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Episode details

Radio 4,18 Jul 2019,62 mins

Range: David Epstein

Don’t Tell Me The Score

Available for over a year

Why it's better to be a generalist not a specialist in sport and life- with best-selling author David Epstein. The general consensus in society tends to be that to have success in any field requires early specialisation and many hours of deliberate practice- aka the 'Tiger Woods model'. And if you dabble or delay, you'll never catch up with those who got a head start. In this episode of DTMTS, David Epstein dispels this widely-held myth. He explains that the best way to succeed is by sampling widely, gaining a breadth of experiences, taking detours and juggling many interests- which could be coined the 'Roger Federer model'. In other words, by developing 'range'- the title of David's outstanding new book. Epstein shows why in most fields - especially those that are complex and unpredictable - generalists, not specialists are primed to excel. David helps explain the best way people solve problems, how we learn and how we succeed and why frequent quitters often end up with the most fulfilling careers, and even end up going down in history. If you are considering a career-change, this episode is for you!

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