Outliers Lesson Plan

Learning how to deal with authority is an important part of navigating the world successfully. According to this chapter, what’s the best way to deal with authority? Is it to view authority with resentment and distrust, as Chris Langan did? Should authority figures be treated with unquestioning respect? Is there a third option?

The problem with distrusting authority, or on the other hand respecting it too much, is that both create a distance between you and the authority figure. This makes it difficult to get your way. Children who are brought up with the “concerted cultivation” style of parenting learn to interact comfortably with authority figures, to speak up when...