Outliers Summary- Chapters 4, 5, & 6

       In chapter 4, Gladwell opens by talking intensively about a man named Chris Langan. Gladwell mentions how he grew up poor with an alcohoic father that rarely showed up or made an appearance in his life. The author states how Langan was very smart and ended up going to Reed University on a scholarship, but how unfortunately, he ends up loses his scholarship due to missing a deadline for a financial aid form. Gladwell points this out and brings up another man named Robert Oppenheimer. The author says how he was also extremely intelligent like Langan, but recieved better feedback from his University. Oppenheimer recieved probabtion for an attempt of murder, whereas Langan was kicked out of his University due to his inability to turn in a financial aid form, putting in action the events that follow to him dropping out. The author says how this is due to Oppenheimer possessing "practical intelligence", which is achieved through a child's upbringing. The wealthier the family, the better a child's "practical intelligence" will be. This feeds into Gladwell's main point that wealth (class) plays a huge role with being successful.

       
      In chapter 5, Gladwell talks about a man named Joe Flom, who is apart of the most well-renowned law firms in New York. Gladwell mentions how although Flom grew up in a Jewish family during the depression, he still managed to achieve a good education. The author asserts that the reason why Flom is so successful is because he was a Jewish lawyer in New York at the right time. This feeds into one of Gladwell's main points that time is a huge factor that coincides with success. 

   
    In chapter 6, Gladwell talks about a small town Harlan in Kentucky and how there was a fued between two families. The author then mentions how fueds were common all over towns in Kentucky. Gladwell asserts how patterns of crime in the south are so distinctable. A distinctable aspect of crime in the south is that it is more personal. This feeds into another one of Gladwell's main points that culture plays a huge role in success: traditions and attitudes we inherit from our forebears can influence the amount of success we acquire. 

- Jasmine Sohal