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greden's review against another edition
5.0
The book is much needed in a time of hyper-specialization, where we're told we need to find one thing from an early age and stick with it ceaselessly if we ever want to be great at it. Epstein flips these views and gives plenty of examples where generalists outperform specialists, where the ground-breaking scientific discoveries were found not by people who had dedicated their entire life to that particular field - but those who could draw from a wide range of experience.
The way you learn determines how well it's going to be generalizable. If you try to learn a skill with a program or tool that promises that it's going to be "fast and easy," stay away. True generalizable learning comes from hard, painstaking work and experimentation. Getting good as fast as possible, learning tricks to impress, and cramming for tests in counterproductive in the long term, and will limit the skill ceiling.
Epstein points out one study where math classes in an airforce program, the teachers that were evaluated the worst by the students had the most successful students in the advanced math classes. The teachers with the bad evaluation made it hard and painstaking for the students to learn, forcing them to master the basics. Even though the students didn't feel they were learning that much, they were better off than the others in the long term.
I've found for myself that there are certain solid rules behind every skill. Mastering one skill paves the path of learning another, and one skill can provide a framework of analogy to another, which is may prove invaluable. In addition, the ability to learn is a skill in itself. I lean towards generalization because when I look at people who have excel at something, they tend to have a very wide range of expertise. Some people have a range and depth of expertise beyond belief, and I can only understand it by how understanding is generalizable.
Epstein closes the book with the advice "don't feel behind." Funnily enough, not knowing exactly what you want to do from an early age might be an advantage.
The book is probably one of the best non-fiction works written in recent years, and as someone with a wide range of interests, reading it was like a long injection of morphine.
The way you learn determines how well it's going to be generalizable. If you try to learn a skill with a program or tool that promises that it's going to be "fast and easy," stay away. True generalizable learning comes from hard, painstaking work and experimentation. Getting good as fast as possible, learning tricks to impress, and cramming for tests in counterproductive in the long term, and will limit the skill ceiling.
Epstein points out one study where math classes in an airforce program, the teachers that were evaluated the worst by the students had the most successful students in the advanced math classes. The teachers with the bad evaluation made it hard and painstaking for the students to learn, forcing them to master the basics. Even though the students didn't feel they were learning that much, they were better off than the others in the long term.
I've found for myself that there are certain solid rules behind every skill. Mastering one skill paves the path of learning another, and one skill can provide a framework of analogy to another, which is may prove invaluable. In addition, the ability to learn is a skill in itself. I lean towards generalization because when I look at people who have excel at something, they tend to have a very wide range of expertise. Some people have a range and depth of expertise beyond belief, and I can only understand it by how understanding is generalizable.
Epstein closes the book with the advice "don't feel behind." Funnily enough, not knowing exactly what you want to do from an early age might be an advantage.
The book is probably one of the best non-fiction works written in recent years, and as someone with a wide range of interests, reading it was like a long injection of morphine.
danielaraujopt's review against another edition
2.0
In such an interesting topic, the book is 90% semi-random stories, many of which very well known. As I finished it, I was left with very little as takeaway, sadly.
jakesutor's review against another edition
4.0
Unusually for me, I actually listened to this one instead of reading a physical book.
The book took lessons from what seemed like a huge diverse population. It was cool to hear the book speak to athletes, musicians, educators, and all sorts of career fields about when range is better than specialization.
The book took lessons from what seemed like a huge diverse population. It was cool to hear the book speak to athletes, musicians, educators, and all sorts of career fields about when range is better than specialization.
deschatjes's review against another edition
5.0
Recommended to my by a new colleague, this book just hit the mark with me. I wish it had been around earlier as my kids were grappling with choices in activities, subjects and university courses! I'm going to be sending them both a copy.
another one that needs to go on my "parenting book" pile
another one that needs to go on my "parenting book" pile
thalia16's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Medical content
amf20's review against another edition
5.0
i think this was one of my favorites for the year… really interesting interdisciplinary examples of why it’s important to dabble in all sorts of things
drante's review against another edition
3.0
It was a good book, could have been 100 pages shorter. I enjoyed reading about people who take the same approach to life as I do; it relieved some pressure on my shoulders, as I am kind of all over the place in my interests.