Malcolm Gladwell sits down with bestselling author, acclaimed journalist, and renowned TED speaker David Epstein to discuss his book "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World."

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

It’s a question we all faced time and again when we were young. Fully grown adults would loom over us with a grin, and expect us to make a reasonable guess about how we would feed our families some thirty years into the future.

It seems like a benign, if slightly absurd, form of interrogation, although it reinforces a widespread assumption about success—that we must decide on a path through life as early as possible, and stick to it with unwavering dedication. After all, we spend our lives competing with others who apply to the same colleges, send résumés to the same jobs, and vie for the same promotions. We can’t afford to fall behind by focusing on unrelated pursuits—it’s a waste of time.

Or at least, that’s what we’ve been taught. But bestselling author, acclaimed journalist, and renowned TED speaker David Epstein contends that we’ve had it all wrong. In Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, Epstein explains that our personalities, along with our skills and passions, change significantly over time, and that we rarely discover what roles feel right until we actually try them. So it’s not just difficult to stick to a single longterm plan—it’s illadvised.

Combining cuttingedge social science and a knack for captivating storytelling, Epstein explains why we should stop stressing about getting offtrack, and instead feel free to pursue the full spectrum of our interests. By taking unexpected detours and exploring unrelated areas, we arrive at exactly where we’re meant to be.

00:38 Gladwell and Epstein's friendship, evolving from professional debates to personal interactions, fueled intellectual growth.
08:16 ‍ Epstein advocates for delaying specialization for longterm development.
11:26 Matching abilities and interests optimizes motivation and success.
15:12 Building diverse skills enhances success in complex domains.
16:39 Differentiating "kind" and "wicked" learning environments informs skill development.
23:06 Multisport participation enhances skill development and reduces injury risks.
25:51 Early specialization in sports can lead to burnout.
33:50 Testing, spacing, and interleaving improve education outcomes.
37:31 Disordered attachments can limit problemsolving.
39:59 School outcomes are influenced by student selection.
42:23 Traditional grading systems lack effective feedback.
46:13 Shortterm planning and adaptability foster career fulfillment.
51:12 Delayed specialization in education leads to better career choices.

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