The Outliers: Good or Bad?

Photo Credit: Christina Vu

September 1, 2010

Christina Vu, Senior Features Editor  

Filed under Opinions

What is the point of school?  Most everyone would say it’s because good grades in high school lead to a good college, which ultimately leads to success.  According to many, success is defined as happiness, and though in an ideal world this may be, let’s face it – in America, success is all about the money.  We are told that if we work hard and focus on our goals, we can achieve anything.  Perhaps even hit it big like Bill Gates and The Beatles.  Yet, is this really the case?  Is our future really in our own hands?  According to Malcolm Gladwell, it’s not.

In his book The Outliers, Gladwell goes behind these well-known stories of success, proving that it is not necessarily the individual’s ingenuity alone but rather a lucky chain of events that act as a catalyst for achievement.  As the newest addition to upperclassmen summer reading, The Outliers has been met with mixed reviews among students, with the words “boring” and “confusing” often in close association.

Undoubtedly, The Outliers was quite a change of pace as it gave Pres girls a glimpse into a side that is not often ventured by teenagers – the world of non-fiction.  Unlike the typical novels that we are accustomed to reading, The Outliers lacked characters and plot-line and instead was jam-packed with research and analysis.  For some, the fact that The Outliers was non-fiction made it their least favorite among the three summer reading books.  “I wasn’t used to all the research,” said senior Michelle Murphy.  “Though I learned a few things and respect what the book presented, I didn’t find it that enjoyable to read.”

Indeed, there are some instances where the book becomes a tad repetitive and seems to drag on.  These slower sections, however, are overshadowed by the intriguing new concepts presented, such as “The Matthew Effect,” the “10,000 Hour Rule” and the idea of cultural legacy.  Although this book may not have been the most popular among students, there were those who did find a note of interest within its chapters as they challenged readers to view success and the reasons behind it in a new way.  “I personally enjoyed it,” said senior Kathleen Nguyen.  “It had interesting stories and I liked the variety within the book.”

For others, The Outliers gave students a chance to expand upon their literary horizons.  Because non-fiction is not widely read among teenagers, it can often be overlooked and students can be unaware of its potential.  “I don’t read non-fiction often,” said senior Annie Vu. “The Outliers made me realize how interesting non-fiction can be.”

There is one important aspect that must be noted, however, and that is whether or not The Outliers has a beneficial impact on a student’s perspective of success.  Gladwell presents the concept of random success, stating that the year you are born affects the opportunities presented to you, thus playing a key factor in who makes it and who doesn’t.  Whether or not you are born into a wealthy family also plays a role.  If born at the wrong time, the possibility of reaching your aspirations could be impossible.  If born into the wrong family situation, you could lack the social panache that is vital to success.

As young women about to enter the world and pursue various career paths, this fact can be a bit unnerving.  After all, if, due to inauspicious birth year, we are destined to be mediocre, then our efforts to keep up grades and attempts to achieve success will have all been in vain.  Or what about the students who, in the face of adversity, strive to better their lives and make their way to the top?  This would be very unlikely according to Gladwell, and this obviously does not have a positive effect on the hopes of Presentation students.

The Outliers destroys the concept of the American Dream, where anyone can climb the socio-economic ladder and become something great.  But while the death of the American Dream may be saddening, keep in mind that the book does offer some insightful advice, and that is to take advantage of all opportunities that come our way.  Though individuals such as Bill Gates and The Beatles were fortunate enough to come across so many opportunities, their initiative is what sets them above the rest.

It is not all about when you were born or what kind of life you live, but rather how often you can recognize and utilize opportunity.  Bringing riveting research and striking trends to the table, The Outliers teaches a valuable lesson as it calls us to grab our opportunities and make the most of them.   So go out there and seize the day, or in this case, the opportunity.  Who knows?  Maybe one day you could be a billionaire on Forbes magazine, smiling next to Oprah and the Queen.

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Tags: malcolm gladwell, outliers