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SignatureReviewed by Leslie ChangIn Outliers, Gladwell (The Tipping Point) once again proves masterful in a genre he essentially pioneered—the book that illuminates secret patterns behind everyday phenomena. His gift for spotting an intriguing mystery, luring the reader in, then gradually revealing his lessons in lucid prose, is on vivid display. Outliers begins with a provocative look at why certain five-year-old boys enjoy an advantage in ice hockey, and how these advantages accumulate over time. We learn what Bill Gates, the Beatles and Mozart had in common: along with talent and ambition, each enjoyed an unusual opportunity to intensively cultivate a skill that allowed them to rise above their peers.

A detailed investigation of the unique culture and skills of Eastern European Jewish immigrants persuasively explains their rise in 20th-century New York, first in the garment trade and then in the legal profession. Through case studies ranging from Canadian junior hockey champions to the robber barons of the Gilded Age, from Asian math whizzes to software entrepreneurs to the rise of his own family in Jamaica, Gladwell tears down the myth of individual merit to explore how culture, circumstance, timing, birth and luck account for success—and how historical legacies can hold others back despite ample individual gifts. Even as we know how many of these stories end, Gladwell restores the suspense and serendipity to these narratives that make them fresh and surprising.One hazard of this genre is glibness.

In seeking to understand why Asian children score higher on math tests, Gladwell explores the persistence and painstaking labor required to cultivate rice as it has been done in East Asia for thousands of years; though fascinating in its details, the study does not prove that a rice-growing heritage explains math prowess, as Gladwell asserts. Another pitfall is the urge to state the obvious: No one, Gladwell concludes in a chapter comparing a high-IQ failure named Chris Langan with the brilliantly successful J. Robert Oppenheimer, not rock stars, not professional athletes, not software billionaires and not even geniuses—ever makes it alone. But who in this day and age believes that a high intelligence quotient in itself promises success?

In structuring his book against that assumption, Gladwell has set up a decidedly flimsy straw man. In the end it is the seemingly airtight nature of Gladwell’s arguments that works against him. His conclusions are built almost exclusively on the findings of others—sociologists, psychologists, economists, historians—yet he rarely delves into the methodology behind those studies. And he is free to cherry-pick those cases that best illustrate his points; one is always left wondering about the data he evaluated and rejected because it did not support his argument, or perhaps contradicted it altogether. Real life is seldom as neat as it appears in a Malcolm Gladwell book. (Nov.)Leslie T. Chang is the author of Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China (Spiegel & Grau).
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Expanding on a landmark cover story in Fortune, a top journalist debunks the myths of exceptional performance.

One of the most popular Fortune articles in many years was a cover story called “What It Takes to Be Great.” Geoff Colvin offered new evidence that top performers in any field–from Tiger Woods and Winston Churchill to Warren Buffett and Jack Welch–are not determined by their inborn talents. Greatness doesn’t come from DNA but from practice and perseverance honed over decades.

And not just plain old hard work, like your grandmother might have advocated, but a very specific kind of work. The key is how you practice, how you analyze the results of your progress and learn from your mistakes, that enables you to achieve greatness.

Now Colvin has expanded his article with much more scientific background and real-world examples. He shows that the skills of business—negotiating deals, evaluating financial statements, and all the rest—obey the principles that lead to greatness, so that anyone can get better at them with the right kind of effort. Even the hardest decisions and interactions can be systematically improved.

This new mind-set, combined with Colvin’s practical advice, will change the way you think about your job and career—and will inspire you to achieve more in all you do.

New research in nutrition and weight loss has revealed an amazing discovery: the brain—virtually neglected in all other diet plans—is the most important organ in dieting. Dieters can actually lose weight by eating foods, nutrients, teas, and spices that change the chemical balance of the brain for permanent weight loss—a major factor contributing to how quickly the body ages. In fact, everyone can take years off their age by changing their brain chemistry.

In Younger (Thinner) You Diet, Dr. Eric Braverman expands upon concepts introduced in Younger You to present a totally new approach to lifelong weight management, where the key is not found in counting carbs, fat grams, or calories. Obesity is a brain chemical imbalance, an addictive disorder, treated successfully only through the combined approach of diet, nutrients, and hormones. One of the foremost experts in integrative medicine, known for his work on the brain-body connection, Dr. Braverman teaches readers:-which foods naturally boost the body’s production of dopamine, the chemical in the brain that tells the body to start its fat-burning engine-how to choose foods, supplements, teas, and spices—even hormones and medicine—to avoid the effects of other aging organs that can destroy one’s metabolism-how to personalize the diet for specific health concerns, such as heart problems, aging skin, weak muscles, and achy joints

Eliminating the frustration and deprivation of conventional dieting, Younger (Thinner) You Diet will help anyone turn back the clock to a slimmer, healthier, younger you.

There was a 3 page feature in HERE’S HEALTH (March) about Body Language, using the Peases as a source and flagging up the forthcoming book. Press: DAILY MIRROR – interview ran 9 December SUNDAY EXPRESS – article on smiles ran 19 December DAILY TELEGRAPH – interview with Allan IRISH EXAMINER article WESTERN MAIL – interview GUARDIAN (18 Dec) feature in Rise about body language at interviews Regional press features and reviews ran in HIGHLANDS PRESS & JOURNAL, ABERDEEN PRESS & JOURNAL, DAILY POST WALES, LIVERPOOL ECHO, BOLTON EVE NEWS, LEICESTER MERCURY, NORTHERN ECHO, WORCESTER EVE NEWS, SHIELDS GAZETTE, EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES, BUCKINGHAM ADVERTISER, BEACONSFIELD ADVERTISER, NEWCASTLE JOURNAL, SOUTH WALES EVE POST, BRIGHTON EVE ARGUS, NORTHANTS CHONICLE, HALIFAX EVE COURIER Magazines: EVE – short article EVE – inclusion in ‘The Organiser’ (January 2005) SUGAR – short article (Sept) with plug for book GOOD HOUSEKEEPING – Christmas Books Pages Review (December) THE LADY – feature based on the book FAMILY CIRCLE – Feature on sleeping positions (December) BLISS! short feature on party tips TNT MAGAZINE – interview MEN’S HEALTH (Jan 05 issue) article on anger management NEW WOMAN (Feb 05) feature ‘Do Men Secretly Share Our Sex Fears?’ COMPANY (FEB 05) – Body Language mini feature COSMOPOLITAN (Feb 05) ‘what he tells you without saying a word’ body language feature NEW! (17 Jan 05) ‘how to flirt like the stars’ feature. MONEY WEEK (Feb 05) article for Gurus/body language EVE (April 05) included in ‘Yes You can change your personality’ article Television: SUNDAY STYLE BBC2 – Allan to to contribute to major new Sunday Morning life-style show. At lease one programme to be transmitted before Christmas. TRISHA Radio: BBC R4 ‘MIDWEEK’ 20 October with Alan BBC R5 ‘UP ALL NIGHT’ BBC RADIO YORK, BBC LONDON LIVE ‘JOANNE GOOD’, BBC RADIO BRISTOL, BBC RADIO JERSEY, BBC RADIO ESSEX, BBC RADIO WILTSHIRE, BBC RADIO LEICESTER, Internet: Interview with HANDBAG.COM Other: Allan and Barbara used as the basis for the presss release for a national campaign for the mobile phone company 82AK. (PR campaign handled by Weber Shandwick) –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Arguably the best book ever on what is increasingly becoming the science of persuasion. Whether you’re a mere consumer or someone weaving the web of persuasion to urge others to buy or vote for your product, this is an essential book for understanding the psychological foundations of marketing. Recommended. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Influence is a joy to read. Cialdini deserves a pat on the back for breaking the mold. — Contemporary Psychology

The materials in Cialdini’s Influence is a proverbial gold mine. — Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.