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Outliers was an overall great freakin book. Of all the books I remember reading, this has got to be the most interesting and attention grabbing book. Malcolm Gladwell did an excellent job at keeping me interested at what he will say next and also keeping me focused on the reading. I'll be honest and say that I am not a big book fan (which is bad, and starting to catch up to me). Whenever I start a book, I will be somewhat interested but as I keep reading I will slowly start to lose interest and focus. But, Outliers is a great book that always seem to keep you interested by including interactive texts like questions and charts. Sure, fiction is fun and cool but a book about reality and information that can change and affect you like Outliers, seem to be more interesting to me. The three highlights of my reading that I've been able to connect with have been from the chapters, 'The Trouble With Geniuses', '10,000 hour rule', and 'Marita's Bargain'.

The Trouble With Geniuses almost directly relates to me. Explained in my last post, I've learned that IQ is not the only determining factor of becoming successful or a 'genius'. Being accepted into the National honor society not only required a certain GPA but also, service in leadership roles, community service and hard work. This chapter really caught my interest and I was able to directly relate to it. Now I'm not calling myself a genius but that I agree with Malcolm Gladwell's theory of the trouble with geniuses.

The 10,000 hour rule really caught my attention. I wasn't able to directly relate to it because I've never practiced one thing for more than 10,000 hours but this chapter taught me a lot. It taught me that in order to 'master' something, you would have to practice it for at least 10,000 hours or 417 days. So does practice make perfect? No, practice just make you really good at it. This chapter has taught me that it's actually very difficult to become good at something. So I now realize and appreciate people who have mastered their skills.

I was somewhat able to connect with the chapter, 'Marita's Bargain'. The chapter was how schools in Asia have much longer school periods than schools in America and how their summer vacations are much shorter. Which my parents have always told me. They've always told me that I have it easy compared to schools that I could have gone to in South Korea. The chapter also talks about how some schools have students that score just as well as students from wealthy schools without all the need of expensive material possessions like expensive computers or smart-boards. This chapter also caught my attention.

I believe Malcolm Gladwell's intended audience was really for anybody. It's a non-fiction informational book that can apply to anyone. He attempts to connect and persuade his audience a huge use of LOGOS. The whole entire book is made of separate examples that back up and support what he is trying to say in every chapter. Every example is well cited and also include researched information like graphs, surveys, interviewed quotes, etc. Overall this book from my opinion was a 10/10 that you can learn a LOT from.

Outlieing Punctuation

Outliers is a book made of numerous examples and countless quotes to support Malcolm Gladwell's theories on the steps and factors that make success. Throughout my reading so far, I have not been able to find any interesting punctuation uses. Because Malcolm Gladwell constantly uses back to back examples from other sources the only interesting punctuation marks that are from his own  writing seem to be question marks. Malcolm Gladwell intentionally made his book Outliers, interactive by making it seem more like a conversation rather than  just informative reading. Throughout the book, he will ask you direct questions to grab your attention and stay focused on the reading. 

For example, in the first chapter, he writes, "What is the question we always ask about the successful?" Or, "Do you see it?" The first quote was to start off the second section of the first chapter. I believe he starts with a question to grab the readers attention. The second quote was asked after showing a table of facts with a hidden meaning. He then asks, "Do you see it?" to engage the reader with an interactive question. I totally agree with Malcolm Gladwell's use of question marks. Personally, I feel as if the question marks really help me focus on the reading more. It makes the book more fun to read and allows you to think more. 

IQ is only good to a point

IQ is only valuable to a point.

Outliers is a book of examples to explain the theory of becoming successful. All these examples and stories are of people who are successful, so it's difficult to relate a section of this book with an experiential moment in my life. However, the closest I could find so far is, "The Trouble With Geniuses."

Back in chapters 3 and 4, Malcolm Gladwell speaks about a man named, Lewis Terman. Lewis was a professor of psychology at Stanford University and has tracked about 1,450 kids from California with high IQ's. When he tested his students with kids chosen at random he saw indistinguishable results between the two groups of students. He also rejected 2 students from his group of geniuses' because their IQ's were too low, however both those rejected students went to become Nobel Laureates. In the end, only one thing mattered, family background. Almost none of his 'geniuses' from the lowest socio-economic class became famous. Ultimately learning that IQ does play a role in success in life, but only to a point. Beyond that, what makes the difference is the family and community environment, and hard work.

In my life, I was recently accepted into the National honor society by a hairline. Although I had the required GPA to be recommended, what I lacked was community service, leadership and work. Although I had some experience with each category I didn't have enough. How you are raised ties into what kind of person you will be in the future and I was luckily raised in well-manner. Because I had time before I had to send in the paperwork, I went out and fulfilled leadership roles, community services, and more work. Again, I had the require GPA, but not enough of the other requirements. After I went out and accomplished the other categories, I was accepted into NHS and got that more successful than I was before.

My experiential event ties into my reading about Lewis Terman because both Lewish and the NHS knew that an individuals IQ is only a portion of what makes a person successful, and can only go so far. What makes the difference is family, community environment and hard work which I had to accomplish in order to be accepted.

Quote sammy - Outliers

Malcolm Gladwell wrote this book to share his thoughts and theories on success. In the recent chapter, he spoke of a man named Chris Langan, who was both physically and mentally built. As explained in the book, when Chris was little, he began to work out everyday ever since he learned that his father would lay his hands on his family. Chris ended up K.O.-ing  his father in a heated fight and his father left, never to return. Chris was always very intellectual and received two scholarships. He was forced to pick one or the other, which didn't matter because his mom ended up forgetting to send the parents financial statement papers to renew the scholarships. 

Malcolm Gladwell Then talked about a man named, Robert Oppenheimer. Whose life was similar to that of Chris Langan with one small but major difference, Oppenheimer grew up in a wealthier family. It was difficult for Robert to get into a school after the news of him trying to poison his tutor went widespread. But based on the research and tests done, Malcolm explains how children who are born in wealthier families tend to be more assertive and go for what they want. They are more likely to talk to authoritative figures with ease and confidence. Oppenheimer did end up going to school because of this. 

"In one telling scene, Lareau describes a visit to the doctor by Alex Williams, a nine-year-old boy, and his mother, Christina. The Williamses are wealthy professionals. "Alex you should be thinking of questions you might want to ask the doctor," Christina says in the car on the way to the doctor's office. "You can ask him anything you want. Don't be shy. You can ask anything." ... Alex's mother, Lareau writes, "is teaching that he has the right to speak up." - That even though he's going to be in a room with an older person and authority figure, it's perfectly all right for him to assert himself."

This is a quote sandwich used by Malcolm Gladwell to further support his argument that children raised in wealthier families, are more likely to be taught to be assertive and to not be afraid to approach an authority figure. This example further persuades the reader, executes and defends his argument.

Rhetoric in Outliers

Rhetorical Drive in Outliers

In chapter 1, 'The Matthew Effect' in Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell uses the most obvious use of logos. He begins by talking about what the Matthew Effect is. It is basically a process of choosing individuals with the better likelihood of becoming successful. He uses examples of Canadian Hockey teams and how they choose their players at a very young age, who are born in only certain months. He includes a large table that lists the names, numbers, position, height, weight, birthday and hometown of all the players. This is a use of logos, to appeal and persuade the reader that this information is legitimate. He also includes a metaphor linking nature and this book, Outliers.

He also includes multiple uses of pathos. He has written this book so it's not so boring to the reader and that it feels as if it's more of a conversation than just reading informational text. He uses many interactive texts like, "Do you see it? Don't feel bad if you don't, because for many years in the hockey world no on did." Or, Did you get that? I'm guessing most of you did." These interactive texts placed here and there throughout the book has made me become more focused and in tune with the book.

This whole book functions as an argument. It argues that no one is born with success or born with all the qualities to become successful. As you read along in the book, Malcolm Gladwell explains how there are numerous factors that play into weather you become successful or not like, timing, practice, where you were born, open mindedness, luck, etc.

Outliers Synopsis 


Everybody knows who Bill Gates is, a pretty scrawny looking guy with glasses who's a freaking billionaire that invented Microsoft. Everybody also knows who the Beatles are, an English rock band that formed in Liverpool. We all know these two because they were so successful and popular. Okay so, have you ever wondered how they became so successful and popular? Well first of all, Malcolm Gladwell talks about the, '10,000 hour rule'. This rule is basically saying that in order to master or perfect anything, you'll need to be able to commit at least 10,000 or your precious hours to it, or 417 days 24/7. Bill Gates was a man who was able to achieve this. Throughout high school and college he spent more of his time on a computer than his classes. He became a professional at computer programming and was able to make a software program called Microsoft, allowing him to make billions making him an extremely successful man. 

The Beatles, is an English rock band that formed in Liverpool, UK. The band consisted of, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They were regarded as the most influential bloody rock band in the era. Like, Bill Gates, they too went through that 10,000 hour rule. They started playing in music clubs in Hamburg, which at the time did not have rock and roll music clubs. People loved them and they ended up playing at the clubs hour after hour, non-stop. They ended up playing 7 days a week, almost 8 hours a day and most of times until 2 am. They continued to grow and became well known in various countries, making them filthy rich English men. 

Malcolm Gladwell explains the importance of the 10,000 hour rule in order to become good or successful at something, but he also emphasizes the importance of 'pure luck'. Bill Gates would not have had the same outcome if he had not lived at Lakeside in 1968. And the Beatles would not have had the same outcome if they had not been randomly chosen to play in Hamburg. Although practice is very important, becoming successful can be based on pure luck as well. 

How to become successful and live for eternity

 

SECRETS OF SUCCESS: READ OUTLIERS BY MALCOLM GLADWELL

The secrets of success is unraveled and revealed by this handsome Canadian gentleman with the majestic hair, Malcolm Gladwell in his book, Outliers. This is a non-fiction psychology book that was published by, Little Brown and Company on November 18th, 2008. So far, the book has drawn me in by teaching me something I've always wanted to know, how can I stay free of diseases and stay healthy for eternity? Well, according to the research that was done, shown in the book, maintaining a healthy life is not just about exercising and eating your green veggies. Although these are important factors, a HUGE part of it comes from maintaining a healthy social life which include, greeting and interacting with people everyday. Ultimately saying that there are factors which build successful individuals. 

The length of the chapters in this book are reasonable. As I read, the chapters went by quickly as the chapters seem to be split into small multiple examples trying to explain his theory of success.

Part of the reason why I chose to read this book was because of what was written on the back cover:

"The Tipping Point, How little things can make a big difference"
"A Fascinating book that makes you see the world in a different way"
"A real pleasure..." ...
and 
"The power of thinking without thinking" (whatever that means)

He also talks about, 'The Matthew Effect'. He explains this as simplistic as he can. This is basically an effect or 'process' of choosing individuals who will more 'likely' become successful and the long lasting impact it causes on those who are not chosen. He explains how some sports authorities choose the individuals that are most likely to be successful by their birth dates. For example that most successful Canadian hockey players are born early in the year like, Jan, Feb, Mar, etc. Kids who are not born within these months are less likely to be selected and are unable to join the higher leagues. Causing them to receive less practice, games, and experience. "This locks children into patterns of achievement and underachievement, encouragement and discouragement." (Now, what we can take away from this is that, since Malcolm Gladwell was born on September 3rd, 1963, he was unlikely to make the annual pee wee hockey league. Just kidding) So again, successful individuals are not born with success but have factors which help them to achieve it.