Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Didn't finish in time for the 2021 Reading Challenge, but it can surly kick off my 2022 Reading Challenge. 

I didn't know I needed to read this book until I read it. I love when that happens. In so many ways, this book has helped to relieve my stress. It's made me feel better to know that there are many people out there who have succeeded later in life - not because of inability or ineptitude, but because of their chosen paths that provided for ample learning in a range of fields, from a variety of people and experiences, through myriad trials and tribulations. I'm comforted in the fact that I need not be a specialist or to have trained thoroughly in a single discipline, but rather, I can enjoy the vast opportunities to soak in knowledge and eventually something will rise to the top. 

I've always worried that I haven't been on a path towards the kinds of successes that you see on television. And admittedly, that won't really stop just because I read this book. But it is a good reminder, and something that I can have in my back pocket to keep myself in check if / when I feel stressed about being the best or wanting to succeed as soon as possible. 

I'm certain to advise others who I think will benefit from reading this book to pick up a copy and digest its contents as soon as possible. 

Quotes from the book: 

"Don't feel behind."

"Compare yourself to yourself yesterday, not to younger people who are not you. Everyone progresses at a different rate, so don't let anyone else make you feel behind. You probably don't even know where exactly you're going, so feeling behind doesn't help." 

"Approach your own personal voyage and projects like Michaelangelo approached a block of marble, willing to learn and adjust as you go, and even to abandon a previous goal and change directions entirely should the need arise. Research on creators in domains from technological innovation to comic books show that a diverse group of specialist cannot fully replace the contributions of broad individuals. Even when you move on from an area of work or an entire domain, that experience is not wasted." 

"It is an experiment, as all life is an experiment." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Check it out on Goodreads. 

Buy it on Amazon.