Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I'll admit he was preaching to the choir. I've always defined creativity as nothing more than linking ideas across domains, so the wider your range of interests, the more potential for creativity. As a lifelong polymath obsessed with reading and researching things while working in a creative/technical field, this seems fairly obvious. So the biggest takeaway from this book was how much overspecialization is happening across industries. I've seen some of this in person (the medical field: haven't we all), but it's still concerning to think about in regards to, say, scientific research.

I think this quote from his conclusion really captures the essence of the book: “The question I set out to explore was how to capture and cultivate the power of breadth, diverse experience, and inter-disciplinary exploration, within systems that increasingly demand hyperspecialization, and would have you decide what you should be before first figuring out who you are.”

If you're not convinced, read this book. If you need encouragement that your interests unrelated to your work still matter, read this book. If you disagree with everything I just said, read this book and open your mind a little.