Research on Success: 'The Formula' by Albert-László Barabási

Despite a bit pretentious subtitle, the book delivers. It has very interesting insights on what drives success, which is backed up by research. My main challenge with the book is the fact that I hardly remember anything after 2 weeks. Might be just me... anyhow, that's what this review is for: to remember the main bits.

My grade of the book: B+ (using the American grading system) - recommended.

Top 5: Beware of the idols reaping the rewards of the group's work

While team success requires diversity and balance, a single individual will receive credit for group's achievement.

Top 4: Superstars are only marginally better than everyone else.

Even though performance does drive success, the differences between the top contenders are so tiny that they are often immeasurable.

Top 3: With persistence, success can come at any time

Scientists tend to succeed before 30 because they stop trying after that, their productivity drops. Each paper has the same chance to become a breakthrough.

Here is a great TED talk on this topic.

Top 2: Feedback loops are the main driver of success.

Success breeds success. -> You need to engineer momentum.

Popularity breeds popularity.

The performance, of course, still matters. Success = fitness * previous success.

Top 1: The source of success is perceived success.

Your success isn't about you and your performance, it's about us and how we perceive your performance.

Performance drives success, but when performance can't be measured networks drive success.

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