Book: Range: Why Generalists Triumph

IST 394-02

A Close Reading of David Epstein's Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

The Book

What's the most effective path to success in any domain? It's not what you think.

Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. If you dabble or delay, you’ll never catch up to the people who got a head start. But a closer look at research on the world’s top performers, from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the exception, not the rule.

David Epstein examined the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters and scientists. He discovered that in most fields—especially those that are complex and unpredictable—generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see.

Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, Range makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency. Failing a test is the best way to learn. Frequent quitters end up with the most fulfilling careers. The most impactful inventors cross domains rather than deepening their knowledge in a single area. As experts silo themselves further while computers master more of the skills once reserved for highly focused humans, people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive.

- Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized world. (n.d.). David Epstein. Retrieved June 8, 2020, from https://davidepstein.com/the-range/

The Author

David Epstein is the author of the #1 New York Times best seller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World , and of the New York Times best seller The Sports Gene, both of which have been translated in more than 20 languages. (To his surprise, it was purchased not only by his sister but also by President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.)

He was previously a science and investigative reporter at ProPublica, and prior to that a senior writer at Sports Illustrated, where he co-authored the story that revealed Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had used steroids. His writing has been honored by an array of organizations, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, to the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Center on Disability and Journalism, and has been included in the Best American Science and Nature Writing anthology. His story “Following the Trail of Broken Hearts,” on sudden cardiac death in athletes, was chosen as one of the top 100 stories of the last 100 years by Columbia Journalism alumni.

- About | David Epstein is the Author of the Books: Range & Sports Gene. (n.d.). David Epstein. Retrieved June 8, 2020, from https://davidepstein.com/david-epstein-about/

The Course

IST 394-02 is a topics course we will dedicate to a close reading of David Epstein's Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, which invites insights from different academic perspectives. This course is open to students and faculty from different disciplines and programs. Participants can take the  can take the course for one hour of credit or sit in and join the conversation. 

If you want to sit in without credit, please sign up so that we can add you to the Canvas shell and share the reading schedule and any announcements.

How it Works

Operation

Our meeting time is still Mondays at noon. We will meet through the Zoom online conference platform. Use your browser or download the app.  A link will be available on this Canvas site. You just need an internet connection, a web cam, and a microphone.  

Objectives/Expectations

• • • • Students taking the class for credit will be expected to attend and participate in Monday discussions.  Students should commit 6 to 7 hours per week to the course. Participation will count 30% toward the final grade.
      • They should have read all assigned material and be prepared to summarize briefly interesting aspects of the assigned reading for the group.
      • Each week they should submit a two page reflection on a topic or issue in the assigned chapters, and include a brief discussion of at least one related article or chapter. Read our expectations for Reflection Papers. Reflection papers will count 70% toward the final grade.
      • Read about our expectations and tips for successful Zoom discussion meetings.

Policies and Support

You can find university and course policies here.  More about student conduct, rights, and advocacy can be found at SCRA and academic resources are found at Student Support Services.

The Schedule