Late Bloomers: The Hidden Strengths of Learning and Succeeding at Your Own Pace

Description

A groundbreaking exploration of what it means to be a late bloomer in a culture obsessed with SAT scores and early success, and how finding one's way later in life can be an advantage to long-term achievement and happiness. We live in a society where kids and parents are obsessed with early achievement, from getting perfect scores on SATs to getting into Ivy League colleges to landing an amazing job at Google or Facebook-or even better, creating a startup with the potential to be the next Google or Facebook or Uber. We see software coders becoming millionaires or billionaires before age 30 and feel we are failing if we are not one of them. Late bloomers, on the other hand, are undervalued-in popular culture, by educators and employers, and even unwittingly by parents. Yet the fact is that most of us do not explode out of the gates in life. We have to find our way. We have to discover our passions, and talents and gifts. That was true for author Rich Karlgaard, who had a mediocre academic career at Stanford (which he got into by a fluke), and after graduating, worked as a dishwasher and night watchman before finally finding the inner motivation and drive that ultimately led him to start up a high-tech magazine in Silicon Valley, and eventually to become the publisher of Forbes magazine. There is a scientific explanation for why so many of us bloom later in life. The executive function of our brains doesn't mature until age 25-and even later for some. In fact our brain's capabilities peak at different ages. We actually enjoy multiple periods of blooming in our lives. Based on several years of research, personal experience, and interviews with neuroscientists and psychologists, and countless people at different stages of their careers, Late Bloomers reveals how and when we achieve our full potential-and why today's focus on early success is so misguided, and even harmful.

Rich Karlgaard is the publisher of Forbes magazine and is based in Silicon Valley. He is a renowned lecturer, pilot, and the author of four acclaimed previous books.

"Our culture exalts youthful brilliance over mature achievement. Talent often flourishes later in life, when experience brings wisdom. . . . The institutions and organizations that dominate so much our lives should pay heed."-The Wall Street Journal "I'm tempted to say this book was long overdue, but the truth is that it couldn't come at a better time. Rich Karlgaard makes a commanding case against the wunderkind ideal, in favor of recognizing that late bloomers often prove to be the most radiant. If you've ever known someone who was overlooked or underestimated-or been that someone-you'll immediately appreciate the importance of this message. Reading it is an utter delight." -Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take "In Late Bloomers, Rich Karlgaard analyzes one of the most powerful myths in America: that test scores and early achievements are the best indicators of suc - cess in life. He makes a compelling case that the relentless search for prodigies is bad for kids and blinds us to the extraordinary talents of those who develop normally. A must-read for parents and executives."-Roger McNamee, Founder of Elevation Partners and Author of Zucked "Rich Karlgaard is doing society a huge favor by outing a toxic belief of modern culture, one that is both untrue and life-squelching: 'You should know by now!' It's usually shouted at 20 or 30 somethings (if not 18 year olds), but it feels terrible to hear in your 40's or beyond - and it's crazy. Take a breath. There's nothing wrong with you. The best is truly yet to come! Read this book and find out how to make the most of the joy of late blooming."-Dave Evans, Co-founder of the Stanford Life Design Lab and co-author of Designing Your Life "Late Bloomers is a profoundly important book. It will immeasurably and happily improve the lives of millions of kids, parents, baby boomers-just about all of us. Ben Franklin, the prototypical American who pursued numerous and different endeavors during his long and fruitful life, would have been impressed by what Rich Karlgaard has wrought here."-Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media "Late Bloomers is a gem. A remarkable quality of humankind is our 'contagion' to the emotions, thoughts and behaviors of those around us. At times this quality can be destructive, as with the absurd over-valuing of early achievement in our culture. Karlgaard tackles this head on. He calls 'the Emperor has no clothes' on this pre-occupation, while making an articulate and elegant argument that developmentally-informed parenting and education should value patience, experience and wisdom." -Dr. Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Fellow at The ChildTrauma Academy; Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University; Author of The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog "Rich Karlgaard's Late Bloomers shines a much-needed light on an essential human truth - that each one of us can realize our gifts and unlock our full potential, whether we're an early achiever or a late bloomer. As he shows, life is not a race, it's a journey."-Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global