Outliers

Outliers: The Story of Success
By: Malcolm Gladwell

Very interesting read! The premise of the book is to consider that success has far more to do with where we came from than who we are, our innate talents or personality. Of course, we all operate from a different definition of 'success.' Gladwell sets out to explain how the 'outliers' or those who are truly and remarkably successful came to be there. His explanation is not something you could (or would want to) replicate, but was nevertheless interesting to ponder. It is clear that there are levels of privilege in our world and that people in certain places with certain backgrounds have more or better opportunities or resources which in turn enable them to have more success than others who are no less smart.

I think one important takeaway from this book is to consider what ways we can make 'outliers' more common. How can we provide opportunities and resources to those who don't have access? How can we encourage and help parents to create a home environment that leads to successful futures for their children? After reading this book, it has reiterated to me the important role I play for my kids in setting an example for a good work ethic and perseverance, teaching social skills like communication and how to interact with people in authority, being willing to find ways for them to learn and helping them achieve what they set out to do.

Of course, the book outlines several helpful steps to prosperity, but I don't necessarily agree with the entirety of Gladwell's recipe for success. As stated before, success is defined differently for everyone, and to me, success in life is also about the relationships you make with other people. To sacrifice meaningful relationships and time spent with loved ones or serving others in order to obtain what the world deems a successful life is not worth it to me.

I also have to mention a key factor missing in Gladwell's research. In his descriptions of these success stories he so often uses words like 'just so happened to be' 'as luck would have it' or 'coincidentally'. That true success takes a bit of luck. I suppose to the secular mind, that is exactly what's happening. But as a follower of Christ, I believe in the sovereignty of God over all things. And at some point we have to stop seeking success for ourselves and recognize that God's plan will prevail: regardless of our IQ, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, culture, address, birthdate, etc.

Furthermore, it's cool to think that we can all write our 'outlier story' and see how God puts us exactly where he wants us to be to teach us the things he wants us to learn and to bless us with the things he wants to bless us with. We should step back and see how God has worked in our lives and our parents' lives to get us to where we are today. Then maybe we can see where he might have us go next.

To me, this book reminds us that there is more to every situation than meets the eye and to truly understand someone's story, we must see where they have come from and what has influenced their worldview- how their innate talents and personality has interacted with their environment.

It is a book that should remind us that we are not 'doomed' and trapped in our circumstances. It should spur us to create opportunities for others. And it should bring us to our knees in front of Him who directs our steps.