Good Books » Malcolm Gladwell

Lulu Adds 200,000 eBooks to its Digital Marketplace

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:23:00 +0000

Lulu, the leader in open publishing, today announced a vastly expanded selection of eBooks, adding 200,000 titles from authors such as Dan Brown, Malcolm Gladwell and Emeril Lagasse to a catalog of content already among the Internet’s most diverse.

“It’s time for a new era in publishing, one that treats all content equally and gives all authors an equal shot at success,” said Harish Abbott, Senior Vice President of Products at Lulu. “We’ve built an open content marketplace that lets everyone get their ideas to all readers in all forms, print and electronic. And we mean everyone.”

The addition of the 200,000 eBook titles marks the first time traditionally published content has appeared on Lulu and advances the company’s mission of creating a one-stop shop with content from all authors, in all styles and in all formats. The goal is to give readers access to the best knowledge, ideas and entertainment and to give authors access to the best audience for their works.

In addition to the expanded selection, Lulu also has enhanced its tools for authors to create their own eBooks. It all ties back to Lulu’s goal of breaking down barriers to publishing. Lulu believes in the power of ideas and the potential of everyone to create something powerful. It is giving everyone an equal voice in the market.

Website: http://www.lulu.com/

The New York Times Best Seller Books – Week of November 1, 2009

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:35:00 +0000

Week of November 1, 2009

Hardcover Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown
2. THE SCARPETTA FACTOR, by Patricia Cornwell
3. PURSUIT OF HONOR, by Vince Flynn
4. NINE DRAGONS, by Michael Connelly
5. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett

Hardcover Nonfiction
Top 5 at a Glance
1. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom
2. SUPERFREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
3. WHAT THE DOG SAW, by Malcolm Gladwell
4. TOO BIG TO FAIL, by Andrew Ross Sorkin
5. ARGUING WITH IDIOTS, written and edited by Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe and others

Paperback Trade Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. PUSH, by Sapphire
2. THE SHACK, by William P. Young
3. OLIVE KITTERIDGE, by Elizabeth Strout
4. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson
5. SAY YOU’RE ONE OF THEM, by Uwem Akpan

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE ASSOCIATE, by John Grisham
2. CROSS COUNTRY, by James Patterson
3. HEAT LIGHTNING, by John Sandford
4. TRUE DETECTIVES, by Jonathan Kellerman
5. SCARPETTA, by Patricia Cornwell

Paperback Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL, by Tucker Max
2. FREAKONOMICS, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
3. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
4. THE GLASS CASTLE, by Jeannette Walls
5. THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE, by Max Brooks

Hardcover Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. KNOCKOUT, by Suzanne Somers
2. JIM CRAMER’S GETTING BACK TO EVEN, by James J. Cramer with Cliff Mason
3. THE CONSCIOUS COOK, by Tal Ronnen
4. GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2010, edited by Craig Glenday
5. THE KIND DIET, by Alicia Silverstone

Paperback Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. NEW MOON, by Mark Cotta Vaz
2. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
3. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman
4. THE POWER OF NOW, by Eckhart Tolle
5. SKINNY BITCH, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

Children’s Books

Top 5 at a Glance
1. LEGO STAR WARS, by Simon Beecroft
2. JULIE ANDREWS’S COLLECTION OF POEMS, SONGS, AND LULLABIES, by Emma Walton Hamilton and Julie Andrews
3. SKIPPYJON JONES, LOST IN SPICE, by Judy Schachner
4. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, by Barb Bersche and Michelle Quint
5. LISTEN TO THE WIND, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth

Relate Links:

US: Buy cheap book online

UK: Bestseller Books & Reviews (UK)

The New York Times Best Seller Books – Week of September 25, 2009

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Week of September 25, 2009

Hardcover Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE LOST SYMBOL, by Dan Brown
2. THE LAST SONG, by Nicholas Sparks
3. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett
4. ALEX CROSS’S ‘TRIAL’, by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
5. SOUTH OF BROAD, by Pat Conroy

Hardcover Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. TRUE COMPASS, by Edward M. Kennedy
2. WHERE MEN WIN GLORY, by Jon Krakauer
3. OFFICIAL BOOK CLUB SELECTION, by Kathy Griffin
4. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell
5. CULTURE OF CORRUPTION, by Michelle Malkin

Paperback Trade Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, by Audrey Niffenegger
2. THE SHACK, by William P. Young
3. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson
4. SAY YOU’RE ONE OF THEM, by Uwem Akpan
5. THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. SCARPETTA, by Patricia Cornwell
2. DIVINE JUSTICE, by David Baldacci
3. EXTREME MEASURES, by Vince Flynn
4. 92 PACIFIC BOULEVARD, by Debbie Macomber
5. THE BRASS VERDICT, by Michael Connelly

Paperback Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. GLENN BECK’S ‘COMMON SENSE’, by Glenn Beck
2. MY LIFE IN FRANCE, by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme
3. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
4. THE GLASS CASTLE, by Jeannette Walls
5. I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL, by Tucker Max

Hardcover Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING, VOL. 1, by Julia Child, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle
2. WHAT HAPPY WORKING MOTHERS KNOW, by Cathy L. Greenberg and Barrett S. Avigdor
3. GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2010, edited by Craig Glenday
4. FIERCE LEADERSHIP, by Susan Scott
5. ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN, by Steve Harvey with Denene Millner

Paperback Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman
2. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
3. HUNGRY GIRL 200 UNDER 200, by Lisa Lillien
4. THE LOVE DARE, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough
5. HOW TO TAKE OVER TEH WURLD, by Professor Happycat and icanhascheezburger.com

Children’s Books

Top 5 at a Glance
1. LISTEN TO THE WIND, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
2. MARLEY GOES TO SCHOOL, by John Grogan
3. WADDLE!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
4. DEWEY (THERE’S A CAT IN THE LIBRARY!), by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter
5. STREGA NONA’S HARVEST, written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Relate Links:

US: Buy cheap book online
UK: Bestseller Books & Reviews (UK)

The New York Times Best Seller Books – Week of August 28, 2009

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:51:00 +0000

Week of August 28, 2009

Hardcover Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. SOUTH OF BROAD, by Pat Conroy
2. THE WHITE QUEEN, by Philippa Gregory
3. DREAMFEVER, by Karen Marie Moning
4. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett
5. THAT OLD CAPE MAGIC, by Richard Russo

Hardcover Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. CULTURE OF CORRUPTION, by Michelle Malkin
2. IN THE PRESIDENT’S SECRET SERVICE, by Ronald Kessler
3. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell
4. BORN TO RUN, by Christopher McDougall
5. LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, by Mark R. Levin

Paperback Trade Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, by Audrey Niffenegger
2. THE SHACK, by William P. Young
3. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson
4. THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
5. THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE, by Heather Gudenkauf

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE BRASS VERDICT, by Michael Connelly
2. THE QUICKIE, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
3. DEAD UNTIL DARK, by Charlaine Harris
4. DEAN KOONTZ’S FRANKENSTEIN: DEAD AND ALIVE, by Dean Koontz
5. FROM DEAD TO WORSE, by Charlaine Harris

Paperback Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. MY LIFE IN FRANCE, by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme
2. GLENN BECK’S ‘COMMON SENSE’, by Glenn Beck
3. JULIE & JULIA, by Julie Powell
4. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
5. THE FAMILY, by Jeff Sharlet

Hardcover Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING, VOL. 1, by Julia Child, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle
2. FLAT BELLY DIET! COOKBOOK, by Liz Vaccariello with Cynthia Sass
3. ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN, by Steve Harvey with Denene Millner
4. THE LAST LECTURE, by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
5. FLAT BELLY DIET!, by Liz Vaccariello and Cynthia Sass

Paperback Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
2. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman
3. DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DIVES, by Guy Fieri with Ann Volkwein
4. THE LOVE DARE, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough
5. JULIA’S KITCHEN WISDOM, by Julia Child

Children’s Books

Top 5 at a Glance
1. GOLDILICIOUS, written and illustrated by Victoria Kann
2. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
3. MARLEY GOES TO SCHOOL, by John Grogan
4. SWING!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
5. LISTEN TO THE WIND, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth

Relate Links:

US: Buy cheap book online

UK: Bestseller Books & Reviews (UK)

The New York Times Best Seller Books – Week of August 21, 2009

admin — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:43:00 +0000

Week of August 21, 2009

Hardcover Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. SOUTH OF BROAD by Pat Conroy
2. SMASH CUT: A NOVEL, by Sandra Brown
3. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett
4. THAT OLD CAPE MAGIC, by Richard Russo
5. THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, by Stieg Larsson

Hardcover Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. CULTURE OF CORRUPTION, by Michelle Malkin
2. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell
3. LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, by Mark R. Levin
4. IN THE PRESIDENT’S SECRET SERVICE, by Ronald Kessler
5. CATASTROPHE, by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann

Paperback Trade Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, by Audrey Niffenegger
2. THE SHACK, by William P. Young
3. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson
4. THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE, by Heather Gudenkauf
5. THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN: A NOVEL, by Garth Stein

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE QUICKIE, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
2. DEAN KOONTZ’S FRANKENSTEIN: DEAD AND ALIVE, by Dean Koontz
3. DEAD UNTIL DARK (SOUTHERN VAMPIRE MYSTERIES, BOOK 1) , by Charlaine Harris
4. SMOKE SCREEN: A NOVEL, by Sandra Brown
5. FROM DEAD TO WORSE (SOUTHERN VAMPIRE MYSTERIES, NO.8), by Charlaine Harris

Paperback Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. GLENN BECK’S ‘COMMON SENSE’, by Glenn Beck
2. JULIE & JULIA, by Julie Powell
3. MY LIFE IN FRANCE, by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme
4. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
5. THE FAMILY, by Jeff Sharlet

Hardcover Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING, VOLUME ONE (VOL 1), by Julia Child
2. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?: HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR RESULTS THE POSITIVE, PRINCIPLED WAY, by Roger Connors
3. ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN, by Steve Harvey with Denene Millner
4. MASTER YOUR METABOLISM, by Jillian Michaels with Mariska van Aalst
5. THE LAST LECTURE, by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow

Paperback Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. JULIA’S KITCHEN WISDOM: ESSENTIAL TECHNIQUES AND RECIPES FROM A LIFETIME OF COOKING, by Julia Child
2. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
3. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman
4. THE LOVE DARE, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough
5. HUNGRY GIRL: 200 UNDER 200: 200 RECIPES UNDER 200 CALORIES, by Lisa Lillien

Children’s Books

Top 5 at a Glance
1. GOLDILICIOUS, written and illustrated by Victoria Kann
2. LISTEN TO THE WIND, by Greg Mortenson
3. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
4. MARLEY GOES TO SCHOOL, by John Grogan
5. EXPLORER EXTRAORDINAIRE!, by Jane O’Connor

Relate Links:

US: Buy cheap book online

UK: Bestseller Books & Reviews (UK)

The New York Times Best Sellers – Week of August 7, 2009

admin — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Week of August 7, 2009

Hardcover Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, by Stieg Larsson
2. THE DEFECTOR, by Daniel Silva
3. BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, by Jennifer Weiner
4. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett
5. SWIMSUIT, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Hardcover Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. CULTURE OF CORRUPTION, by Michelle Malkin
2. LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, by Mark R. Levin
3. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell
4. CATASTROPHE, by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
5. UNMASKED, by Ian Halperin

Paperback Trade Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, by Audrey Niffenegger
2. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson
3. THE SHACK, by William P. Young
4. THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
5. THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, by Garth Stein

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. DEAN KOONTZ’S FRANKENSTEIN: DEAD AND ALIVE, by Dean Koontz
2. SMOKE SCREEN, by Sandra Brown
3. MASTERED BY LOVE, by Stephanie Laurens
4. CHOSEN TO DIE, by Lisa Jackson
5. THE QUICKIE, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Paperback Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. GLENN BECK’S ‘COMMON SENSE’, by Glenn Beck
2. JULIE & JULIA, by Julie Powell
3. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
4. THE FAMILY, by Jeff Sharlet
5. I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL, by Tucker Max

Hardcover Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN, by Steve Harvey with Denene Millner
2. MASTER YOUR METABOLISM, by Jillian Michaels with Mariska van Aalst
3. GAME PLAN FOR LIFE, by Joe Gibbs with Jerry B. Jenkins
4. THE LAST LECTURE, by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
5. THE SECRET, by Rhonda Byrne

Paperback Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
2. THE LOVE DARE, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough
3. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman
4. SKINNY BITCH, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin
5. HUNGRY GIRL 200 UNDER 200, by Lisa Lillien

Children’s Books

Top 5 at a Glance
1. LISTEN TO THE WIND, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
2. GOLDILICIOUS, written and illustrated by Victoria Kann
3. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
4. EXPLORER EXTRAORDINAIRE!, by Jane O’Connor
5. MARLEY GOES TO SCHOOL, by John Grogan

Relate Links:

US: Buy cheap book online

UK: Bestseller Books & Reviews (UK)

The New York Times Best Sellers – Week of August 1, 2009

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:51:00 +0000

Week of August 1, 2009

Hardcover Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE DEFECTOR, by Daniel Silva
2. BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, by Jennifer Weiner
3. SWIMSUIT, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
4. TWENTIES GIRL, by Sophie Kinsella
5. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett

Hardcover Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell
2. LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, by Mark R. Levin
3. UNMASKED, by Ian Halperin
4. CATASTROPHE, by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
5. BOBBY AND JACKIE, by C. David Heymann

Paperback Trade Fiction

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. SMOKE SCREEN, by Sandra Brown
2. MY SISTER’S KEEPER, by Jodi Picoult
3. TAILSPIN, by Catherine Coulter
4. MOSCOW RULES, by Daniel Silva
5. DEAD UNTIL DARK, by Charlaine Harris

Paperback Nonfiction

Hardcover Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN, by Steve Harvey with Denene Millner
2. MASTER YOUR METABOLISM, by Jillian Michaels with Mariska van Aalst
3. THE LAST LECTURE, by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
4. THE SECRET, by Rhonda Byrne
5. GOT FIGHT?, by Forrest Griffin with Erich Krauss

Paperback Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
2. THE LOVE DARE, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough
3. COOK YOURSELF THIN, by the staff of Lifetime Television
4. SKINNY BITCH, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin
5. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman

Children’s Books

Top 5 at a Glance
1. LISTEN TO THE WIND: THE STORY OF DR. GREG AND “THREE CUPS OF TEA”, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
2. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
3. GOLDILICIOUS, written and illustrated by Victoria Kann
4. SWING!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
5. EXPLORER EXTRAORDINAIRE!, by Jane O’Connor. Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

US: Buy cheap book online

UK: Bestseller Books & Reviews (UK)

Outliers: The Story of Success

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:09:00 +0000

From Buy Books Online > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling

Outliers: The Story of Success

By Malcolm Gladwell
Average customer review:

In this stunning new book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of “outliers”–the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.

Brilliant and entertaining, OUTLIERS is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best of the Month, November 2008: Now that he’s gotten us talking about the viral life of ideas and the power of gut reactions, Malcolm Gladwell poses a more provocative question in Outliers: why do some people succeed, living remarkably productive and impactful lives, while so many more never reach their potential? Challenging our cherished belief of the “self-made man,” he makes the democratic assertion that superstars don’t arise out of nowhere, propelled by genius and talent: “they are invariably the beneficiaries of hidden advantages and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot.” Examining the lives of outliers from Mozart to Bill Gates, he builds a convincing case for how successful people rise on a tide of advantages, “some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky.”

Outliers can be enjoyed for its bits of trivia, like why most pro hockey players were born in January, how many hours of practice it takes to master a skill, why the descendents of Jewish immigrant garment workers became the most powerful lawyers in New York, how a pilots’ culture impacts their crash record, how a centuries-old culture of rice farming helps Asian kids master math. But there’s more to it than that. Throughout all of these examples–and in more that delve into the social benefits of lighter skin color, and the reasons for school achievement gaps–Gladwell invites conversations about the complex ways privilege manifests in our culture. He leaves us pondering the gifts of our own history, and how the world could benefit if more of our kids were granted the opportunities to fulfill their remarkable potential. –Mari Malcolm

From Publishers Weekly
SignatureReviewed by Leslie ChangIn Outliers, Gladwell (The Tipping Point) once again proves masterful in a genre he essentially pioneered—the book that illuminates secret patterns behind everyday phenomena. His gift for spotting an intriguing mystery, luring the reader in, then gradually revealing his lessons in lucid prose, is on vivid display. Outliers begins with a provocative look at why certain five-year-old boys enjoy an advantage in ice hockey, and how these advantages accumulate over time. We learn what Bill Gates, the Beatles and Mozart had in common: along with talent and ambition, each enjoyed an unusual opportunity to intensively cultivate a skill that allowed them to rise above their peers. A detailed investigation of the unique culture and skills of Eastern European Jewish immigrants persuasively explains their rise in 20th-century New York, first in the garment trade and then in the legal profession. Through case studies ranging from Canadian junior hockey champions to the robber barons of the Gilded Age, from Asian math whizzes to software entrepreneurs to the rise of his own family in Jamaica, Gladwell tears down the myth of individual merit to explore how culture, circumstance, timing, birth and luck account for success—and how historical legacies can hold others back despite ample individual gifts. Even as we know how many of these stories end, Gladwell restores the suspense and serendipity to these narratives that make them fresh and surprising.One hazard of this genre is glibness. In seeking to understand why Asian children score higher on math tests, Gladwell explores the persistence and painstaking labor required to cultivate rice as it has been done in East Asia for thousands of years; though fascinating in its details, the study does not prove that a rice-growing heritage explains math prowess, as Gladwell asserts. Another pitfall is the urge to state the obvious: No one, Gladwell concludes in a chapter comparing a high-IQ failure named Chris Langan with the brilliantly successful J. Robert Oppenheimer, not rock stars, not professional athletes, not software billionaires and not even geniuses—ever makes it alone. But who in this day and age believes that a high intelligence quotient in itself promises success? In structuring his book against that assumption, Gladwell has set up a decidedly flimsy straw man. In the end it is the seemingly airtight nature of Gladwell’s arguments that works against him. His conclusions are built almost exclusively on the findings of others—sociologists, psychologists, economists, historians—yet he rarely delves into the methodology behind those studies. And he is free to cherry-pick those cases that best illustrate his points; one is always left wondering about the data he evaluated and rejected because it did not support his argument, or perhaps contradicted it altogether. Real life is seldom as neat as it appears in a Malcolm Gladwell book. (Nov.)Leslie T. Chang is the author of Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China (Spiegel & Grau).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine
What explains whether or not Outliers succeeded with a given reviewer? Sometimes, Gladwell’s trademark style and wit were sufficient. Many critics noted some anecdotes that did not quite seem coherent, but they commended the book anyway because Gladwell is so entertaining and enthusiastic. Yet Gladwell’s talent alone was insufficient to earn reviewers’ highest marks. (Indeed, several who focused on this aspect of the book were annoyed that the author seemed to be merely offering common sense with a New Yorker sheen.) The reviewers with whom Gladwell truly succeeded were those who noticed the moral message of his book: if the factors that determine greatness are so much more complicated than individual efforts, our society should provide a nurturing environment where serendipitous coincidences abound and every person has a real chance to succeed.
Copyright 2008 Bookmarks Publishing LLC

Customer Reviews

What Makes Success? A Little Blt of a Lot of Things. (A teacher’s review)
In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell seeks to disabuse us of the notion that genius and greatness are predominantly a function of innate ability and IQ. He rightly notes that while IQ is certainly a contributor, it reaches a “point of diminishing returns” after a while: once people score about 130, IQ becomes less important and “intangibles” (my term) become more important.

The book, then, focuses on what these “intangibles” are. Gladwell suggests that things like what income level, culture, and time of a child’s birth are important contributors to success, as well as a person’s tenacity and agility. As the last of these is the least conventional, think of it this way: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and many other computer masterminds would likely not have distinguiished themselves were they born 10 years earlier (as they would not have been exposed to computers in high-school/college, and would have been in their mid-thirties by the time computers really took hold, likely already in other careers by that point in their lives.)

How does culture matter? Think about the discrepancy between how many days per year American children spend in school (180) versus Asian students (280), and how many more social expectaitons Asian students are borne into? Certianly this will affect academic and other achievement.

Now, I should point out that Gladwell is quite adept at anecdotal story telling and is much less adept at statistical analysis. As such, he could be justly accused of overstating his case (and maybe even finding patterns where he wants to see them, rather than where they exist.) Gladwell is definitely writing for the popular market so anyone wanting good “back up” of his arguments may find themselves disappointed by his cherry-picking of examples.

That said, Gladwell’s book contains some interesting and provocative ideas, especially for educators and those concerned with education. His last chapter – about the KIPP schools – is a fascinating plea for American schools to infuse more rigor (and quantity) to the educational school year. As a main part of Gladwell’s thesis is that how hard one works (and is willing to work) is endemic to one’s likelihood of success, we set students up for failure by not expecting them to work as hard as other countries expect of their students.

For a fun read which introduces some interesting ideas, Gladwell’s “Outliers” is a decent book. Those who want a little more scholarly meat may come away disappointed.

4 stars for fun, but 2 stars for originality
Gladwell has done it again…sort of. I would have categorized this book as a 4 or 5 star read like his previous two installments–Blink and The Tipping Point, except he lost a few originality points this time around.

Gladwell’s knack for making a reader say “huh, interesting…” is something for other writers to marvel at. I’m convinced that he could pen a book called “Green: It’s the color of grass,” and he would write it in such a way that would inspire most of us to say “huh…who knew?!?”

But in the case of Outliers the “huh…” factor has little to do with the ideas found in the book, and are almost exclusively the result of Gladwell’s keen sense of how to make the ordinary and mundane sound exciting and new. This is especially true in the two chapters devoted to debunking the myth that intelligence is the key to success. Unfortunately, Dan Goleman beat him to the punch way back in 1995 with his book “Emotional Intelligence: Why it matters more than IQ.” With a quick sleight of hand, Gladwell cites Robert Sternberg’s label of “practical intelligence,” instead of calling it emotional intelligence. But let’s be honest, here, the only difference is Goleman says “tem-ay-toe,” and Gladwell says “tem-ah-toe.”

The other flaw is that nothing in it is terribly useful for practical application. It’s no secret to anyone in the business of hiring that most selection techniques are abysmal predictors of on-the-job success. What we are left with as a takeaway from Outliers is that factors of chance like the ability to practice a skill for 10,000 hours–mostly during childhood–is the key to predicting future success. Get your kids started today…as long as you know when the next Industrial Revolution or Internet Age is going to occur. Aside from emotional intelligence (aka “practical intelligence”) most of these are factors that we just can’t do much about. Unfortunately, we already knew that.

Alas, however, Malcolm Gladwell is a professional writer, and not a professional researcher. If readers keep that in mind, they won’t be too disappointed by the methods or originality of the research. His job is to weave together an interesting story, which is something Gladwell does exceedingly well. If all you want is some good entertainment and fodder for cocktail party discussions, Outliers might make a nice addition to your bookshelves.

Nick Tasler is the author of The Impulse Factor: Why Some of Us Play It Safe and Others Risk It All

Where do you lie?
The main tenet of Outliers is that there is a logic behind why some people become successful, and it has more to do with legacy and opportunity than high IQ. In his latest book, New Yorker contributor Gladwell casts his inquisitive eye on those who have risen meteorically to the top of their fields, analyzing developmental patterns and searching for a common thread. The author asserts that there is no such thing as a self-made man, that “the true origins of high achievement” lie instead in the circumstances and influences of one’s upbringing, combined with excellent timing. The Beatles had Hamburg in 1960-62; Bill Gates had access to an ASR-33 Teletype in 1968. Both put in thousands of hours-Gladwell posits that 10,000 is the magic number-on their craft at a young age, resulting in an above-average head start.

Gladwell makes sure to note that to begin with, these individuals possessed once-in-a-generation talent in their fields. He simply makes the point that both encountered the kind of “right place at the right time” opportunity that allowed them to capitalize on their talent, a delineation that often separates moderate from extraordinary success. This is also why Asians excel at mathematics-their culture demands it. If other countries schooled their children as rigorously, the author argues, scores would even out.

Gladwell also looks at “demographic luck,” the effect of one’s birth date. He demonstrates how being born in the decades of the 1830s or 1930s proved an enormous advantage for any future entrepreneur, as both saw economic booms and demographic troughs, meaning that class sizes were small, teachers were overqualified, universities were looking to enroll and companies were looking for employees.

In short, possibility comes “from the particular opportunities that our particular place in history presents us with.” This theme appears throughout the varied anecdotes, but is it groundbreaking information? At times it seems an exercise in repackaged carpe diem, especially from a mind as attuned as Gladwell’s. Nonetheless, the author’s lively storytelling and infectious enthusiasm make it an engaging, perhaps even inspiring, read.

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 is another of my favorites in this genre. I recommend it strongly because, unlike Gladwell’s book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0 shows you how to become an outlier…

Currently Outliers: The Story of Success is ON SALE @ Amazon.com

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The New York Times Best Sellers – Week of July 18, 2009

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Week of July 18 2009

Hardcover Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. BLACK HILLS, by Nora Roberts
2. SWIMSUIT, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
3. FINGER LICKIN’ FIFTEEN, by Janet Evanovich
4. THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL, by Greg Iles
5. THE APOSTLE, by Brad Thor

Hardcover Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell
2. LIBERTY AND TYRANNY, by Mark R. Levin
3. CATASTROPHE, by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
4. HORSE SOLDIERS, by Doug Stanton
5. THE END OF OVEREATING, by David A. Kessler

Paperback Trade Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE SHACK, by William P. Young
2. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson
3. THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
4. THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, by Audrey Niffenegger
5. MY SISTER’S KEEPER, by Jodi Picoult

Paperback Mass-Market Fiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. MY SISTER’S KEEPER, by Jodi Picoult
2. TAILSPIN, by Catherine Coulter
3. HIDDEN CURRENTS, by Christine Feehan
4. FEARLESS FOURTEEN, by Janet Evanovich
5. WHAT HAPPENS IN LONDON, by Julia Quinn

Paperback Nonfiction

Top 5 at a Glance
1. GLENN BECK’S ‘COMMON SENSE’, by Glenn Beck
2. MICHAEL JACKSON, edited by Joe Funk
3. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
4. I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL, by Tucker Max
5. JULIE & JULIA, by Julie Powell

Hardcover Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN, by Steve Harvey with Denene Millner
2. THE LAST LECTURE, by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
3. MASTER YOUR METABOLISM, by Jillian Michaels with Mariska van Aalst
4. EXCUSES BEGONE!, by Wayne W. Dyer
5. THE SECRET, by Rhonda Byrne

Paperback Advice

Top 5 at a Glance
1. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
2. COOK YOURSELF THIN, by the staff of Lifetime Television
3. THE LOVE DARE, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough
4. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman
5. SKINNY BITCH, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

Children’s Books

Top 5 at a Glance
1. GOLDILICIOUS, written and illustrated by Victoria Kann
2. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
3. TEA PARTIES, by Jane O’‘Connor
4. EXPLORER EXTRAORDINAIRE!, by Jane O’Connor
5. THE CURIOUS GARDEN, written and illustrated by Peter Brown

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The New York Times Best Sellers – Week of June 7, 2009

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Week of June 7, 2009

HARDCOVER FICTION

Top 5 at a Glance
1. GONE TOMORROW, by Lee Child
2. WICKED PREY, by John Sandford
3. THE 8TH CONFESSION, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
4. DEAD AND GONE, by Charlaine Harris
5. CEMETERY DANCE, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

Top 5 at a Glance
1. LIBERTY AND TYRANNY by Mark R. Levin
2. OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell
3. RESILIENCE, by Elizabeth Edwards
4. THE GIRLS FROM AMES, by Jeffrey Zaslow
5. ALWAYS LOOKING UP, by Michael J. Fox

PAPERBACK TRADE FICTION

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
2. THE SHACK, by William P. Young
3. VISION IN WHITE, by Nora Roberts
4. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
5. MY SISTER’S KEEPER, by Jodi Picoult

PAPERBACK MASS-MARKET FICTION

Top 5 at a Glance
1. ANGELS AND DEMONS, by Dan Brown
2. MY SISTER’S KEEPER, by Jodi Picoult
3. SAIL, by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
4. PHANTOM PREY, by John Sandford
5. SAY GOODBYE, by Lisa Gardner

PAPERBACK NONFICTION

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
2. IN DEFENSE OF FOOD, by Michael Pollan
3. AMERICAN LION, by Jon Meacham
4. I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL, by Tucker Max
5. BLINK, by Malcolm Gladwell

HARDCOVER ADVICE

Top 5 at a Glance
1. ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN, by Steve Harvey with Denene Millner
2. MASTER YOUR METABOLISM, by Jillian Michaels with Mariska van Aalst
3. THE LAST LECTURE, by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
4. THE G-FREE DIET, by Elisabeth Hasselbeck
5. THE SECRET, by Rhonda Byrne

PAPERBACK ADVICE

Top 5 at a Glance
1. COOK YOURSELF THIN, by the staff of Lifetime Television
2. NATURALLY THIN, by Bethenny Frankel with Eve Adamson
3. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
4. THE LOVE DARE, by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough
5. HUNGRY GIRL 200 UNDER 200, by Lisa Lillien

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Top 5 at a Glance
1. LISTEN TO THE WIND, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
2. EXPLORER EXTRAORDINAIRE!, by Jane O’Connor
3. THE CURIOUS GARDEN, written and illustrated by Peter Brown
4. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
5. FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY AND THE DODGEBALL BULLY, by Julianne Moore and LeUyen Pham

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