About the book
Early specialization is the exception among top performers, David Epstein argues in his 2019 book. Building on his earlier The Sports Gene, he contrasts Tiger Woods, who focused on golf early, with Roger Federer, who played many sports before settling on tennis. Specialization serves closed, predictable fields such as chess, Epstein says, but the wicked problems of the modern world reward range: broad experience across several fields and late specialization. Looking at successful scientists, forecasters, inventors, musicians, artists and athletes, he finds generalists tend to be more creative and agile and can make connections specialists miss. Range reached number one on the New York Times best seller list.
Kobe Bryant praised its case against narrow specialization, saying it matched his approach to coaching all-around athletes, and Malcolm Gladwell endorsed it, writing that he enjoyed being told his assumptions were wrong and that he loved the book.
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This book has 6 recommendations
Adam Grant (Author)
In a world that’s increasingly obsessed with specialization, star science writer David Epstein is here to convince you that the future may belong to generalists. It’s a captivating read that will leave you questioning the next steps in your career—and the way you raise your children.
Malcolm Gladwell (Author)
For reasons I cannot explain, David Epstein manages to make me thoroughly enjoy the experience of being told that everything I thought about something was wrong. I loved Range.
Susan Cain (Author)
It’s a joy to spend hours in the company of a writer as gifted as David Epstein. And the joy is all the greater when that writer shares so much crucial and revelatory information about performance, success, and education.
Daniel Pink (Author)
For too long, we’ve believed in a single path to excellence. Start early, specialize soon, narrow your focus, aim for efficiency. But in this groundbreaking book, David Epstein shows that in most domains, the way to excel is something altogether different. Sample widely, gain a breadth of experiences, take detours, and experiment relentlessly. Epstein is a deft writer, equally nimble at telling a great story and unpacking complicated science. And Range is an urgent and important book, an essential read for bosses, parents, coaches, and anyone who cares about improving performance.
Daniel Coyle (Author)
Brilliant, timely, and utterly impossible to put down. If you care about improving skill, innovation, and performance, you need to read this book.
Kobe Bryant (Basketball Player / LA Lakers)
This book looks at how an emphasis on specialization can actually hamper our ability to really excel at something. It aligns with what I try to do when I am coaching, in my stories, and what we’re doing with Mamba Sports Academy — create all-around athletes who can think critically and make assessments in real time to enhance their play rather than rely only on a narrow set of skills.
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