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Outliers:  The Story of Success
Outliers The Story of Success
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers" -- the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too littl...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780316017923
ISBN-10: 0316017922
Publication Date: 11/18/2008
Pages: 310
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 269

3.9 stars, based on 269 ratings
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Outliers: The Story of Success on + 188 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Outliers is a book that challenges the notion of what makes a person successful, and that anyone is a self-made millionaire. This book has implications well beyond Blink or Tipping Point, to looking at what can be done to improve the US education system, educational expectations, becoming an expert, or to make "prodigies"/geniuses. Another fascinating section addressed why southerners in the US are so quick to anger/feuding - I wanted all my southern friends to read this book and see if they could address their anger issues! Had some insights into why certain immigrant groups succeeded when they arrived, while others continued to linger in poverty. Many of the chapters in this book were so mind-blowing, I hope that people can get these ideas out into the general discourse and change the way people act/think and public/corporate policies.
esjro avatar reviewed Outliers: The Story of Success on + 899 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Malcolm Gladwell's latest bestseller addresses success - why some people such as Bill gates rise above the rest to phenomenal success. He terms these people "Outliers."

The chapters all follow a format which Gladwell likely has likely used frequently in his magazine writing: he begins by telling a story of an interesting individual or group of people, then proceeds to expand upon his example to make his point. The early chapters which address the influence of birth month on the chances of athletic and academic success and his study of Bill Gates are the most interesting. One overly-lengthy chapter concerning a group of immigrants slowed the momentum of the book, as did the author's telling of his own family history. Fortunately, the chapters that are good are really, really good: easy to understand and insightful.

Gladwell is one of the few non-fiction writers who can consistently appeal to the masses. There are enough interesting tidbits here to keep his appeal going.
NCKristen avatar reviewed Outliers: The Story of Success on
Helpful Score: 3
This was an interesting book, I read it in one sitting. However, it was different from what I expected. I assumed the author would lay out the reasons some people were more successful and then give the template. Instead, this book is truly a thesis in book form. Each chapter forms a case study of a specific example and he tells the story and then leads you down the path of how all of the "just right" circumstances allowed this person to succeed by dint of their month of birth, year of birth, race, etc. Very interesting to read but don't expect any practical advice you can use in your own life!
anothertag avatar reviewed Outliers: The Story of Success on + 85 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A Nonfiction selection for my March bookclub. A book of many examples of successful people and what their common denominators are. At times interesting and at other times I just got distracted with all the footnotes. But as always glad that I have read a book that I normally would not choose.
mallorya avatar reviewed Outliers: The Story of Success on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Incredibly interesting! This book really stayed with me.

What the Dog Saw is also a great read.
Read All 16 Book Reviews of "Outliers The Story of Success"

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kickerdad avatar reviewed Outliers: The Story of Success on + 114 more book reviews
"Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell is a story about successful people and how they got that way, sort of. Gladwell examines the societal advantages and disadvantages, often hidden in plain site, of our cultural pasts. Tales of success not based on perseverance and hard work as we often hear. Although these certainly are a part of the success stories he outlines, he digs into the hidden opportunities and experiences that have created The Beatles, Bill Gates, and numerous others. Often viewed in hind sight, learning to identify patterns and interpreting them correctly, whether learning to reduce airline crashes or 'breaking the chains' of family violence, can change and save lives. [4/5]
confuzzledbooks avatar reviewed Outliers: The Story of Success on + 482 more book reviews
The Outliers is a look at what author Malcolm Gladwell thinks make a person successful. Gladwell talks about family, location and time of being born. These are all subjects that define us to the point whether we struggle getting the success or stuck at the bottom.

I thought the first half of Outliers was interesting as Gladwell talks about months and years people are born that may factor into a person success.

I was more or less bored reading the second half which discussed families, and locations that define how hard you are going to work to be successful. I also did not agree some of the facts discussed in the second half.

Outliers is an interesting read. I picked it because some of the other books I had been reading mentioned it. I would be interested in some of Gladwells other books.
lady56 avatar reviewed Outliers: The Story of Success on + 48 more book reviews
Matthew was given this book to read at HSC. Borrow it to read. Interesting sections. Overall not that exciting.
NCKristen avatar reviewed Outliers: The Story of Success on
This was an interesting book, I read it in one sitting. However, it was different from what I expected. I assumed the author would lay out the reasons some people were more successful and then give the template. Instead, this book is truly a thesis in book form. Each chapter forms a case study of a specific example and he tells the story and then leads you down the path of how all of the "just right" circumstances allowed this person to succeed by dint of their month of birth, year of birth, race, etc. Very interesting to read but don't expect any practical advice you can use in your own life!

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