CM 135: David Epstein On Generalists Over Specialists

Can we achieve greater success in life by choosing to generalize rather than to specialize?

If you want to be the best at something, the story goes something like this: Begin as early as you can. Focus on nothing else. And practice as if your life depends on it. It’s the story we associate with sports heroes and chess grandmasters.

But David Epstein, author of the book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, argues that this story is incomplete. It never mentions the fact that activities like chess and golf take place in “kind” learning environments, where learners have perfect information, operate with clear goals, and experience immediate feedback. In contrast, most of us operate in what are called “wicked” environments. There, as David explains, “…not all information is clear. People don’t wait for each other to take turns. . . Goals may be unclear. Feedback may be intermittent, nonexistent . . . it may be inaccurate and it may be delayed.”

David also reveals that many top performers were not, in fact, specialists from an early age. They were generalists who took the time to explore multiple paths, and many delayed choosing a focus until they found the right fit: “They pinballed around . . . They didn’t focus on the long term . . . Instead, they said here’s who I am right now, here are the skills I have, here’s what I want to learn, here are the opportunities in front of me right now…”

David has worked as an investigative reporter for ProPublica and a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. His first book was the bestseller, The Sports Gene.

The Host

You can learn more about Curious Minds Host and Creator, Gayle Allen, and Producer, Rob Mancabelli, by visiting @CuriousGayle and www.gayleallen.net.

Episode Links

David Epstein and Malcolm Gladwell on 10,000 Hours vs The Sports Gene

What the Childhood Years of Tiger Woods and Roger Federer Can Teach Us about Success by David Epstein

The Two Settings of Kind and Wicked Learning Environments by Robin M. Hogarth, Tomas Lejarraga, and Emre Soyer

Gary A. Klein

Daniel Kahneman on adversarial collaborations

Flynn effect

Does Professor Quality Matter? Evidence from Random Assignment of Students to Professors by Scott E. Carrell and James E. West

Recent Research on Human Learning Challenges Conventional Instructional Strategies by Doug Rohrer and Harold Pashler on spacing, interleaving and testing

Structure Mapping in Analogy and Similarity by Dedre Gentner and Arthur B. Markman

Integrated Science Program at Northwestern University

Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader by Herminia Ibarra

Beware the “Inside View” by Daniel Kahneman

Here is What It Takes to Become a CEO, According to 12,000 LinkedIn Profiles

How Scientists Think by Kevin Dunbar

Drop Your Tools: An Allegory for Organizational Studies by Karl E. Weick

You Don’t Want a Child Prodigy by David Epstein on headstarts and falling behind

The Darkhorse Project

What You’ll Wish You’d Known by Paul Graham includes concept of premature optimization

Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder is 45 by Pierre Azoulay, Benjamin Jones, J. Daniel Kim, and Javier Miranda

Jhumpa Lahiri on Writing in Italian by Cressida Leyshon

Simple Ways to Support the Podcast

If you enjoy the podcast, there are three simple ways you can support our work. First, subscribe so you’ll never miss an episode. Second, tell a friend or family member. You’ll always have someone to talk to about the interview. Third, rate and review the podcast wherever you subscribe. You’ll be helping listeners find their next podcast.

Look for the Curious Minds podcast on:

Spotify

iTunes

Tunein

Stitcher

Google Play

Overcast