Range. Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

by David Epstein

An interesting read on how we learn and the never-ending debate on whether to specialize or stay generalist. The author is clear in his case for the latter. A Tiger Woods or a Roger Federer? Probably the fact that both became the best at their sport proves the point that there is not just a single route to the top.

It presents in an engaging way how we learn as humans and how the most sophisticated neural networks for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence work. It describes how prone human experts are to making wrong calls due to their excessive expertise. The case is further strengthened by drawing from the learnings from the early experiments by Kahneman and Thaler.

His decisive call for generalization, lateral and analog thinking, is based on the ability to better develop and outside-in perspective and ability to be able to develop creativity and better solutions to problems.