Outliers

Malcolm Gladwell's 2008 argument — that extraordinary success depends on hidden advantages (birth dates, cultural legacies, 10,000 hours of practice) rather than individual merit — the best-selling popular examination of the social context of success.

Creates the social context of success argument — Outliers challenges the self-made genius narrative by showing that circumstances (Canadian hockey birthdate cutoffs, Bill Gates's access to a computer in 1968, Beatles' Hamburg residency) are as important as talent in producing extreme success; the 10,000-hour finding became the most discussed scientific finding in popular culture.