許多專家學者宣稱，如果想習得一技之長，或者成為任何領域中的佼佼者，都應該趁早學習、且分秒必爭地持續練習，才可能償其所願。只要稍一懈怠，便可能落得望他人項背之莫及的下場。造就焦急的父母在孩子還沒出生，就開始摩拳擦掌，也讓那些晚人一步才對於某個領域、技藝產生好奇的人，相信自己註定只能把這份喜好當成填補生活空白的興趣。

　　但真的是如此嗎？

　　在仔細看過專業運動選手乃至諾貝爾獲獎者等世界頂尖人才的研究報告後，我們發現，小時了了只是少數例外，而非鐵則。

　　本書作者David Epstein檢視全球最成功的運動員、藝術家、音樂家、資本家、趨勢預測專家和科學家們之後，得出一項結論：「通才較專才更容易通向卓越，且越是艱深難料的領域，越是如此。」一般而言，通才比較晚找到適合他們的道路，且會拓展多元興趣，而不會只有一項喜好。他們通常更有創意、更機靈，擁有更遼闊的視野，看見專才們所不能發現的關聯。

　　《Range》透過研究試著告訴我們：失敗才是最好的老師、總是半途而廢也可能反而發展出富足的職涯、而我們周遭裡最具影響力的那些開創者，通常跨足各領域而不只埋頭於單一範疇…當電腦正逐漸取代過往許多屬於專才的技能，保有無比的好奇心與嘗試的勇氣，思想廣袤而擁抱多元體驗及觀點的人，才會持續發光發熱。

　　「這是一本既重要又呼應當下社會的作品！老闆、父母、教練和所有力求精益求精的人們都應該讀讀它。」——《什麼時候是好時候》、《未來在等待的人才》丹尼爾．品克Daniel H. Pink力薦


　　“Range is an urgent and important book, an essential read for bosses, parents, coaches, and anyone who cares about improving performance.” —Daniel H. Pink

　　What's the most effective path to success in any domain? It's not what you think.

　　Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. If you dabble or delay, you’ll never catch up to the people who got a head start. But a closer look at research on the world’s top performers, from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the exception, not the rule.     

　　David Epstein examined the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters and scientists. He discovered that in most fields—especially those that are complex and unpredictable—generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see.

　　Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, Range makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency. Failing a test is the best way to learn. Frequent quitters end up with the most fulfilling careers. The most impactful inventors cross domains rather than deepening their knowledge in a single area. As experts silo themselves further while computers master more of the skills once reserved for highly focused humans, people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive.

　　Review

　　“For reasons I cannot explain, David Epstein manages to make me thoroughly enjoy the experience of being told that everything I thought about something was wrong. I loved Range.” —Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers and The Tipping Point

　　“It’s a joy to spend hours in the company of a writer as gifted as David Epstein. And the joy is all the greater when that writer shares so much crucial and revelatory information about performance, success, and education.” — Susan Cain, author of Quiet

　　“For too long, we’ve believed in a single path to excellence. Start early, specialize soon, narrow your focus, aim for efficiency. But in this groundbreaking book, David Epstein shows that in most domains, the way to excel is something altogether different. Sample widely, gain a breadth of experiences, take detours, and experiment relentlessly. Epstein is a deft writer, equally nimble at telling a great story and unpacking complicated science. And Range is an urgent and important book, an essential read for bosses, parents, coaches, and anyone who cares about improving performance.” —Daniel H. Pink, author of When, Drive, and A Whole New Mind   

　　“In a world that’s increasingly obsessed with specialization, star science writer David Epstein is here to convince you that the future may belong to generalists. It’s a captivating read that will leave you questioning the next steps in your career—and the way you raise your children.” —Adam Grant, author of Give and Take and Originals  

　　“I want to give Range to any kid who is being forced to take violin lessons—but really wants to learn the drums; to any programmer who secretly dreams of becoming a psychologist; to everyone who wants humans to thrive in an age of robots. Range is full of surprises and hope, a 21st century survival guide.” —Amanda Ripley, author of The Smartest Kids in the World.

　　“An assiduously researched and accessible argument for being a jack of all trades.” —O Magazine, Best Nonfiction Books Coming in 2019

　　“Range elevates Epstein to one of the very best science writers at work today. The scope of the book—and the implications—are breathtaking. I find myself applying what I've learned to almost every aspect of my life.” —Sebastian Junger, author of Tribe, War, and The Perfect Storm    

　　“Range will force you to rethink the nature of learning, thinking, and being, and reconsider what you thought you knew about optimal education and career paths—and how and why the most successful people in the world do what they do. It's one of the most thought-provoking and enlightening books I've read.” —Maria Konnikova, author of Mastermind and The Confidence Game, professional poker player

　　“A fresh, brisk look at creativity, learning, and the meaning of achievement.” —Kirkus Reviews

　　“Brilliant, timely, and utterly impossible to put down. If you care about improving skill, innovation, and performance, you need to read this book. ” —Daniel Coyle, author of The Culture Code and The Talent Code