My husband and I recently returned from an eleven day roadtrip. During our roadtrip, we thoroughly enjoyed listening to the unabridged audio version of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein, which is well narrated by Will Damron.
My husband isn't a book reader per say, but he does enjoy various nonfiction topics like I do. I'd been wanting to read Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein for quite a while. So, after sharing what this book was about with my husband, he was on board with listening to it with me on our roadtrip. He enjoyed listening to Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein as much as I did.
Essentially, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World takes readers on a deep dive as to why generalists fare much better than specialists do in real life. Generalists tend to be more creative and make/see connections that specialists do not.
Each chapter of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World focuses on a specific topic, which makes for interesting reading. I liked the examples given throughout the book to help engage the reader and also help the reader understand the specific concepts the author was conveying in his book.
Below is the publisher's summary for Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein from Chirp's website:
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.
I am giving Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.
Until my next post, happy reading!!
