The new book by David Epstein isn't really a sports book, although it starts off this way. What it is, is a fascinating look at how specialization is making innovation more difficult. So, it's sort of a science and innovation book, but has implications for all kinds of policy and societal areas.
Epstein starts off with the Tiger vs. Roger, or Woods vs. Federer, argument: is it better to specialize in one thing from the beginning, as Tiger Woods did with golf, or by doing a wide variety of things and settling on one thing later, as did Federer? A lot of stories and conventional wisdom says that to excel at something, it is best to specialize as soon and as much as possible. In wide practice this is not usually the case, Epstein argues.
The book ranges far, from sports to music to movies to painting to the Girl Scouts to NASA to curing disease. There will likely be some topic of interest to you discussed within these pages. Epstein writes in a very readable and engaging style. I found myself turning pages quickly, absorbed and waiting to see what would come next. Epstein weaves his thesis in and out through conversations with a large variety of individuals, and takes other's interviews with a few who passed away before he could speak with them himself. The interviews are also fascinating reading, and provide a variety of voices within the text.
I really enjoyed this book, and think there's a good chance you will like it too. Disclosure: I received this book free as a review copy. posted by Shawn Weaver at 4:47 PM
