Comments on: Outliers : What leads to Success http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/outliers-what-leads-to-success/ Conning people into thinking I'm intelligent. Since 1982. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:24:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rams http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/outliers-what-leads-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-119289 Rams Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:38:28 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1202#comment-119289 <p>I have just started, fascinating so far. For me the chapter about 10,000 hours of practice alone is worth the price of the book. Comparisons of Indian programmers and american programmers are something that we hear about a lot. Over the last few years, I have come to the firm conclusion that it's got nothing to do with intrinsic abilities and everything to do with exposure/environment. I blogged about it here: http://cycle-gap.blogspot.com/2006/01/indian-code-contribution-to-floss.html</p> <p>I think one reason why there is so much criticism of gladwell, of late, is this latest work in particular seems to point out the influence of the environment. There is a tendency on blogs and the net in general to emphasise the kick-ass lone-ranger cowboy American model. Naturally talking about the environment doesn't sit well with this crowd. Joel Spolsky for example has been critical of Gladwell - but has offered nothing specific by way of countering him.</p> <p>@Swaroop: 'The Black Swan' is Taleb's latest - he was one of the guys who predicted the economic downturn in the US. You can search youtube for some colourful interviews with him. I have lost count of the amount of time I have spent reading that book, sitting late nights at the Koramangala barista last year. It's one of those books where you end up underlining in every single page.</p> I have just started, fascinating so far. For me the chapter about 10,000 hours of practice alone is worth the price of the book. Comparisons of Indian programmers and american programmers are something that we hear about a lot. Over the last few years, I have come to the firm conclusion that it’s got nothing to do with intrinsic abilities and everything to do with exposure/environment. I blogged about it here:
http://cycle-gap.blogspot.com/2006/01/indian-code-contribution-to-floss.html

I think one reason why there is so much criticism of gladwell, of late, is this latest work in particular seems to point out the influence of the environment. There is a tendency on blogs and the net in general to emphasise the kick-ass lone-ranger cowboy American model. Naturally talking about the environment doesn’t sit well with this crowd. Joel Spolsky for example has been critical of Gladwell – but has offered nothing specific by way of countering him.

@Swaroop:
‘The Black Swan’ is Taleb’s latest – he was one of the guys who predicted the economic downturn in the US. You can search youtube for some colourful interviews with him. I have lost count of the amount of time I have spent reading that book, sitting late nights at the Koramangala barista last year. It’s one of those books where you end up underlining in every single page.

]]> By: Swaroop http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/outliers-what-leads-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-119240 Swaroop Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:49:37 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1202#comment-119240 <p>@Azeem It's possible that there has been an effect on the psyche, I think we call it the "white man phenomenon" right?</p> <p>Regarding commenting from Google Reader, I am not aware of any such facility.</p> <p>@Pramod I saw some negative reviews though, but nevertheless, I did find the book to be a good read. I haven't read any books from Taleb, more info?</p> @Azeem It’s possible that there has been an effect on the psyche, I think we call it the “white man phenomenon” right?

Regarding commenting from Google Reader, I am not aware of any such facility.

@Pramod I saw some negative reviews though, but nevertheless, I did find the book to be a good read. I haven’t read any books from Taleb, more info?

]]> By: Pramod Biligiri http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/outliers-what-leads-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-119149 Pramod Biligiri Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:51:45 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1202#comment-119149 <p>Actually I'd read enough negative reviews of outliers to stay away from it :| Have u read any of Taleb's recent works?</p> Actually I’d read enough negative reviews of outliers to stay away from it :| Have u read any of Taleb’s recent works?

]]> By: Azeem http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/outliers-what-leads-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-118998 Azeem Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:01:21 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1202#comment-118998 <p>I read your blog from Google reader. Is there a way to comment from the reader itself.</p> I read your blog from Google reader. Is there a way to comment from the reader itself.

]]> By: Azeem http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/outliers-what-leads-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-118997 Azeem Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:00:18 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1202#comment-118997 <p>I mean to say future generations who were born in a country like India after India got its independence from the Britishers.</p> I mean to say future generations who were born in a country like India after India got its independence from the Britishers.

]]> By: Azeem http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/outliers-what-leads-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-118995 Azeem Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:57:32 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1202#comment-118995 <p>That is so true ! Plus I wonder what effect colonialism by western countries of regions like the Indian subcontinent has on the psyche of generations who were born in a free country.</p> That is so true ! Plus I wonder what effect colonialism by western countries of regions like the Indian subcontinent has on the psyche of generations who were born in a free country.

]]> By: Aswin Anand http://www.swaroopch.com/blog/outliers-what-leads-to-success/comment-page-1/#comment-118990 Aswin Anand Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:35:04 +0000 http://www.swaroopch.com/?p=1202#comment-118990 <p>Wow! That's pretty interesting! Going to get it.</p> Wow! That’s pretty interesting! Going to get it.

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