David Epstein has reported for ProPublica, Sports Illustrated, and This American Life. His new book is Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.

“You can’t just introspect or take a personality quiz and know what you’re good at or interested in. You actually have to try stuff and then reflect on it. That’s how you learn about yourself—otherwise, your insight into yourself is constrained by your roster of experiences.”

Thanks to MailChimp, Time Sensitive, Read This Summer, The TED Interview, and Pitt Writers for sponsoring this week's episode.

@DavidEpstein

davidepstein.com

Epstein on Longform

[02:20] Epstein’s Sports Illustrated archive

[02:21] Epstein’s ProPublica Archive

[02:26] The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance (Portfolio • 2014)

[02:29] Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World (Riverhead Books • 2019)

[03:15] Longform Podcast #282: Jenna Wortham

[05:40] Gladwell and Epstein Conversation

[07:58] Gladwell and Epstein Return

[08:14] Outliers: The Story of Success (Malcolm Gladwell • Back Bay Books • 2011)

[08:40] The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How. (Daniel Coyle • Bantam • 2009)

[10:51] Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice (Matthew Syed • Fourth Estate • 2010)

[12:10] NPR review of Range

[16:10] The Mastermind: Drugs. Empire. Murder. Betrayal (Evan Ratliff • Random House • 2019)

[28:21] Drunk Tank Pink: And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave (Adam Alter • Penguin Books • 2014)

[28:31] Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked (Adam Alter • Penguin Press • 2017)

[32:02] Epstein’s Science Research Project Abstract

[33:33] Epstein’s Daily News archive

[38:47] "Birds and Frogs" (Freeman Dyson • American Mathematical Society • 2009) [pdf]

[42:11] "Bright Future" (Sports Illustrated • 2007)

[45:29] Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career (Herminia Ibarra • Harvard Business School Press • 2004)

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