The ideas presented in Outliers are surprisingly aligned with my own. For me it is logical that a person's success is not just a question of ability and individual merit. In the past I have reflected on my successes to discover that I was not alone in achieving them. I have been given tremendous opportunities in life. I've always questioned my own definitions, and I like the way Malcolm Gladwell gives his. “The Roseto Mystery” makes me want to knock on my neighbor's doors. I'm not saying I have the courage to do it, but I would certainly like to do it. I tend to be pessimistic when it comes to meeting new people. Wolf's conclusions help me tip the scales the other way, seeing the glass as half full. If people in Roseto truly lived longer, happier, and healthier lives through involvement in their community, then I would be tempted to find the courage to do the same. Chapter 1 is familiar in my life. In eighth grade my father moved us to the Midwest from Southern California; culture shock! Dad decided I should play football in middle school, after all my cousin played on the team, and so did my dad when he was at school. Most of the other players were at least a year older than me. It is common practice for parents to retain their children a year before starting school; this gives boys a size advantage in sports. When adolescence arrives, a year makes a big difference in a young person's size. Also, I was born in November; it was not a privileged year for cuts to sports championships. When it came to playing football, I was severely outmatched compared to my teammates. Because of my experience, I tend to agree with splitting sports league trials into semesters or quarters to allow for the same opportunities available to more players. Of course, it's easy to agree with the logic of Chapter 2; I really agree with the ideas about opportunities. The chances of success are slim. As the population grows, the possibilities become increasingly scarce.