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Post By
Sean Fenlon

 

Malcom Gladwell vs. Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The books from these authors were recommended to me from people I respect.  The most recent books from these two authors are generating a lot of sales, readers, cynics, skeptics, critics, supporters, advocates, and cheerleaders.

Both authors are both young and very smart — almost philosophical in their respective approach.  FWIW, neither was born in the USA.

Gladwell has probably sold more book titles (Outliers + Blink + Tipping Point), but Taleb clearly thinks that thinking is the most important thing and that the best thinker deserves the most credit (definitely not Gladwell?s philosophy).

I hate both these books.  But I love many of thoughts/ideas contained in both…

 

Malcom Gladwell

Gladwell?s premise in Outliers fails in its own inverse ? Gladwell would probably NEVER write a book that reflects ?Oh no ? it?s not your fault you failed ? it?s all in the numbers of your specific situation.?  In other words, it?s not chance? it?s ALWAYS (somewhere) in the cards.

I would?ve enjoyed the book more if it were re-named ?Freakonomics 2.?  The premise of Outliers frankly discounts the predict-ability of random-occurrences in numbers.

 

Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Taleb is just a jackass and he?s the opposite Gladwell.

He?s arrogant, egotistical, irreverent and generally not-likeable.

Taleb admits he wanted to be a ?philosopher? at a very young age.  Who does that?  Certainly not Socrates.

I do however acknowledge the concept of pure randomness that Taleb finds so rare in the business universe.

The Gladwell and Taleb theories simply do not co-exist.

 

Summary

However, if I were to combine their best message-points, I would synthesize down to these statements:

1.    Get your head OUT of the bell curve and LOOK at the WORLD AROUND YOU!

2.    Try to group yourself with other people that appear to be getting LUCKY!

SPF

 

UPDATE:

Added Irony…

Testimonial on the back of The Black Swan book is from The NY Times and cites “Tipping Point” by Malcom Gladwell.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb apparently met with a fiery Italian Philosopher (whom he apparently respects – which is rare).  The same Italian Philosopher apparently claimed that Taleb’s heritage played a role in getting the premise published first (before the Italian Philosopher).   Of course, Taleb rejected the notion and unknowingly in the same breath rejected the premise of Outliers.

Yes, Outliers deals with more than just heritage and cultural norms, but if the heritage premise is discredited than all his other premises fall as well.

I know this post is obtuse if not completely confusing to some, but this update reinforces my most important point…

The premise of The Black Swan simply CANNOT co-exist with that of Outliers.

Which premise do you think will win?

50/50 or “Tie” Calls are not requested. ;-)

SPF

Post By
Sean Fenlon

 

OMG.

This is a BRILLIANT idea!

http://www.youtube.com/symphony

A game changer for me…

But the emperor has no clothes.

Whoever is the Vision of the FIRST Internet Symphony is absolutely brilliant.

“Symphony” is a term from the Ancient Greeks and means “sounding together.”

Hmmm…

Also, “Symphony” is a term from the Ancient Greeks and means “social networking” ;-)

You?ve solved the problem I?ve been struggling with for years ? LIVE Internet music ensemble performance.

It?s simple? un-bundle time from the equation.

Duh! :-)

It?s so simple, yet I always found TRUE real-time to be the barrier.

There is still a time ?tether? and it?s a constant.  A live conductor (and silent audio track).

Simple, yet brilliant.

Ummm?

One MAJOR friggin flaw, though?

The composition chosen for this project was composed by Tan Dun.

The choice is a big mistake compared to choosing Mozart Jupiter Symphony or Beethoven’s 5th (or 9th) as the “FIRST” Internet Symphony (“Eroica” in the sub-title was obviously borrowed from Beethoven’s 3rd).  I suspect you are a brilliant composer, Mr. Dun, but compared to Wolfgang and Ludwig, you suck. :-S

If it WERE Mozart or Beethoven, I would certainly be tempted to pull out the old bassoon and give it a run. ;-)

BTW, please visit our new YouTube Video Channel at www.DoublePositive.TV or click on OMG at the top of this post.

The universe is a funny place. :-)

SPF