outliers - malcolm gladwell (2008)

this book is crafted around several ideas:

1. right place, right time,

2. the unavoidability of hard work, and

2. the advantage of a goodly inheritance.

which, if you ask me, are not new ideas at all, and not new when applied to success. just ask any east asian. our lore is chockful of ssu ma kuang-like role models and ah q-type cautionary tales.

methinks malcolm gladwell is shaping up to be a one hit* wonder who optimistically starts a franchise.

*the tipping point is, in my opinion, rather admirably original.