Malcolm Gladwell sets out to prove two arguments in The Outliers:-

1. There is no such thing as an overnight success and
2. Stars are born AND made.

Throughout The Outliers, Gladwell looks at several case studies including The Beatles, Bill Gates, New York lawyer Joe Flom and others.

Gladwell argues that it is possible to take a successful person and predict their history in terms of where and when they were born, who their parents were in terms of cultural identity, and what type of school they attended.

While looking at successful Canadian hockey players, it was discovered that the best were born at a specific time of year. With other case studies, Gladwell succeeds in building the case that it definitely depends on when you were born as to whether you will be successful or not, in a range of endeavours.

He then goes on to examine the importance of cultural heritages including Jewish immigration and the ensuing rag trade boom, and the significance of rice fields on success in mathematics and other academic enterprises.

Gladwell’s signature and most coined argument from The Outliers is the 10,000 hour rule. Using a collection of studies he suggests and proves that one will only be an outstanding success at anything once they have achieved 10,000 hours of practice and execution of their speciality.

Gladwell builds compelling arguments and makes one stand back and think about the nature of success. The information he provides and the argument he makes allows us to understand success retrospectively and to some extent predictively.

Cliff notes really don’t do this work any justice and it is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in the pathology of success.

Spoiler Alert!

Finally Bella and Edward are married in a ceremony reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice. Jacob had left the pack of wolves, destined for a life of solitude after Bella could not love him. He returns as a wedding present. He is mortified to discover that Edward and Bella are planning on consumating the marriage as vampire and human, fearing that Bella will be killed by Edward.

Fearless and determined, Bella and Edward leave for their honeymoon to Esme’s Island, an idyllic setting on a pacific island.

They are successful in making love, though Edward has left Bella with many bruises, he is determined not to ever risk it again, however Bella again seduces him and as she says, they get better with practice.

By the end of the honeymoon, she discovers that she is pregnant, Edward and Carlisle have decided to remove the child before it kills Bella. Bella’s maternal instincts kick in and she enlists Rosalie to help her protect her unborn baby.

Back at the Cullen house, Jacob seeks out Edward fearing that he has changed Bella. He discovers a distraught Edward, sure he has killed Bella as the baby eats away at her.

Jacob tells the pack what is going on and they decide to kill Bella because of the abomination that grows within her. This goes against everything that Jacob believes and he takes back his claim to the Alpha and defies Sam the leader. He Continue reading 'Breaking Dawn Stephanie Meyer Cliff Notes'»

The time for Bella’s change into a vampire draws nearer with her graduation only a few weeks away. This news devastates Jacob, who has now imprinted on Bella as his life partner. (editors note this is what I thought while reading but was proved wrong later on in the series he is actually only madly in love with her) Edward will only change Bella if she is married to him.

Meanwhile, Victoria is still tracking Bella and the wereworlves and vampires have a nasty exchange in a border incident while both sides were trying to catch Victoria.

Seattle is now the scene of massacre as new vampires wreak havoc on the city, killing at random. The Cullens are watching this carefully and fear Volturi intervention.

A mysterious vampire visitor to Bella’s room has everyone on edge as it is a new scent. Someone is making more vampires without supervision and the problem is escallating.

Jacob and Bella’s relationship intensifies as she realises that she is also in love with him, but not as strongly as she is with Edward.

Alice finally has a vision of what is to come, a swarm of new vampires are coming to attack the town, led by Victoria, to kill Bella.  The Cullens are outnumbered and enter into an alliance with the werewolves whose pack numbers are now Continue reading 'Eclipse Stephanie Meyer Cliff Notes'»

There are spoilers here so if you don’t want to know what happens, move along.

My girls were raving about these books and their friends were borrowing them, so I decided I better read them to find out what it was all about.  I’ve had the complete series sitting on the book shelf for about two months.

The movie came out in Australia on Thursday 11 Dec so everyone was cramming to get the books read.

Here comes the spoilers

Twilight is about Bella and Edward. Edward is a vampire but one of the good ones, they only feed on stock not humans.  Edward is part of the Cullen family consisting of Carlisle (dad) Esme (mum) Alice, Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper.  There is an uneasy treaty between the local indians and the Cullens.  The Indians, primary characters Jacob, Bella’s friend and Billy, his wheelchair bound father and tribesmen elder.

Bella and Edward fall hopelessly in love (see wuthering heights) and Bella is invited into the Cullen’s world.  It is there she comes across some not so friendly vampires, Laurent, Victoria and Jason.

James is a tracker and becomes obsessed with Bella and eventually attacks her and bites her, but the Cullens come to her rescue just in time and Edward sucks out the venom.  James, the bad vampire is killed in the battle.  James is the life Continue reading 'Twilight New Moon and Stephanie Meyer Cliff Notes'»

I have upgraded my blog here and after nearly two hours have completed it, got back in and found my site in one piece.
You know, I only ever wanted to be a writer (and reader) but blogging is turning into a technical minefield.