Outliers, Part I

I know, I know. I'm the last person on the planet to read Gladwell's "new" book. I mean, I bought it at Kroger for God's sake. I'm a third of the way through it and I'm reserving judgment until the fin.

However, here are a few of my thoughts so far.

1. The idea of how the way we group children by ability at a very young age, and how it can hinder their potential for high achievement is concerning. I am just imagining my generation of baby makers calculating their pregnancies to be sure their child is given every advantage in athletics, academics, and life in general. (Sidebar: I was listening to an NPR interview with Christine Cosgrove, author of Normal at Any Cost: Tall Girls, Short Boys, and the Medical Industry's Quest to Manipulate Height. I was astonished to hear about the lengths (I'm so punny) some parents are willing to go to give their children "physical normalcy". Sad.)
2. The concept of 10,000 hours is interesting, but coupling it with factors such as circumstance and luck, to be frank, seems elementary. To me, it's obvious that those who are given more opportunities; more resources will be more likely to realize "their potential". However, calculating my 10,000 hour mark as an account planner is fun, all the same. I have it down to the hour (in theory).
3. Scary sad Oppenheimer.
   

More on Outliers in Part II.

Song of the day: "Hometown Glory" by Adele