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Yet, as Epstein points out, many do not live or work in a kind world. Borrowing a term from the social sciences, Epstein points out that most live in a “wicked” environment—one with ever-changing rules and expectations. Here, those possessing range—the result of following numerous passions and interests—will build a larger, broader set of skills that will enable them to deal with the unforeseen. This is especially true for entrepreneurs as mentioned in the book The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster.

One example will suffice from the many Epstein draws upon. Chess by definition has long been a pastime fashioned by a kind environment; its rules do not change and pattern recognition is highly prized. But what happens when you introduce computers into the mix?

Grand master chess player Garry Kasparov faced this dilemma when playing against computer program Big Blue in 1997. Kasparov lost, but to his credit, he thought outside of the box. Kasparov envisioned a way to defeat an AI that could access instantly millions of potential chess moves.

He realized that creativity could outflank such a foe, and the “freestyle chess” movement—in which players team-up with computers to employ the strengths of both—was born. Such teamwork and leveraging unique creative vs analytical minds is discussed in great detail in the books Loonshots and Traction.

However, note the larger lesson: Kasparov intuited that the game no longer operated solely in a kind environment. The introduction of AI transformed even the staid world of chess into a wicked environment.

Epstein presents many examples in which possessing range leads to greater success in work and general happiness in life. One might think, for example, that the most successful comic book artists are those who draw the same title repeatedly. According to a study of thousands of comic books, the most financially and creatively successful tended to be drawn by generalists—that is, artists who had drawn everything from superhero comics to romances. A great book to read about trying new things is Poke The Box by Seth Godin.

Working from a wider palette of experience, these artists created more memorable and daring work (although not mentioned by Epstein, the career of legendary penciler Jack Kirby bears this observation out).

As mentioned, Epstein here addresses a general audience, and not just a business-oriented one. Those readers might be more interested in the book’s last two chapters, which feature an array of examples taken from case studies that will be familiar to anyone in an MBA program.

Otherwise, readers will enjoy Epstein’s accessible prose style. The only caveat is that with so many studies, anecdotes, and stories presented, at times Range is a challenge to digest. Pace yourself. Absorb its ideas one example at a time, and consider how you might implement them. After all, finding range requires developing the ability to take lessons as you find them.

About The Author David Epstein

David Epstein is a journalist and currently an investigative reporter for ProPublica. Formerly a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, in 2013 he published his first book, the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene, which explored the links between athletes, training, and genetics. Epstein has stated that researching how athletes succeed led him to greater questions with regards to success itself. This became the germ of an idea that eventually led to the 2019 publication of Range.

Epstein’s 2014 TED talk “Are Athletes Really Getting Faster, Better, Stronger? has received over 8 million views to date, a link to which was tweeted out by Bill Gates.

Epstein earned master's degrees in environmental science and journalism from Columbia University. In 2003, Epstein broke the story that baseball player Alex Rodriquez tested positive for steroid. Epstein is also no stranger to the academic world, having a co-authored a research article published in the journal of Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research in February 2013.