Stop Focusing On The Trees and Look At The Forest
If it’s Tuesday or Thursday morning at the “Y,” I usually run into fellow book club (Society of the 5th Cave) member Leland Dushkin, which was the case this morning. Most of the time, we greet one another and keep working out. However, this morning I had finished and was leaving when I saw Lealand on the stationary bike — we started talking. At one point, Lealand said, “I will not make the Cave meeting this Sunday because of some Hanukkah activities.” To which I acknowledged I had not yet read the book (Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides), not surprising since I’m not a big fiction reader.
Continuing the conversation, Leland asks if I had heard of a new book titled, Outliers. He told me a little about it, suggesting that it might be a book the club would be interested in reading but would wait for the paper book version comes out before selecting it.
Later in the morning, I was at one of the area’s many “hot-spots,” reading NY Times columnist David Brooks on my laptop. In the column, “Lost in the Crowd,” Brooks writes about deep patterns, which scientists are discovering more about, that influence daily life. “Nobody has done more to bring these discoveries to public attention than Malcolm Gladwell,” writes Brooks.
“Gladwell’s important new book, “Outliers,” seems at first glance to be a description of exceptionally talented individuals. But in fact, it’s another book about deep patterns. Exceptionally successful people are not lone pioneers who created their own success, he argues. They are the lucky beneficiaries of social arrangements.”
After reading the David Brooks column, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more, so it was time to go to Google. One of the first search sites was GLADWELL.COM, where the author answers the question, “What is Outliers about? From what I have read so far, I think I’m going to find this to be a fascinating read and have put Outliers on my Christmas list. “Why, you might ask?” Because it looks like one more source for helping me think about the world we live in a little differently. Oh, yes – I’m eager to read Daisy’s story!
Leland, Thanks.
Kenne
I loved Tales from Jabba’s Palace. It’s so great to see I’m not the only one. It was great to see how you came up with your idea for this story.
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Reblogged this on Becoming is Superior to Being and commented:
I first posted this post on December 17, 2008. — kenne