Interesting ideas, but Gladwell's thesis seemed a bit diffuse at times, and sometimes it seemed as though he labored a bit too much to make each example fit his criteria. At first it seems as though he's arguing that, without being born at the right time in an environment that provides the proper intangibles---practical intelligence, strong work ethic, a culture that doesn't support feuding---one cannot succeed no matter how hard one tries. By the end, though, he seems to be making an argument for grit and the standard, "If you work hard, you'll succeed." So, which is it? Do we control our destiny or are we screwed if we've not found the right school, family, and marketable passion by the time we're in junior high? If one didn't get it by then, can one pursue a remedial course in practical intelligence and become a success later in life? 
 Like I told my spouse, this book was interesting but depressing. And it made me even more nervous to fly than I already am.