Outliers Lesson Plan

Earlier in the book, we read about how biologists often talk about the “ecology” of an organism, such as trees. What does this mean, and how does it relate to people like Joe Flom and others in this section?

A tree grows tall because it comes from a hardy acorn, but that isn’t the only requirement: it must also get enough light and grow in soil that is deep and rich. We can also apply this concept to people. Joe Flom had innate talent and a strong work ethic, but his success was due to a variety of other factors, including the generation he was born in, his family background, and the social norms of the day. There is nothing random about success; it arises from a variety...