Range Book Review and Why I love my Liberal Arts Education
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Title: Range: Why Generalist Triumph in a Specialized World
Author: David Epstein
Quote:
“Our greatest strength is the exact opposite of narrow specialization. It is the ability to integrate broadly”
Why I like it:
David Epstein's book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, challenges the common belief that early specialization is the sole path to success. Instead, he champions the power of being a generalist.
This book deeply resonated with my own educational journey as a physics major at a liberal arts university. The physics curriculum require courses in mathematics and chemistry, essential components of a broad scientific foundation. Additionally, classes in philosophy, English, and religion were not a detour but a crucial part of learning. My professors consistently encouraged us to synthesize ideas from these disparate fields into our papers and projects, fostering a unique kind of knowledge and way of learning.
This experience is in contrast to a narrow, specialized learning paths some students prefer. It's a disconnect I've seen in my work, particularly among computer science graduates who enter the workforce with a strong but singular focus. They often face a hard truth when they discover that software development requires far more than technical knowledge. They soon learn that success depends on a broad range of skills, including understanding business requirements, writing clear documentation, and well organized code.
My liberal arts education, with its emphasis on critical thinking and connecting diverse subjects, prepared me for these multidimensional challenges in a way that a purely technical curriculum never could. It taught me that genuine expertise isn't just about depth; it's about the ability to navigate complexity by integrating knowledge across a wide range of fields.
How I use It:
Championing the Well-Rounded Team: When I mentor engineers, I prioritize a diversity of skills over a narrow, specialized focus. (especially this list from Camille Fourier) Also, when hiring or forming new teams, I seek out individuals whose experiences complement or fill a weakness in our collective skillset, ensuring the group as a whole is adaptable and resilient in the face of complex challenges.
Inviting the Outsider's Advantage: I encourage our "Request for Comments" (RFCs) to include people from other teams and departments. This practice taps into the outsider advantage championed in the book, as those less familiar with a specific project can often spot flaws, ask critical questions, or suggest creative solutions that a specialized team might overlook due to their assumptions. This also applies to new hires, where fresh eyes can often see things differently and offer new solutions.
Cross-Domain Problem Solving: Look for ideas and strategies in seemingly unrelated fields. Read articles outside of your domain. For example, would you believe me if I said there is a lot property management can learn from the airline industry? I was standing at baggage claim after returning home from a team gathering in Santa Barbara. I realized there are millions of bags getting transported everyday and there is no button you press to tell the airline, I got my bag! But you can be sure you’re gonna tell them if your bag is missing. Similarly, when a work order is completed, the resident doesn’t always respond to the follow-up survey. Happy customers might create the least signal. So, how can we measure success differently? Additionally, airlines have to turn over planes very quickly and efficiently across different airports, just like maintenance teams might be spread out in different areas with little connection to each other. How do they maintain a high standard? What can property managers learn from how airlines run their business?
