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  • Range

  • How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
  • By: David Epstein
  • Narrated by: Will Damron
  • Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (577 ratings)

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Range cover art

Range

By: David Epstein
Narrated by: Will Damron
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Publisher's Summary

The instant Sunday Times Top Ten and New York Times bestseller

Shortlisted for the Financial Times/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award

A Financial Times Essential Reads

A powerful argument for how to succeed in any field: develop broad interests and skills while everyone around you is rushing to specialize.

From the ‘10,000 hours rule’ to the power of Tiger parenting, we have been taught that success in any field requires early specialization and many hours of deliberate practice. And, worse, that if you dabble or delay, you'll never catch up with those who got a head start.

This is completely wrong.

In this landmark book, David Epstein shows you that the way to succeed is by sampling widely, gaining a breadth of experiences, taking detours, experimenting relentlessly, juggling many interests – in other words, by developing range.

Studying the world's most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors and scientists, Epstein demonstrates why in most fields – especially those that are complex and unpredictable – generalists, not specialists are primed to excel. No matter what you do, where you are in life, whether you are a teacher, student, scientist, business analyst, parent, job hunter, retiree, you will see the world differently after you've read Range. You'll understand better how we solve problems, how we learn and how we succeed. You'll see why failing a test is the best way to learn and why frequent quitters end up with the most fulfilling careers.

As experts silo themselves further while computers master more of the skills once reserved for highly focused humans, Range shows how people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive and why spreading your knowledge across multiple domains is the key to your success, and how to achieve it.

©2019 David Epstein (P)2019 Penguin Random House LLC

Critic Reviews

"David Epstein manages to make me thoroughly enjoy the experience of being told that everything I thought about something was wrong. I loved Range." (Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author of Outliers)

"It’s a joy to spend hours in the company of a writer as gifted as David Epstein." (Susan Cain, best-selling author of Quiet)

"Urgent and important...an essential read for bosses, parents, coaches, and anyone who cares about improving performance." (Daniel H. Pink)

What listeners say about Range

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loved it

Great book. i would have liked to see more business examples and less science examples.

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great book especially if your a ranger

really enjoyed this, narrator is great. information well put together and wide ranging! highly recommend for people with varied interests or who have kids

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to the patient it rewards you handsomely

Great read, early chapters were a bit difficult to read sometimes as not all the examples seem relevant or necessary to the point of the book. However if you are patient enough the book would reward you generously

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Must read!!

Will change the way you think. A fantastic book that provides enormous insight into the way we think and live.

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Brilliant book

the author digs into the subject from multiple angles. well researched and cohesive narrative. something I felt to be true by instinct but couldn't find support in popular narrative. glad I listened to this book

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Innovation and excellence - great resource

Such an interesting read!
My only comment is that there are a lot of references I would like to access so would very much appreciate a pdf of the reference list!
I liked it so much I have just ordered the hard copy (to use as a teaching resource).
Thanks David and Will!

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  • Sam
  • 15-04-2020

Great collection of anecdotes and discoveries

Great collection of anecdotes and discoveries all strung together by the thread of a diversifying what one does

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Range is worth the listen

An approach to expanding your skill base and experiences that will help identify your purpose

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Fascinating.

Well I love this book. Maybe because it affirms me...?

It certainly makes a compelling case for generalisation over specialisation and ought to reassure anyone concerned they’ve made “wrong” career choices bravely to move on and leverage current skills on a new pursuit.

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outstanding

well researched and covers diverse fields. brilliantly presented and easy to follow.
excellent examples.

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