ranges

“Urgent and important... essential reading for managers, parents, coaches, and anyone interested in improving performance.” —Daniel H. Pink

“Essential and revealing information about performance, success, and learning.” —Susan Cain, bestselling author of *Quiet*.

“As David Epstein shows us, cultivating a broad range of ideas prepares us for the unexpected... It's a well-supported, smoothly written study in favor of breadth and late starts.” —Wall Street Journal

Many experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play a musical instrument, or become a leader in their field must start early, focus intensely, and put in as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. If you slack off or fall behind, you'll never catch up with those who have come before you. But a closer look at research on the world's top-performing athletes, from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the exception, not the rule.

David Epstein studied the world's most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters, and scientists. He discovered that in most fields—especially complex and unpredictable ones—generalists, not specialists, are predisposed to excel. Generalists often find their way later, balancing multiple interests rather than focusing on a single one. They are also more creative, more flexible, and able to make connections that their more specialized peers miss.

With his provocative, precise, and engaging style, Ring presents a compelling argument for encouraging incompetence. Failing a test is the best way to learn. Repeated quitters end up with the most satisfying careers. The most influential inventors move between different fields rather than deepening their knowledge in one area. As experts isolate themselves further, and as computers master more skills previously reserved for highly focused humans, people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive.