Outliers

Malcolm Gladwell hits another home run with this book about how opportunities and legacy affect success. Outliers is packed with insights that seem both obvious and non-intuitive at the same time. I think that is the brilliance of his books, using data and research to both defy and reinforce common sense.

For example, we all know families are important but the introduction explains some amazing positive health data from a small immigrant community due apparently to three generations living and working together.

A perfect airplane book, Outliers is riveting from beginning to end. Nevertheless, I had to postpone one of the most mesmerizing chapters on a recent flight from New York. It was on plane crashes. Too close for comfort.