Outlier

What three lessons does Gladwell teach us from the life of Joe Flow ?

1. The Importance of Being Jewish 2. Demographic Luck 3. The Garment Industry and Meaningful Work

What explains success in Canadian hockey ?

-the kids that are born after the January 1st and closest to this date are more likely to get chosen for the traveling squads. -By the time that the traveling squad are chosen the oldest kids in the age group are likely to be bigger and more physically mature than those born later in the year. -Those on rep squads get more games per season, better coaching and better teammates.

How smart do you have to do to win a Nobel Prize according to Gladwell?

According to Gladwell, in order to win a Nobel Peace Prize, you have to be smart enough to get into a college at least as good as Notre Dame or the University of Illinois.

Why according to Gladwell are hockey players who make it to the professional leel more talented than most of us?

Because from the beginning they are given more opportunities therefore seen as more talented.

Why is it almost impossible to reach 10,000 hours of practice by the time you are a young adult ?

Because you have to spend time at school and working. It is even harder for people in poverty b/c they have to spend extra time working to make money.

What kinds of opportunities contributed to Bill Gates success according to Gladwell?

Computer access, walking distance from University of Washington, Mother raised money for the schools computer club, school allowed time off writing code

Joe Flow examination of his life show ?

Factors in his life that may seem like disadvantages were actually advantages

What in the end mattered more than anything else in the success of these individuals ?

Family background

Who is Bill Joy? What does his story illustrate ?

He programmed a lot of U of M. Rewrote Java. Illustrates extraordinary opportunity (right place right time)

What mistake did Lewis Terman make in believing that talent was the most important factor in extraordinary achievemnet ?

It has more to do with creativity and other skills after a certain level of IQ

How long does it take to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert? Give two examples

It takes 10,000 hours. Bill Gates & Bill Joy

What did Louise Farkas research show about Jewish family trees?

Jews tended to have success because they came from a literate and intellectual culture- they are known as "the people of the book".

How do sociologist Robert Merton explain the Matthew Effect?

More opportunities = more successful, less opportunities = less successful

Explain the Roseto Mystery

The Rosetans were The members of this town were exceptionally health and mostly dying of old age. Very low rate of heart disease.

Why were the Rosetants healthy?

The Rosetans were exceptionally healthy because of the structure of their society.

Why is European soccer similar to Canadian hockey?

The cutoff is September 1st, and those born closest to the cutoff date have an advantage over those that are born later in the calendar year. The physical advantage locks children into patterns of achievement and underachievement.

What did Gladwells analysis of the seventy-five richest people in human history show?

The ones from America were born during a 9-year period, when you are born could have a lot to do with opportunities/success

What truly distinguishes their histories ?

Their opportunities, not talent

What explains the extraordinary wealth of the 20% of the richest people in human history that come from a single generation in the US ?

There was a lot of business leaders from privileged backgrounds

What does Chris Langans story suggest about intelligence and success?

They are not directly related. Intelligence does not objectively lead to success

What do they need to understand ?

They had to appreciate the idea that the values of the world we inhabit and the people we surround ourselves with have a profound effect on who we are"

Why does the Beatles Hamburg experience illustrate the 10,000 Hour Rule ?

They had to play so much nonstop which made them play better/more variety. Aka practiced 10,000+ hours.

What did the lifetime achievements of Termans termites show ?

They were not as successful as those he did not accept

What does the eligibility cutoff for age-class hockey in Canada have to do with being a successful hockey player?

Those born closer to the cut-off date will be more likely to be chosen for travelling squad

What does the story of Louis & Regina Borgenicht teach us about opportunities ?

To exploit that opportunity, you have to have certain virtues (hard work, making sacrifices, saving $, investing wisely)

Why is it more difficult if you are born into poverty?

You need to have resources, time and facilities

What did C. Wright Mills observe about the special American cohort from the 1830s?

in the 1830s there was an advantage of living in that decade.

What is practical intelligence according to Robert Sternberg? Where does it come from ?

knowing what to say to whom, knowing when to say it, and knowing how to say it for maximum effect -It comes from our families.

How does Malcolm Gladwell try to convince us that personal explanations of success dont work ?

people dont rise from nothing. There are often hidden advantages.

Give three ex of outliers

rock stars, business tycoons, and software programmers

What is an outlier ?

something that is situated away from or classed differently from a main or related body

What is the Matthew Effect?

successful people are most likely to receive the special kinds of opportunities that lead to further success

What is the 10,000 Hour Rule ?

the amount of practice required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world class expert.

What was strange about the 2007 Medicine Hat Tigers player roster?

they were all born in the months of January, February, and March between 1987- 1989

Why should the medical establishment look beyond the individual to understand health ?

"they had to understand the culture he or she was a part of, and who their families and friends were, and what town their families came from.

What is white shoe firm? Does this concept fit C.Wright Mills theory of the Power Elite ?

- You have the right family, religion, social life, etc - You become friends with the right people who helped you advance - Yes, this fits in with the Power Elite because they are all white men with connections and advantages

What kind of work did the white shoe firms disdain in the 1950s and 1960s ?Why did this offer an opportunity to Joe Flow law firm?

- litigation and corporate takeovers. -white shoe firms and companies would hire them to handle hostile takeovers, general corporate takeovers and litigations.

What three things make work satisfying according to Gladwell ?

-Autonomy- being responsible for your own decisions and direction -Complexity- engaging mind and imagination connection between effort and reward -Harder you work = better reward

How did the 10,000 Hour Rate work for Joe Flow ?

-It worked out well because he had his 10,000 hours before corporate takeovers were the big thing. -He was ready and the white-shoe firms werent

Why did Mort Janklow succeed where his father, Maurice Janklow did not? What does this have to do with the sociological imagination?

-Maurice& career was during the Great Depression- Mort was born at the perfect time for a NY Jewish lawyer -Maurice went to public schools when they were most crowded-Mort when to public schools when they were best -Mort went to better university

How does social class influence parenting philosophies? What does this have to do with success ?

-Middle and upper class families encourage their kids to question authority. -Upper class families want their kids to reason with everything. -Middle class parents "training" involves concerted cultivation which is where parents foster children's talent, opinion, and skills.

What advantage did Robert Oppenheimer have that Chris Langan did not have ? Why did this prepare him to handle the challenges of his life so brilliantly ?

-Oppenheimer was raised in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Manhattan. -He saw first-hand from his father how to negotiate his way out of a tight spot. -He was "savvy" while Langan was not.

Chris Langan & Robert Oppenheimer both ran into problems in college. Why did the outcomes of these two students differ? How did the lives of these geniuses differ?

-Oppenheimer was savvy and could get what he wanted. -Langan got kicked out of college & did not know how to use his words to get whatever he wanted.

What opportunities did the worlds of the Katzes, the Rosens, the Liptons, the Wachtell, and Floms give to them? What would C. Wright Mills say about this ?

-Perfect date of birth for a New York Jewish lawyer (around 1930)- small generation, 40 years old in 1970 during beginning of legal revolution -Being an outsider -Had parents who did meaningful work -Culture, generation, family history provided opportunities

What is social savy? How do we acquire it? What did the research of Annette Lareau show us ?

-an ability to skillfully negotiate multiple social and professionalenvironments. -She analyzed the lifestyles of third graders and the parenting styles used. -She claimed that there were two basic parenting styles known as concerted cultivation & (middle class) & accomplishment of natural growth& (poor parents)

What obstacle did Alexander Bikel face in his career ?

-cancer -He was a poor Jewish man and didn't get a job because of it.

Why does the explanation for the good health of Rosetants illustrate Durkheims theory of suicide ?

People taking time to talk to each other in the street and 3 generations in a house.