Imagine a book that offers the reader a key; a key that allows them to travel the highway to success and see all the stops along the way that are crucial to achieving success. Malcolm Gladwell does exactly this in his novel Outliers, which examines some of history's most successful people and then attempts to explain why they achieved success beyond their wildest dreams. Gladwell is a reporter for The New Yorker and an accomplished author in the fields of psychology, sociology, and social psychology. In Outliers, he presents his reasoning for why some people are successful and others are not. One of his main points in this regard is the ten thousand hour rule, which means that to master a subject and be very successful in that area, you need to accumulate at least ten thousand hours of practice in that area. He carefully examines the early lives and careers of some of history's greatest success stories to make a strong case for his case. However, his strong arguments in support of his theories of success are not so strong when they come to counter the “typical view,” as Gladwell sees it. Outliers is different from most persuasive novels in that, by proving his point, Gladwell does not necessarily disprove others' views on success. He effortlessly uses logos, along with numerous examples and parallels to support his theories. However, his lack of ethics and a strong counterargument allow the audience to understand his ten thousand hour rule without necessarily wholeheartedly supporting it. After proposing something unthinkable to the average mind, Gladwell goes on to explain his ten thousand hour theory using two very descriptive and very in-depth anecdotes. It shows how a multi-billion...... middle of paper......new success, readers may believe his ten thousand hour rule works but it's not something everyone needs to have to be successful. Even with the few details missing from his novel, Outliers is still an enjoyable experience that everyone can learn from. It's a novel that shows audiences a new perspective on success and can help people discover what it really takes, sometimes, to be successful. The knowledge contained in the book is universally valid and offers great advice for anyone who is willing to take the time and listen. In the current atmosphere of doubt, resulting from the recession and events in the Middle East, the world may need a few more exceptions to take the lead. By reading Malcolm Gladwell's novel, perhaps we could stimulate the creation of others. Works Cited Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008. Print.