The power of versatility

A ground-breaking book about why it sometimes pays not to be a specialist

Today's world advises us to specialise as early as possible, to focus on a single field and to dedicate thousands of hours to deliberate practice. But what if the exact opposite is true?

Through the stories of top athletes, musicians, artists, scientists, inventors and other exceptional individuals, David Epstein shows that the path to success is often not a straight one. The best of the best often start later, try different things, change direction and gradually build up a wide range of knowledge, experience and skills. This is precisely what enables them to see connections that specialists miss and to better handle problems for which there is no simple solution.

At a time when the world is changing ever more rapidly and computers are taking on more and more highly specialised tasks, versatility can be a surprisingly powerful competitive advantage.

Range is a compelling defence of curiosity, experimentation and what can sometimes seem like wasted time. It shows why it pays to keep your options open, explore different paths and not be afraid to be a person with a wide range of interests.

David Epstein is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. He holds master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as an investigative reporter for the non-profit organisation ProPublica and as an editor for Sports Illustrated magazine. He lives in Washington, D.C.