TOW Post #8- IRB: Outliers Part 2

            

            When discussing success no one really considers other factors, such as other people or aspects, that contributed to making someone successful. In the story about someone's success it's always about what "he/she did" to be successful. The story should contain more of what "what/who helped he/she do" to be successful. Really without other aspects and the small things that they did to contribute, that successful person would most likely not have become as successful as they are now. Malcolm Gladwell brings this truth out to everyone who reads his book Outliers.

            In his #1 National Bestseller book, Outliers, Gladwell tries to clear up some misconceptions and reasoning for success. He wants people to understand that those who are successful did not do it on their own, and that it is certainly not just luck. Throughout his book Gladwell specific and sometimes personal examples and historical research.

            One personal example that he uses in order to make people to understand that those who are successful did not do it on their own is his mom. His mom had become successful, not billionaire successful, but enough to have a family and a well paying job. Gladwell explains that she didn't become successful  only because of her hard studying and work but because of her twin sister and her mother. Her twin sister had gotten a scholarship to a good school allowing her self to get in, and her mother was educated enough to send her and her sister to college. Because of her sister and her mom was she able to get a quality education and be successful later on. This example that Gladwell uses helps him achieve his purpose.

           Besides his personal examples he uses historical research in order to achieve his purpose. In his book he mentions why Asians seem to be smarter in math than most races. He explains through his historical research how the Asians had a legacy of hard work, do to their history of growing rice patties. Because they mainly lived off of rice rather then wheat, the daily care is more difficult and involved mathematical techniques. Through this example, that is supported with historical research, Gladwell shows his readers that the cultural aspect of growing rice patties have allowed Asians to become more successful in math. Because Gladwell used the rhetorical devices of personal examples and historical research he is able to successfully achieve his purpose.