Gladwell Malcolm: The Trouble with Geniuses

In Gladwell’s essay “The Trouble with Geniuses”, the focus is on the interrelatedness
between intelligence, a person’s environments, and their level of success. Part one of the
story focuses on two people with remarkably high IQ, but one with a lower IQ than the other,
the successful life of Einstein and the tragic experience of Chris Langan materialises the
author’s argument. He adds the lifestyle and opportunities that define Robert Oppenheimer
and Langan to the context. Parts 1 and 2 of the story build on the previous chapters to show
how the contextual environment in a person’s life is pivotal in determining their success and
failures, and although there can be exceptions, the author uses valuable examples to give
merit to the story.
Gladwell defines the purpose of the story when he states that a person’s success rests
more on the opportunities they have than on their innate talent. He expands on this notion by
reducing extraordinary achievers to their purest and detailed forms, while referring to these
people as the geniuses (Gladwell, 76-77). Contrary to Langan, who grew up in a
dysfunctional family, an unsupportive parent, and limited opportunities, Robert enjoyed
support from successful parents and opportunities (Gladwell, 108). Though the two are
individuals, there are inseparable parts of their environments. The two had the same threshold
talent for success that would shape their future, but it was not the sole determinant. He
recounts similar disappointments, but different outcomes between Robert and Langan to
show how concerted inputs from the environment add to life the basis of success. While

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Robert was able to direct the result of his actions to a favourable direction, Langan did not
use a similar charisma when dealing with his professors (Gladwell, 91). Gladwell believes
that poor social skills and charisma shown by Langan are results of his environment. As the
two continued their struggles, Oppenheimer was able to complete his education and became
accredited for the invention of the atomic bomb. Langan failed to achieve academic success
and worked as security before eventually becoming a horse farmer (Gladwell 91). If success
were the product of natural intellect, both would realise great achievements, yet their lives
went in two different directions. Out of frustrations, the author writes the story to share his
opinion on how successful people should be judged, with reference to people with similar
intellectual abilities, the essay demonstrated how IQ is not the only factor determining the
ability of someone succeeding.
Gladwell targets the whole society, but is sentimental on the roles family, individual
abilities, and educators play in shaping a person’s future. Parents can learn from the pivotal
differences they can make in realising their children’s full potential. Educators are in a better
position to recognise abilities in the learners, and should strive to help this person maximise
on their talents. Gladwell’s wider audience is the social structure and he hopes that people
will embrace the unique skills in individuals and strive to present then with more
opportunities (Gladwell 100). He explains how personal insecurity and lack of concern for
children welfare resulted in the unfavourable outcomes as in the case of Langan. On the other
hand, using Robert’s environment and success to show how environment can shape a brighter
future when modelled in a certain way can benefit the society eventually. When presented
with the right setting and opportunities, anybody with a certain set of abilities can become a
Nobel Prize winner.
Gladwell addresses the audience from a personal perspective when discussing the
outcomes of environmental impacts and personal development. He employs personal

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pronouns to express his ideas (Gladwell 50-61). Additionally, he poses questions to the
reader. Employing these tools helps the reader to connect to the author’s point of view while
attaining a neutral ground on the same topic. The use of analogies and anecdotes summarizes
the story and plays a role as evidence to his reasoning. Although Gladwell does not utilize
results of scientific research to support his claims, he uses relevant examples as the basis of
his arguments. His choice of characters, individuals who are famous, and familiar to the
reader allows the audience to connect easily with the story’s context. Nevertheless, using
well-founded studies to support his story would make his claims add academic authenticity to
his version.
In part 1 and 2, he continues to build his argument that top achievers to not rise to
such status by talent alone, but by a combination of environmental inputs and innate skills.
Above all, opportunity determines the height to which a person blessed with admirable skills
can climb the ladder of success. He states that the case of Langan is unique compared to those
of people like top artists, software engineers and inventors who all had people to nature their
skills and talents (Gladwell, 104-106). Lack of social support and environmental
contributions permitted one of the Americas brilliant brains to go to waste.

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Works Cited

Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers. New York: Back Bay Books/Little, Brown, and Company,

2008. Print.