Nicholas Kristof: Rising Above I.Q.
Sunday, June 7th, 2009
Nicholas Kristof: Rising Above I.Q.
In the mosaic of America, three groups that have been unusually successful are Asian-Americans, Jews and West Indian blacks — and in that there may be some lessons for the rest of us.
Wonderful piece and I think Obama is on to the same logic, he’s pushing education over all else.
Reminds me of various Malcolm Gladwell New Yorker pieces that discuss education, IQ, success, practice, and more: Gladwell New Yorker Archive.
Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting
Love the subject matter! Recently read Gladwell’s “Outliers” a book that goes into great detail about many of the points Kristof raises.
Regarding the West Indians for example, Gladwell claims/points out that landowning white men would have affairs/forced and otherwise with slave woman but unlike in the American colonies, the children of these affairs were not hidden but were well cared for and even shipped off to England to attend the better schools. So, acceptance in society is crucial and demonstrated by educational opportunities.
Richard, speaking of “practice practice, practice” there’s a great part in Outliers where Gladwell talks about the countless hours The Beatles put in and played in Germany, just prior to coming over to The States.
Fascinating stuff.
Sandy: I read much of that stuff in installments in the New Yorker. Loved the piece on the guy who took over the investment banking firm from being a window washer.