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Book Review: 'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell
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Riding in the car to Michigan over the holidays, I listened to Malcolm Gladwell's new book Outliers. It's a fascinating treatise on how the very successful got that way. According to Gladwell, it's more than just being born with a giant brain or a perfect pitch. It has more to do with your particular set of life circumstances - where and when you were born, what your parents did for a living, what month you were born in, etc.
In other words, just because your IQ is 19 billion it does not necessarily follow you will become a Nobel Laureate or a virtuoso violinist. In fact, you may wind up being nothing more than a bouncer in a bar. Check out Chris Langdon.
From a fitness perspective this is an important concept to understand. If fully understood, it would save millions of people from despair and regression in their fitness endeavors. Allow me to explain.
The impossibly 'perfect' man to the right is an Outlier. He inherited or, rather, was born with several rare and unalterable (or attainable) genetic factors like the shape of his skeleton (wide shoulders and narrow ribs), more total muscle fibers, longer than average muscle length and width, low amount of total fat cells, and several other hormonal markers which allowed him to have the body he has. Lifting weights simply amplified these effects.
The same is true for this gal:
Now, I am NOT suggesting in any way that these people are to be envied; nor am I suggesting that these people are perfect or beautiful. I am just pointing out that if these types of bodies are something you are aspiring towards, the chances that you will achieve your goal - or even come remotely close - are slim to none.
These people and those like them are true genetic outliers. They are one in a million. It is not because they eat right, or exercise more, or sleep better, or anything else. If you don't already posses a body like this or close to it you can never have it.
Think of it this way - since there are over 9 billion humans on the earth, if only one half of one percent of all humans inherited the rare set of genetics necessary to have bodies like these people (or even close), this means that there are millions of people with such genetics.
All, and I mean ALL of the 'perfect' people you see in the magazines, on TV, movies, etc. are one of these outliers. It is no different than having extremely blue eyes, full, thick hair, or if you are very tall. It also pertains to the opposite - being bald, short, stocky or freckled. None of these are good or bad mind you - all have their advantages.
So remember, if you are exercising properly (strength training) and eating healthfully (low carb/paleo) you should be able to reach YOUR complete genetic potential in 1-2 years time. What you will see in the mirror at that time will be about as close to YOUR ideal self as possible. Rejoice in this whatever it turns out to be.
As I tell my daughter - "You get what you get so don't get upset." Rather, relish in your accomplishments and enjoy.
