Explores how the inherited cultural values, especially those surrounding work and enterprise, equip some immigrant groups—such as Jewish families in New York—for professional success.

Examines how critical timing and historical context contribute to individual professional success, using the stories of Joe Flom and his peers as examples.

This concept emphasizes the necessity of 'opportunity'—consisting of social context, support, and external resources—as the missing ingredient for turning potential into realized success, arguing against the myth of the self-made genius.

This concept explores how family background and social class shape children's educational and professional trajectories, especially through parenting styles that either nurture or fail to nurture essential life skills.

This concept examines 'practical intelligence'—the ability to navigate complex social situations—and its origins in family upbringing, highlighting its decisive influence on educational and career outcomes.

This concept explores the limitations of intelligence and IQ as predictors of real-world achievement, highlighting how practical intelligence, family background, and social context play crucial roles in success.

This concept examines the role of practical intelligence (or 'social savvy') and the influence of family background and cultural upbringing on a person's eventual success.

This concept focuses on the threshold effect—the idea that once a minimum level of intelligence is surpassed, other non-cognitive skills (like creativity, divergent thinking, and social savvy) become more important predictors of success.

This concept explores the idea that high intelligence (such as IQ) alone is not a sufficient predictor of success, and that its impact plateaus above a certain threshold.

The chapter exposes the myth that success is simply the result of personal merit, arguing that structural factors, timing, and hidden advantages are critical components of individual mastery.