Readable and persuasive.
A young readers’ adaptation of Epstein’s adult title, which made a strong counterargument to the notion that early hyperspecialization is the best path to success.
The 2019 original dismantled the general theory that world-class professionals must be trained starting from childhood; in this work, Epstein and veteran adapter Frank directly address younger audiences feeling the pressure to make career decisions as early as possible. Though golfer Tiger Woods and Hungarian chess players the Polgár sisters do show that focused instruction from early on can lead to stellar performances (Woods was handed a club when he was 7 months old, for instance), others, including tennis star Roger Federer, painter Vincent van Gogh, Nintendo video game designer Gunpei Yokoi, and Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Frances Hesselbein, made false starts. Such people explored a range of interests and occupations before settling on one, or for various reasons they turned out to be late bloomers. “Switchers are often winners,” the co-authors write, urging readers to take the time to look for a “match quality” between their passions and their actual abilities. A section touting the advantages of learning methods that encourage classroom students to make thoughtful connections rather than relying on less flexible procedures adds to the academic spin of this edition, as do the discussion questions at each chapter’s end. The cast of profiled figures is racially diverse.
Readable and persuasive. (afterword, glossary, notes, index) (Nonfiction. 11-18)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780593624036
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
Preaching to the choir, perhaps, but an invigorating sermon all the same.
Zinn-ian conspiracy theories, propounded engagingly and energetically by filmmaker and gadfly Stone and Cold War scholar Kuznick (History/American Univ.).
If you’ve read Howard Zinn—or if, like Jeff Lebowski, the Port Huron Statement is still current news for you—then you’ll have at least some of the outlines of this overstuffed argument. Premise 1: Though the United States may pretend to be a nice, cuddly sort of democracy, it’s the font of much trouble in the world. Premise 2: When, post-9/11, neocons began pondering why it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for the U.S. to become an imperial power, they were missing a train (or Great White Fleet) that had pulled out of the station long ago. Premise 3: We like European fascists better than Asian fascists, as evidenced by propaganda posters depicting our erstwhile Japanese foes as rats and vermin. Premise 4: War is a racket that benefits only the ruling class. Premise 5: JFK knew more than he had a chance to make public, and he was gunned down for his troubles. And so forth. Layered in with these richly provocative (and eminently arguable) theses are historical aperçus and data that don’t figure in most standard texts—e.g., the showdown between Bernard Baruch and Harry Truman (“in a colossal failure of presidential leadership”) that could only lead to a protracted struggle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union for post–World War II dominance. Some familiar villains figure in as well, notably the eminently hissable Henry Kissinger and his pal Augusto Pinochet; the luster of others whom we might want to think of as good guys dims (George H.W. Bush in regard to Gorbachev), while other bad guys (George W. Bush in regard to Saddam Hussein) get worse.
Preaching to the choir, perhaps, but an invigorating sermon all the same.Pub Date: Oct. 30, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4516-1351-3
Page Count: 784
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 23, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
An introduction to ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs buried in the Valley of the Kings. The authors begin with how archaeologist Howard Carter found the tomb of King Tut, then move back 3,000 years to the time of Thutmosis I, who built the first tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Finally they describe the building of the tomb of a later Pharaoh, Ramses II. The backward-forward narration is not always easy to follow, and the authors attribute emotions to the Pharaohs without citation. For example, “Thutmosis III was furious [with Hatshepsut]. He was especially annoyed that she planned to be buried in KV 20, the tomb of her father.” Since both these people lived 3,500 years ago, speculation on who was furious or annoyed should be used with extreme caution. And the tangled intrigue of Egyptian royalty is not easily sorted out in so brief a work. Throughout, though, there are spectacular photographs of ancient Egyptian artifacts, monuments, tomb paintings, jewels, and death masks that will appeal to young viewers. The photographs of the exposed mummies of Ramses II, King Tut, and Seti I are compelling. More useful for the hauntingly beautiful photos than the text. (brief bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: March 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-7922-7223-4
Page Count: 64
Publisher: National Geographic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
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