Deep Thinking the Human Condition

What I liked about the book:

- The author brings up a very important topic to our attention: persistent underdeveloped countries which have not been able to achieve full potential.

- Reading this book caused me to look at higher education in a different way especially when taking into account the perceptions that some people have of social science and natural science.

What I didn't like about this book:

- In my opinion, the author seems to be saying that the whole world should try to teach "Western" style academics because that's the best there is. This, to me, sounds a bit arrogant.

- The message I got from this book is that if you want to study something in college major in anything that has to do with natural science as social science is a waste of time.

I realize that this is the first book of a series so more are to come and all we can do is wait and see what will be next.

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

This book was right on target when it talks about how we must take into account many different variables and not only IQ scores when talking about how someone was able to become so successful.

Malcolm Gladwell talks about how the environment has influence over us. For example, before Bill Gates even went to college he already has access to computers that were far more advanced and superior than the ones used by some university students because he was attending a very expensive school. By having been born into a wealthy family he was able to surround himself with things that others might not have access too.

While this is not to say that his success was handed over to him, it does cause one to think. I'd say this has been one of the more thought provoking books I've read lately.