Outliers

     The only thing that you can do to be successful is work hard. Everything else is luck.

     Right there is the thesis, summary, and synopsis of Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. Save yourself from the 285 page book and take the above statement in its place. The book isn't terrible; it's actually a fine piece of writing, but Gladwell only presents his idea and tries to support it with specific examples. The idea is never developed; the last 200 pages of the books are more examples kept from developing their own identity or meaning because they're presented and made into stories of hard work and/or luck.

     In short, Gladwell's Outliers presents a somewhat interesting idea, but that's about it. If you're interested in reading it, I'd advise stopping a third of the way through so you aren't as annoyed by the repetition as everyone in my class was. And if you are (deluded enough to be) interested in buying this book, keep in mind you're paying full price for a book three times as long as it should be.

     This book makes me think of a stew made only of carrots.