Why most child prodigies don’t grow up to be stars | David Epstein

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  • Опубліковано 25 січ 2025

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  • @pranjalsagar9849
    @pranjalsagar9849 Рік тому +32

    Puting too much stress and load on little gentle shoulders doesn't turned out to be the best of strategy for raising children in general. But I still think those kids that make it through this cruel and gruesome journey actually stands a chance of truly becoming extraordinary, really becoming stars.

    • @Fractured_Unity
      @Fractured_Unity Рік тому +5

      But imagine if a parent put all that effort instead to teach their child to be a generalist. It’s far more likely that they succeed at anything, but I’d argue it’s more likely that they’d be extraordinary at something.

  • @truthseeker7322
    @truthseeker7322 Рік тому +56

    Money made us specialise to one thing when in reality we are meant to be a jack of all trades, with you mastering as much as possible.
    Thats how you make things unique. Using combinations and using knowledge from other people, past experiences, we are meant to pluck what we need, combine with other things we've learnt, seen, heard or read and turn into something uniquely that we can say is ours. Thats what geniuses are

    • @Mia-ei4mh
      @Mia-ei4mh Рік тому +11

      Agreed, people used to say i know too many topics.. But the thing is due to this reason I'm able to always easily connect with people. I think being a jack really helped me socialising

    • @whitneyanders5945
      @whitneyanders5945 Рік тому +8

      Me too. I’m like a walking encyclopaedia and I find I can talk to anyone about anything.. this trait is great in a social context.

    • @itoibo4208
      @itoibo4208 Рік тому +3

      both are good to have. general thinkers for putting things together, specialized thinkers for doing advanced work like making formulas. i am the generalized type. I love putting things together from different places, but I will likely never be the math genius who can come up with the formulas for things like falling bodies and ballistics or chemistry.

    • @thatpandaz6094
      @thatpandaz6094 Рік тому +3

      The reason we humans were able to adapt to all climates and other challenges to spread across the entire globe and thrive is cause we're jacks of all trade. Our intelligence and cooperation makes it possible for us to adapt to anything much MUCH faster than evolution

    • @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633
      @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 Рік тому

      @@whitneyanders5945 I have a great variety of interests so I can talk to a lot of different pple.

  • @billiswillis8293
    @billiswillis8293 Рік тому +4

    5:22 "Rather than comparing yourself to someone who isn't you, you should compare yourself to yourself yesterday."
    Why not both?

  • @estycki
    @estycki Рік тому +34

    I remember when I was a kid, friends of mine that were piano prodigies when I asked them if they wrote any original music they looked at me like it was inconceivable... That's when I realized their special talent hit a wall. I never saw them playing along with anyone else either.

    • @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633
      @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 Рік тому +7

      You don't have to write original music when you're a piano prodigy or if you play piano or any instrument, other than organ. I'm talking about classical music here.

    • @hman2912
      @hman2912 Рік тому +14

      It's a totally different skill. Interesting hey. I know musicians who can reproduce insane pieces, but are afraid to make up a song. I on the other hand, love to create new music, but find it difficult to reproduce someone else's work

    • @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633
      @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 Рік тому +2

      @@hman2912 Classical musicians usually don't make up their own music. They think that Bach, Mozart, Beethoven are better than anything they could produce. Jazz, rock, and pop are different.

    • @hman2912
      @hman2912 Рік тому

      @@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 each individual is different. Each to their own. If playing classical music written by people long past is your jam, Great

    • @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633
      @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 Рік тому +2

      @@hman2912 Yes, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Purcell, Berlioz are far greater than anything produced today. But yes, go improvising and making up yr nice songs.

  • @phatato
    @phatato Рік тому +30

    Ok as a generalist I definitely agree with much of what he says and found the video interesting but the title is totally misleading, I was actually curious why people who are super talented at one thing as kids don't become more talented/successful in that specific thing as adults. The video just veered off in a very different direction 🤷‍♂

    • @KAIZORIANEMPIRE
      @KAIZORIANEMPIRE 9 місяців тому

      this video literally explained it. Specialists are no longer saught after.

    • @chriswheeler6092
      @chriswheeler6092 9 місяців тому +1

      one thing that immediately resonated with me was the Wicked learning environment.

  • @anmolagrawal5358
    @anmolagrawal5358 Рік тому +1

    Excellent piece and my thoughts align in the same direction.
    Which is why we're seeing an increase in inter/multidisciplinary approaches in academia as well.
    After branching out, things have started to converge again.
    I used to think of myself as someone who'd do a PhD and specialize but growing up, I've turned into a very different individual.
    More like a leader, a visionary and a creative even.
    I can identify the best elements, combine them together guided by the vision.
    That isn't to say specific domain is out of bounds, just that this feels like it has more potential to extract out of as things are now.

  • @nikmohamed5906
    @nikmohamed5906 Рік тому +10

    in the hyper-capitalistic, world full of inequalities nowadays, the nintendo story is not really applicable. The low level employee would never, ever given the chance by the upper management or even his direct supervisor to try on new things.

    • @fshihab
      @fshihab Рік тому +1

      Not really. It's true if the hierarchy is too tall but a lot of firms are not that big. They'd definitely give lower level employees a chance, if they show potential.

    • @anatoliagolden-hall4553
      @anatoliagolden-hall4553 Рік тому

      What is the reason for besmirching capitalism? Do you do it because it’s trendy, and everyone on Twitter and TikTok is bemoaning it?

  • @jasonbourne1076
    @jasonbourne1076 Рік тому +13

    Seems like I watched this video on Big Think? Domething titled Divergent thinking?
    Anyways great video.

  • @friedrice2912
    @friedrice2912 Рік тому +10

    We have a tendency to dislike the spotlight. We love to be left alone to our own devices.

  • @VARMOT123
    @VARMOT123 Рік тому +7

    Do one on tanishq abraham and nihar janga (only guy to win spelling bee and geobee in history )

  • @jeremyrockwell1287
    @jeremyrockwell1287 Рік тому +98

    There's some low hanging fruit here about children and Epstien, but i'll just go ahead and say good video. thank you.

    • @jpm199
      @jpm199 Рік тому +13

      Yeah I was thinking that. Something about his name is... Captivating

    • @rishitgulia8577
      @rishitgulia8577 Рік тому +7

      Yes indeed. Something intriguing about his name. Just can't quiet put my finger on it....

    • @jeremyrockwell1287
      @jeremyrockwell1287 Рік тому +1

      @@jpm199 sounds traumatizing; must feel like torture.

    • @infoharvester
      @infoharvester Рік тому +9

      all you guys are so sad 😒
      You’re commenting about a name made unpopular for so many… like the whole “Karen” thing.

    • @jackmcarthur1847
      @jackmcarthur1847 Рік тому

      What the hell-grow up and be normal please

  • @WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot9
    @WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot9 Рік тому +3

    Nice video.. but does he ever really say why prodigies never grow up to be stars though?

  • @karakol86
    @karakol86 Рік тому +11

    This is a great book, read it last year. And he is right folks

  • @prschuster
    @prschuster Рік тому +25

    I was never a child prodigy, but I was usually the smartest kid in the class - moderately gifted. I was never quite a genius, but I had the ability to think deeply rather than quickly, so this has been an advantage for picking up different skills. Luckily, my father never tried to turn me into a prodigy. A broad range of abilities is best.

    • @donotreply8979
      @donotreply8979 Рік тому +3

      No one cares

    • @prschuster
      @prschuster Рік тому +6

      @@donotreply8979 Does anyone care about you either? Nobody cares about of anything except for themselves and a few friends, but I digress.

    • @adamfattal468
      @adamfattal468 Рік тому +1

      What’re you up to now?

    • @prschuster
      @prschuster Рік тому +5

      @@adamfattal468 I became a biology tutor at a community college and then retired. I made an average wage doing what I loved.

    • @yuzan3607
      @yuzan3607 Рік тому +8

      I was the same. Interestingly by society's standards I'm doing way worse than the other kids in my class (and I'm always reminded by that by some 'annoying' family members). While a lot of them are working in high paid jobs, I'm working in a comfortable job at a small startup. In my 20's I got a scholarship to study in Japan and for me it was fun times discovering the world it was never about "success" or "money". I don't regret anything.

  • @chaosordeal294
    @chaosordeal294 Рік тому +3

    The smartest of the smartest don't seek stardom. Also, most people can't tell a prodigy from a kid who cleverly employs a bunch of simple tricks. Tiger Woods did not know a bunch of golf tricks, he was taught serious golf skills and knowledge and he learned and employed them exceedingly well, and he stuck with it, in part, because he loved it.

    • @anmolagrawal5358
      @anmolagrawal5358 Рік тому

      I disagree with the first statement.
      If I truly have great ideas, fame is a means to give it outreach plus if there is an individual of substantial value out there, I'd like to know about them too.
      I used to keep my thoughts to myself but realized that not interacting with others simply because I got my curiosity satisfied is not the right way to go about it if I intend to implement them in reality even if it adds some overhead.

  • @peanut422hb
    @peanut422hb Рік тому +3

    Real prodigies are not given the spotlight. The ones that become famous or created, yes created are from a specific bloodline. Don't believe me. Do some research. Like your tiger woods.

  • @EssentialTropicalTrove
    @EssentialTropicalTrove Місяць тому +3

    Elon Musk once said that --- " world has been changed more often by people who had difficulties in getting potty trained as a child".... this right there is the reality

  • @MylesDavid
    @MylesDavid Рік тому +2

    Great vid! 👍🏼

  • @aaronjennings8385
    @aaronjennings8385 Рік тому +6

    People, such as parents, provide for prodigies. The rest of the world is not so inclined.
    The exception is professional athletes.

  • @turolretar
    @turolretar Рік тому +5

    You can’t spell skill without kill

  • @mcsplivens
    @mcsplivens Рік тому +41

    The problem with specialists and prodigies is they are usually one trick ponies that are constantly adored and admired so they turn into narcissists. The problem with narcissists is they think they are so smart they already know everything and if you think you already know everything you don't think there's anything you could possibly learn. So aside from their one area of expertise they generally suck at literally everything else all the while thinking they have all of life's mysteries figured out. Meanwhile people are either left thinking "this guy's a genius? Really?" or worse yet people just accept the narcissists word that the narcissist is a genius. That is how the world gets saddled with say an Elon Musk. We need to stop worshipping narcissists and we can start by humbling prodigies.

    • @numinousmud4
      @numinousmud4 Рік тому +3

      Saddled with an Elon Musk?
      Humbling all those kids who are good at something, that'll show them they are nothing in this big world! Interesting takes my dude

    • @G8tr1522
      @G8tr1522 Рік тому +4

      ​@@numinousmud4 have you ever talked to a surgeon before?

    • @comforth3898
      @comforth3898 Рік тому +3

      I knew Elon would be included in there somewhere. I agree to an extent with what you wrote.
      I don't know how exactly Elon qualifies though.

    • @mcsplivens
      @mcsplivens Рік тому +2

      @@G8tr1522 I work with them.

    • @mcsplivens
      @mcsplivens Рік тому +4

      @@comforth3898 Musk reminds me of that old Don Rickles joke, "Everybody knows Elon Musk is a genius, just ask him"

  • @Daakkii
    @Daakkii Рік тому +4

    This will not stop project mbappe

  • @rogerleeaustin
    @rogerleeaustin Рік тому +1

    Lateral thinking with withered technology.
    There's plenty of withered technology out there begging for lateral thinking.

  • @hoaian_le
    @hoaian_le Рік тому

    Why are you ripping off off Big Think?

    • @The-Well
      @The-Well  Рік тому

      Hi there! Big Think is our parent channel; The Well is a partnership between BT and The John Templeton Foundation-so some content is crossposted between our two channels! For more information, see this link: bigthink.com/the-well/

  • @BeMyArt
    @BeMyArt Рік тому +1

    That's BigHit's mindset for ten years already. You are welcome 😅

  • @SilverPalace
    @SilverPalace 8 місяців тому

    nice video

  • @Oleobenohne
    @Oleobenohne Рік тому

    comforting

  • @Pe6ek
    @Pe6ek Рік тому

    The reason for something can't be because of something.

  • @switzjon8405
    @switzjon8405 Рік тому +2

    I would love to see a video that settles the discussion of race and IQ once and for all. Why one group Is considered the top tiers and others are at the bottom and is it really about your skin tone?

  • @HakendaNatan
    @HakendaNatan 4 місяці тому

    good

  • @IsraelCervantes-le4gf
    @IsraelCervantes-le4gf Рік тому +3

    I think he has a point, but despite having studied at columbia, his credentials are completely unrelated to neuroscience or learning.

  • @DRKSTRN
    @DRKSTRN Рік тому +2

  • @praveen.kumar.p
    @praveen.kumar.p Рік тому +2

    Actually he’s wrong. Read “Don’t trust your gut” by Seth Stephens Davidowitz.

  • @davidwhitney1171
    @davidwhitney1171 Рік тому +5

    When anyone prattles on and on about their golden, prodigy children or grandchildren, I always want to ask: "can they travel to England or Europe without needing a plane or boat- in other words can they walk on water?" But I never do of course, as when in comes to social skills I've always been- well, a prodigy!😊

    • @AshWroteThis
      @AshWroteThis Рік тому +3

      But why do you even care to have a negative thought at all? I genuinely don't get this. It just seems very comparative and insecure. Especially about a child....

    • @AA-ct7cb
      @AA-ct7cb 9 місяців тому

      If their kid had true prowess they wouldn’t try to advertise it to everybody.

  • @thewwefan57
    @thewwefan57 10 місяців тому +1

    What an unfortunate last name you have sir

  • @flutter8712
    @flutter8712 Рік тому +1

    Great brain

  • @anmolagrawal5358
    @anmolagrawal5358 Рік тому

    also, is that the buddha bump on your forehead...mate?

  • @MaQuGo119
    @MaQuGo119 Рік тому

    Is he related to Jeffrey?

  • @objetivista686
    @objetivista686 Рік тому

    So generalists are psychopaths...
    steeeeeeen

  • @destinyforreal9744
    @destinyforreal9744 Рік тому

    Smart

  • @Fredjoe5
    @Fredjoe5 Рік тому +5

    This would seem to make Elon Musk one of the premier examples of the Generalist in our time.

  • @stoonookw
    @stoonookw Рік тому

    Epstein tho

  • @AshWroteThis
    @AshWroteThis Рік тому

    The comments here are sad... but shouldn't surprise me. I feel like taking up for my innocent child self by saying that I'm sorry but you adults here sound very jealous. As if we flaunted our childhood intelligence at you and now we're getting what we deserve by not being millionaires. Like... Huh? It's a bit uncomfortable to read. Almost creepy.
    I still value my deep insight, eq and iq over the things most people value (money, power, outward success, lying to get your way to the top.. Etc). It's weird to have people literally resent your childhood intelligence especially when in most cases, said child was probably just minding their business reading and nerding out on their computer (in my case). We never said we were better than anyone so to want to gloat at our perceived adult mediocrity (while we are , of course, still continuing to mind my business) is most bizarre and just oozes insecurity of the other person. I found, as a child, even some teachers exhibited this weird jealousy or insecurity... Like mad at one's intelligence especially if used to correct them. Human beings are very interesting... . I am so grateful to be secure in who I am such that I rarely seek the murky, dark, satisfaction of finding a way to feel superior to someone who is just trying to live their life not even thinking about me and whose inner world I know nothing about. It's so strange to think about resenting a child, which is essentially what you're doing when you seek satisfaction from the knowledge that a gifted child is living a seemingly unremarkable life. I think the people who do this must be dealing with their own trauma. The trauma of not feeling special as a child, or, worse still, feeling slow, not smart enough, must be heartbreaking. It's the only thing that explains a 40-year-old man wanting to mock, ridicule and giggle at the genius from high school who is working a normal job and likely never said a bad word to this man when they were kids. What other reason should that satisfy you other then your own glaring, heavy, painful unhealed trauma and insecurities. And so, I have compassion for them. But just know that if these former prodigies you mock were ever true geniuses, they continue to fill their days with much deeper thoughts, likely want the very best for you, themselves, the world, and rarely feel any true, lasting inadequacy regardless of their circumstance. Our values are different. We value insight, information, holistic growth. Further, we still get told we're brilliant on a regular basis. There's not a job I start that I don't quickly get promoted despite my lack of desire for power. There's not a smart space I enter that I leave feeling confused or stupid. ISo, we could be homeless and still be validated for our intelligence regularly, just by sparking up a conversation with someone. If that regular validation was important to us. My point is, we are not worried about you guys, jealous of your successes, hoping you remember we were the smart kid in school. None of it. We are not thinking about you until we happen to stumble into the comments section of UA-cam and remember you guys are still our there being offended by our objective brilliance even if you think you're doing "better" than us in life. It's weird. But, I get. And I have compassion. Peace.

  • @nursultannazarov2833
    @nursultannazarov2833 Рік тому +3

    Such a BS. He writes feel good about yourself kinda books. Jack of all trades, master of none

    • @Mia-ei4mh
      @Mia-ei4mh Рік тому +3

      Jack of all trades, master of none but better than master of one

    • @xxxx-rn3yu
      @xxxx-rn3yu Рік тому

      Yes, he seems a little pandering here but there's a difference between using frame of reference to enhance quality of life over seeing the actual truth of industries

  • @martapriya98
    @martapriya98 22 години тому

    Basic and General Knowledge is important, but once you have that, To give your Full Attention towards you Goals and What your Good/Great at, is Key ! ❤️✨️⏱️