Range

Name: Range
Author: David Epstein
ISBN: 9780735214484

Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

Written byDavid Epstein

Many experts say the way to succeed is to specialise early and practise hard. Epstein looks at research on top performers and finds that in most complex, unpredictable fields, people with broad experience who found their path later often do best.

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Published2019
GenreSelf-improvement
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01Early specialisation is the exception
A few fields, like golf or chess, reward an early start. Most of life is messier and rewards breadth.
02Sample before you commit
Trying different things helps you find a better fit, even if it looks like falling behind at first.
03Learn slowly to learn deeply
Struggling with hard problems, and mixing different kinds of practice, builds knowledge that lasts.
04Think outside your experience
Ideas from distant fields often solve problems that specialists get stuck on.
05Late starts are fine
Switching paths isn't failure. A wider journey can make you better at what you end up doing.
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Early specialisation is the exception

A few fields, like golf or chess, reward an early start. Most of life is messier and rewards breadth. Pick one small way to put this into practice before tonight.

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