Outliers by Malcom Galdwell

Outliers
      - summary: "People don't rise from nothing. We do owe something to parentage and patronage." (chapter 2)
I. Introduction: The Roseto Mystery
II. Opportunity
     A. The Matthew Effect
          1. Summary: "It is those who are successful...who are most likely to be given the kinds of special opportunities that lead to further success." (chapter 2, section 5)
          2. Example: Canadian hockey player youth leagues are grouped by age, with January 1st as the cut-off. Thurs, a student who turns 9 years old on January 2nd will be grouped with another student who doesn't turn 9 until December 31st, and the former would have an obvious advantage-- size, improved coordination. Thus, the player born on January 2nd is more likely to advance to the higher-level teams within his age group-- the teams which have the best coaches, and more practice time. It is logical that he will become even better than his counterpart born December 31st. Compound this over several years, and it is easy to see why a typical Canadian professional team has 17 out of 24 players born January, February, March, or April.
          3. Applications
               a. cut-off dates matter
               b. late-start for gifted & talented programs may ensure that all gifted students are given opportunity, not just older students
     B. The 10,000-Hour Rule
          1. Summary:
          2. Example: computer programmers
          3. Example: Beatles
     C. The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 1
          1. Summary: the threshold of "smart enough" & the need for creative thinking
          2. Example: Chris Langan
          3. Example: Termites
     D. The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 2
          1. Summary:
          2. Example: Chris Langan vs Oppenheimer
          3. Example: Termites
     E. The Three Lessons from Joe Flom
          1.
          2.
          3.
III. Legacy
     A. Harlan, Kentucky
     B. The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes
     C. Rice Paddies and Math Tests
     D. Marita's Bargain
IV. Epilogue: A Jamaican Story