Most people believe that world-class success, such as mastering a musical instrument or in a professional sports career, is based on early specialization – preferably in childhood – and years of intensive training. Those who start too late should never be able to catch up with others.
David Epstein has studied professional athletes, Nobel Prize winners, and the most successful inventors and artists from the past and present. His surprising finding:
Most top performers were and are generalists who experimented with many different things. They took the path that ultimately led them to success quite late in life (in their late teens at the earliest, some even decades later).
Therefore, the safest path to success is through many detours and a wide range of interests and accumulated experiences. These allow generalists to look at challenges from different perspectives, make connections to areas outside their field, and thus come up with more creative solutions than their specialized colleagues.
The book is enjoyable and easy to read. The author explains his research findings clearly and complements them with fascinating stories of historical and contemporary figures.
A reassuring recommendation for anyone thinking about a career change – and for despairing parents whose children still haven't decided what they want to become or dare considering a shift in training place or field of study.
🎧 Suitable as an audiobook? Yes!
* Disclosure: We love sharing our favorite books with you! As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from purchases you make through our links, which helps us continue creating content you enjoy.
