Why are some more successful than others? What are the causes why 2 enormously talented people like C. Langan lead a life so different of that from R. Oppenheimer?
In the book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell dissects the lives of highly notable people and with characteristic skill in simplifying the complex, explains that success is not only because of talent, ambition and hard work. It also because a good part of an individual’s success is due to advantages afforded him by others, by cultural practices and of extraordinary opportunities. He also devised the 10,000 hour rule of thumb wherein in order to excel in whatever field you are in, you must immerse yourself in it for 10,000 hours, that is 20 hour weeks for 10 years.
One example he cited was that most of the successful hockey players in Canada were born in January. Children playing competitive hockey in Canada are grouped by calendar year. Since children born earlier are bigger and faster than those born in later months, they perform better in games and get noticed by coaches thus receive better training than other kids. Since they receive better training, they have more chances of entering elite hockey teams.
For the 10,000 hour rule, Gladwell cites Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. At an early age of 13, Gates already had access to computers which, given a 20 hour week, made him an accomplished programmer at the age of 23. Gates himself admitted to the influence his early access to computers had on him.
Gladwell’s message in writing the book is on the big role society and culture has on the realization of human potential. Although this point is stressed throughout the book, Gladwell is only stating the obvious because that is how it really is in the real world.