The Advantages of Being a Generalist



What is the best path to success and excellence? Most people believe that the secret is choosing your specialty as early as you can. Afterwards, you should devote all of your time and energy into completely mastering the chosen field.

However, according to a book from 2019, this may not always be the case. In “Range,” author David Epstein argues that it may be more beneficial to start out as a generalist.

Generalists are people who do not solely focus on one set of skills. Rather, they stay interested in a wide range of subjects and pursue different interests.

Epstein says this variety of experiences can give generalists an advantage. Generalists are particularly adept at innovation, because they can see the bigger picture and even come up with something that no one has done before. Also, they are less likely to get frustrated when their ideas do not work out and they have to suddenly shift gears.

That said, Epstein explains his book is not an argument against specialization. In fact, he writes, there are many fields that require highly-trained specialists. For example, becoming a classical musician or a chess champion requires intense training and specialization from an early age.

On the other hand, the author notes that “most of life is not a chess game.” In fact, Epstein found through his research that many of the world’s most successful people tended to be generalists. They often find their path late, but once they do, they have developed the flexibility and skills necessary to succeed.

So, Epstein advises young people not to be in such a hurry to specialize. Rather, remaining a generalist early on may come in handy later in life.

Questions:
1. What do most people believe is the secret to success and excellence?
2. Talk about the book, "Range" by David Epstein.
3. Explain what a generalist is. What are some benefits of being one?
4. What do you think is the meaning of “most of life is not a chess game”?
5. Do you consider yourself a specialist or a generalist? Elaborate your answer.

Vocabulary:

1. generalist - a person competent in several different fields or activities.​