Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

by David Epstein (Author)

Synopsis

'For reasons I cannot explain, David Epstein manages to make me thoroughly enjoy the experience of being told that everything I thought about something was wrong. I loved Range.'
Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author of Outliers

The International Bestseller - The ground-breaking and exhilarating exploration into how to be successful in the 21st Century.

What if everything you have been taught about how to succeed in life was wrong?

From the `10,000 hours rule' to the power of Tiger parenting, we have been taught that success in any field requires early specialisation and many hours of deliberate practice. And, worse, that if you dabble or delay, you'll never catch up with those who got a head start.

This is completely wrong.

In this landmark book, David Epstein shows that the way to excel is by sampling widely, gaining a breadth of experiences, taking detours, experimenting relentlessly, juggling many interests - in other words, by developing range.

Studying the world's most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, and scientists Epstein discovered that in most fields - especially those that are complex and unpredictable - generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. They are also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can't see. Range proves that by spreading your knowledge across multiple domains is the key to success rather than deepening their knowledge in a single area.

Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, Range explains how to maintain the benefits of breadth, diverse experience and interdisciplinary thinking in a world that increasingly demands, hyper-specialization.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 352
Edition: Main Market
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 27 Jun 2019

ISBN 10: 1509843493
ISBN 13: 9781509843497

Media Reviews
For reasons I cannot explain, David Epstein manages to make me thoroughly enjoy the experience of being told that everything I thought about something was wrong. I loved Range. * Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author of Outliers *
For too long, we've believed in a single path to excellence. Start early, specialize soon, narrow your focus, aim for efficiency. But in this groundbreaking book, David Epstein shows that in most domains, the way to excel is something altogether different. Sample widely, gain a breadth of experiences, take detours, and experiment relentlessly. Range is an urgent and important book, an essential read for bosses, parents, coaches, and anyone who cares about improving performance * Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of Drive and To Sell is Human *
Range elevates Epstein to one of the very best science writers at work today. The scope of the book-and the implications-are breathtaking. I find myself applying what I've learned to almost every aspect of my life * Sebastian Junger *
Range will force you to rethink the nature of learning, thinking, and being, and reconsider what you thought you knew about optimal education and career paths-and how and why the most successful people in the world do what they do. It's one of the most thought-provoking and enlightening books I've read. * Maria Konnikova *

Praise for The Sports Gene:

New York Times Bestseller
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2013
Washington Post picked it as Notable Nonfiction of 2013

I can't remember a book that has fascinated, educated-and provoked-me as much as The Sports Gene. Epstein has changed forever the way we measure elite athletes and their achievements. -Malcom Gladwell

The narrative follows Mr. Epstein's search for the roots of elite sport performance as he encounters characters and stories so engrossing that readers may not realize they're receiving an advanced course in genetics, physiology, and sports medicine. -The New York Times

An important book . . . The Sports Gene is bound to put the cat among the pigeons in the blank-slate crowd who think that we can all be equal as long as we equalize environmental inputs such as practice. -The Wall Street Journal

Clear, vivid, and thought-provoking writing that cuts through science anxiety for rank-and-file sports fans. -Bonnie Ford, Senior Writer, ESPN

Many researchers and writers are reluctant to tackle genetic issues because they fear the quicksand of racial and ethnic stereotyping. To his credit, Epstein does not flinch. -The Washington Post

Epstein's rigour in seeking answers and insights is as impressive as the air miles he must have accumulated . . . his book is dazzling and illuminating. -The Guardian

Few will put down this deliciously contrarian exploration of great athletic feats. -Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

* Various *
Author Bio
David Epstein is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. He has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as an investigative reporter for ProPublica and a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. He lives in Washington, D.C.