What’s the most effective path to success in any domain? It’s not what you think.
Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill,
play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus
intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible.
If you dabble or delay, you’ll never catch up to the people who got a
head start. But a closer look at research on the world’s top performers,
from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early
specialization is the exception, not the rule.
David Epstein
examined the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians,
inventors, forecasters and scientists. He discovered that in most
fields–especially those that are complex and
unpredictable–generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel.
Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests
rather than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, more agile, and
able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see.
Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, Range
makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency. Failing a
test is the best way to learn. Frequent quitters end up with the most
fulfilling careers. The most impactful inventors cross domains rather
than deepening their knowledge in a single area. As experts silo
themselves further while computers master more of the skills once
reserved for highly focused humans, people who think broadly and embrace
diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive.
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