What Top 5 Books Will You Read In 2009?

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by L.B. Jenkins

I am a bookworm!! I'm sure many of us here, members, non-members and lurkers alike all delve into some form of reading to pass the time away.

So what will you focus on this coming year? Below is my list but to make it interesting let's also place a number next to that book for how many times in 2009 you will reread that particular book and why.

Hi L.B.,

Thanks for posting about this! Books are crazy, hip, and cool... (Yeah, I know, those words are so... uh... out of date! I feel like I'm positively out of the "jazz age"... But onwards. To the list of books!)

I'm tempted by Malcolm Gladwell's new book, "Outliers". Has anyone read it? From the reviews I've found, it sounds like his main point is that "emotional intelligence" is a big factor in determining success. Though, from leafing through the book at the bookstore, it seems to be about a lot more than that. Has anyone read it?

Another book I want to go through more thoroughly is the famous "Art of War" by Sun Tzu. I've read the book before, but I read it again recently. Contrary to popular opinion, the "Art of War" is not mainly about how to win through battles, but ideally it's about how to win without having a battle at all. A lot of it is about psychology!

I've also started reading some Elmer Wheeler again. There's some wisdom in those "old classics"! And... I also feel the urge to re-read Joseph Sugarman's "Advertising Secrets of the Written Word".

Well, that's my list so far. I'm sure more books will be added to it...

Best wishes,

Dien

[Ankesh]

I just finished reading Outliers yesterday. Its a good book. But after reading it, I am left with a feeling that its just half the book it should have been.

One of my fav quotes is: "Environment trumps discipline" - Howie Schwartz

Thats the entire concept of Outliers. Gladwell's big point is: when and where you are born matter a lot in making you a success.

Yes - he talks about emotional intelligence a bit. But only to show that IQ doesn't have that big an effect in predicting success. And that EQ is based on what kind of family raises you and your early years.

Gladwell also talks about how it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert. But even then, his agenda is to show how when and where you are born helps you in getting those 10,000 hours in.

Example: He talks about how Bill Gates put in 10,000 hours on the computer before he was 19. But he then says that Bill Gates was one in a million to get to use a computer as far back as 1968 when his school got one of the first computers. If Gates would have been born 4-5 years too early or too late - he would have missed the boat.

His point is not false. But its not entirely true either. Because how many other kids were in Gates school too - who had access to the computer but didn't make use of it in 1968? A few hundred?

So Gladwell downplays the hardwork and the smarts element and has made the entire book about the luck element. When and where you are born makes you successful. Something you have no control over. Which will displease a lot of his readers.

Gladwell talks a lot about how environment makes a difference. But he doesn't delve into how you can improve your environment at all - except very subtly towards the end. And thats why - this was just half a book for me.

I would have loved him telling us a bit more about how to change your environment - and not let your environment hold you back.

The tag line for the book is: Outliers - A story of success. It should have been: Outliers - A PARTIAL story of success.

The good part now:

As usual, Gladwell's writing style is superb. He is the master story teller. The way he makes connections with stories and takes you on a well crafted journey and then persuades you to his conclusion is awesome.

The stories and research he has picked is brilliant too. You will definitely get a few "whoa" moments while reading the book. It definitely makes you think. Its well worth the $8.50 and 4 hours I spent reading it. (Might be more expensive outside the Indian subcontinent...)

(Disclosure: Malcolm Gladwell and Robert Greene are 2 authors after whom I've conciously tried to model my writing after. I love his writing style.)

In summary:

Outliers is a good book. You should read it once - especially if you like Gladwell. But its not a must read. And thats because you have to look very hard to gain the how-to part from it.

Rating: 7/10.

Hi Ankesh,

It's funny "Envirionment Trumps Discipline" is one of my favorite quotes as well.

The first person I heard say it though was Tim Ferris in an interview that David Deangelo did with him just after the release of the 4 hour work week.

Regardless of who said it, it is a great quote.

cheers

Originally Posted by Ankesh

I just finished reading Outliers yesterday. Its a good book. But after reading it, I am left with a feeling that its just half the book it should have been.

One of my fav quotes is: "Environment trumps discipline" - Howie Schwartz

Thats the entire concept of Outliers. Gladwell's big point is: when and where you are born matter a lot in making you a success.

Yes - he talks about emotional intelligence a bit. But only to show that IQ doesn't have that big an effect in predicting success. And that EQ is based on what kind of family raises you and your early years.

Gladwell also talks about how it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert. But even then, his agenda is to show how when and where you are born helps you in getting those 10,000 hours in.

Example: He talks about how Bill Gates put in 10,000 hours on the computer before he was 19. But he then says that Bill Gates was one in a million to get to use a computer as far back as 1968 when his school got one of the first computers. If Gates would have been born 4-5 years too early or too late - he would have missed the boat.

His point is not false. But its not entirely true either. Because how many other kids were in Gates school too - who had access to the computer but didn't make use of it in 1968? A few hundred?

So Gladwell downplays the hardwork and the smarts element and has made the entire book about the luck element. When and where you are born makes you successful. Something you have no control over. Which will displease a lot of his readers.

Gladwell talks a lot about how environment makes a difference. But he doesn't delve into how you can improve your environment at all - except very subtly towards the end. And thats why - this was just half a book for me.

I would have loved him telling us a bit more about how to change your environment - and not let your environment hold you back.

The tag line for the book is: Outliers - A story of success. It should have been: Outliers - A PARTIAL story of success.

The good part now:

As usual, Gladwell's writing style is superb. He is the master story teller. The way he makes connections with stories and takes you on a well crafted journey and then persuades you to his conclusion is awesome.

The stories and research he has picked is brilliant too. You will definitely get a few "whoa" moments while reading the book. It definitely makes you think. Its well worth the $8.50 and 4 hours I spent reading it. (Might be more expensive outside the Indian subcontinent...)

(Disclosure: Malcolm Gladwell and Robert Greene are 2 authors after whom I've conciously tried to model my writing after. I love his writing style.)

In summary:

Outliers is a good book. You should read it once - especially if you like Gladwell. But its not a must read. And thats because you have to look very hard to gain the how-to part from it.

Rating: 7/10.

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by Ankesh

Gladwell also talks about how it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert. But even then, his agenda is to show how when and where you are born helps you in getting those 10,000 hours in.

Example: He talks about how Bill Gates put in 10,000 hours on the computer before he was 19. But he then says that Bill Gates was one in a million to get to use a computer as far back as 1968 when his school got one of the first computers. If Gates would have been born 4-5 years too early or too late - he would have missed the boat.

His point is not false. But its not entirely true either. Because how many other kids were in Gates school too - who had access to the computer but didn't make use of it in 1968? A few hundred?

Hi Ankesh,

Thanks for your very helpful review!

The example of Bill Gates that you shared with us is instructive. Bill Gates put in 10,000 hours on computers back in the very early days. Of course, he had that opportunity, and had the focus and drive to do that. And computers ended up becoming very important.

However, many of us have the opportunity to put in many hours into new technologies. How many of us take the opportunity?

E.g. New technologies that have appeared in recent years are... blogging, podcasting, online video, etc. What's next? What's new that's coming up?

Perhaps the "lesson" here is to look at what's coming up, make an assessment of how important it will be, then put in the hours to "master" it if it looks sufficiently promising!

Just some thoughts...

Best wishes

Dien