⭐⭐⭐⭐ Range by Epstein
| Full Title | Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World |
|---|---|
| Authors | David Epstein |
| Year Published | 2019 |
| Date Read | August 19, 2021 |
| Rating | 4/5 stars |
This ended up being a pretty great read. There was a little section on some of the latest research in memory that focused on active recall / distributed practice, and as a big believer in that stuff perhaps it’s no surprise I’m a fan of the book overall too (more reading on this can be found in Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning for those interested). Another memorable section for me was where Epstein discusses the Flynn effect and links it to our significantly-increased ability to think abstractly versus our parents and grandparents. What was crazy to hear was some research from pre-industrialization / collectivization Russian farmers and their inability to put even familiar items into categories. Some related stuff in here about their apparent lack of curiosity also being limited by their extremely literal understanding of life. Would love to read some more about this as I think it may partly explain why it has always felt to me like those very advanced in
age seem fairly set in their ways and uninterested in learning new things. It brings to mind interesting thoughts on how my own mind might start to harden over time, and what I could do to avoid the same fate.
Generally, the author did a good job of convincing me that if your goal is creative output and breakthrough results, taking a wide view as opposed to an expert one is likely to be fruitful. As someone who works in a creative field and has aspirations to introduce more creativity into my hobbies as well, it felt timely. Would generally recommend to anyone interested in non-fiction reading as there’s appreciable wheat for fairly low chaff here.