster than Americans); KIPP program (the advantage that wealthy students have over poor is the result of differencies in the way privileged kids learn while they are not in school). Here is the main idea: The outliers are not outliers at all. They are products of history and community, of opportunity and legacy. But additionly they must be smart enough and extremely hard-working. Worth reading...
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