Book Review: The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness

A highly valuable read for anybody that might interact with other people.

More specifically, I recommend this to any student, teacher or leader, that is interested in optimising the performances of the people they encounter. Seth Godin stated about the author of the book that he "transforms our understanding of who we are and what's important". If that isn't enough of a teaser for you, then you need to wake up.

Though the book starts with an interesting story, that opens one's eyes to the challenges of focussing on the average vs the individual. To me, it initially reads somewhat slowly. The history and facts to be found, are by all means interesting, but they might not feel as necessary for every reader. But hold fast! When you get further into the book you realise that these stories are the foundation and validation that help make sense of the how's and why’s of the anti standardisation mindset that Ross is trying to communicate. It becomes clear that the expression average is often not an average at all but a median. Put differently, the unnormal is normal.

I often say that if you as your competitors; -employ the same type of people -to do the same type of job -in the same type of way. you will get the same type of results..... well why not strive for being better? Needless to say, the topic in this book is right up my ally. A great confirmation as to remind one's self that daring to go an unchartered way is the only way to do something that hasn't been done before. For those that believe that standardisation is still the answer, I challenge you to give it a read!

This sounds vague, I know. To simplify it, the book explains three principles as to how we now view and deal with peoples abilities. Furthermore, it discusses how by perceiving people differently, we could potentially create more effective results.

The three main principles in the book:

The Jaggedness Principle

• An average of a person abilities is not always a correct way of viewing the. If you map out peoples strengths and weaknesses you will often see a "jagged pattern". As the book then states; "When we are able to appreciate the jaggedness of others peoples talents, - the jagged profile of our children, employees, our students - we are more likely to recognise their untapped potential, to show them how to use their strengths, and to identify and help them improve their weaknesses”. -Todd Rose

The Context Principle

• We have to remember that all things are relative to the context to which they are within. A poor student in a foreign language and the arts might be a genius in biology, the average grade of this student is then somewhere in between the two extremes and potentially below average. As a result, this student might not get into the medical program that would teach this genius the skills needed to allow him or her to cure cancer. By adding context to the equation, rather than only following a given formula, we might be able to see the greater potential.

Pathway principle

• If we believe that people have different strengths and abilities, it is also natural to assume that the way we create, do, learn, develop or achieve might differ. We know that there are many roads to Rome, but “the right way” is often a non-existent. 

This is a must-read for anybody doing research or working with statistics in any way. I would particularly like to point this out to anybody that will be undertaking a research-based project or dissertation shortly. 

Parents, a great gift to your soon to be graduate student!

Feel free to find and buy the book here:

Have you read the book? What did you think?

#Shameless self-promotion: More book reviews are on their way!

I am always happy to connect, so feel free to reach out and do so!

-Ragnar Syltevik-