Outliers

The book states that to achieve personal talent or individual hard work is not a decisive factor in success; it is actually the situation of birth and the consequent culture and environment. The author depicts this by giving examples of anyone from Bill Gates to The Beatles, just to show that the very great ones are a result of a mind-blowing opportunity and timing. The author appears to be challenging the classical idea of the "self-made" success story, suggesting that its answer can be obtained only in something that goes beyond the personal attributes of realizing true success.