The Outsider's Edge

The Making of Self-Made Billionaires

De: Brent D Taylor

Narrado por: Adrian Mulraney

Some extraordinary and unexpected factors are revealed in Taylor's fascinating new book that explains why some people become billionaires. Despite the fact that the sample of 17 self-made billionaires come from disparate backgrounds, work in different industries, have very different personalities, and superficially appear to have different upbringings, they have one important thing in common: they are all outsiders. Their edge comes from being different and that difference is the well-spring of their creativity and wealth. This combined with direction, drive and trading intelligence has powered them to extreme wealth.

©2007 Brent D Taylor. (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Taylor studied the Forbes list of the world's wealthiest people to compile his own list of 'outsiders' who have made it big-each for his or her own unique qualities. Using the lives and careers of such billionaires as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Ralph Lauren, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Oprah Winfrey, Taylor presents his own ideas as to how they achieved extraordinary financial success by breaking from the pack and going against the norms of their cultures. Australian narrator Adrian Mulraney brings the material to life without lecturing or editorializing. Expressing Taylor's ideas in an earnest voice, Mulraney succeeds at making the material interesting to the average listener and especially appealing to entrepreneurs." (AudioFile Magazine)

A mixed bag

This book would have been much better had it suggested its premise rather than decreeing it. The first half of the book is biographical - summarising the lives and careers of a collection of self made billionaires. The author labels these businessmen "outsiders" as their upbringing had led them to be outsiders. Being a fellow outsider (without the billions of $$!!) I really connected with this part of the book and it was extremely interesting to compare my upbringing and career to the books outsiders. Unfortunately, the book's second half is hours of waffling where the author gives some rather shallow and unscientific presentations on psychology, sport and medical conditions like dyslexia. The second half of the book should be supplied with a free broom - for it is full of sweeping statements.
While Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers" covers some similar ground positing what factors contribute to certain people's success, Gladwell mostly manages to remember he is being guided by anecdote, where this author frequently seems to make it up as he goes along - the most obvious example being his frequent references to dyslexia, which he never presents evidence for.
Its a shame, for this book makes quite a convincing case when the author sticks to telling the story of the lives of the Outsiders - but when he decides that these anecdotes are hard and fast evidence and not only that, but that they are a blueprint for success, that the book loses credibility.
If you're an outsider, read / listen to the first part - its quite interesting. Skip the second half.
If I were to summarise the premise of the book - its the old adage - Q: What's the definition of a nerd? A: The guy at school you used to tease who is now your boss.