Title
Range : why generalists triumph in a specialized world / David Epstein.
ISBN
9780735214484 (hardcover)
0735214484 (hardcover)
9780593084496 (international edition)
0593084497 (international edition)
Published
New York : Riverhead Books, 2019.
Language
English
Description
339 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Call Number
BF378.E94 E67 2019
Dewey Decimal Classification
153.9
Summary
"What's the most effective path to success in any domain? It's not what you think. Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. If you dabble or delay, you'll never catch up to the people who got a head start. But a closer look at research on the world's top performers, from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the exception, not the rule. David Epstein examined the world's most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters and scientists. He discovered that in most fields--especially those that are complex and unpredictable--generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They're also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can't see. Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, [this book] makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency. Failing a test is the best way to learn. Frequent quitters end up with the most fulfilling careers. The most impactful inventors cross domains rather than deepening their knowledge in a single area. As experts silo themselves further while computers master more of the skills once reserved for highly focused humans, people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive."--Dust jacket.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages [297]-328) and index.
Introduction: Roger vs. Tiger
The cult of the head start
How the wicked world was made
When less of the same is more
Learning, fast and slow
Thinking outside experience
The trouble with too much grit
Flirting with your possible selves
The outsider advantage
Lateral thinking with withered technology
Fooled by expertise
Learning to drop your familiar tools
Deliberate amateurs
Conclusion: Expanding your range.
