The ideas presented in Outliers are surprisingly aligned with mine. It seems logical to me that a person's success is not just a matter of individual ability and merit. In the past, I have reflected on my successes to realize that I was not alone in achieving them. I have had enormous opportunities in life. I've always questioned my own definitions and I like Malcolm Gladwell's spin on his. “The Roseto Mystery” makes me want to go and knock on my neighbor’s door. I'm not saying I have the courage to do it, but I certainly would like to do it. I tend to be pessimistic when it comes to meeting new people. Wolf's findings help me tip the scales in the other direction, to see the glass half full. If the people of Roseto truly lived longer, happier, healthier lives because of their 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 8th grade, my father moved us from Southern California to the Midwest; culture shock! Dad decided that I should play soccer in middle school, after all, my cousin played on the team, as did my dad when he was in school. Most of the other players were at least a year older than me. It is common for parents to hold their boys back a year before starting school; this gives boys a size advantage in sports. By the time adolescence arrives, a year makes a big difference in a young man's height. Additionally, I was born in November; This is not a good year for sports league cuts. When it came to playing football, I was way outmatched by my teammates. Because of my experience, I tend to agree with sports league tryouts being divided into semesters or quarters to allow the same opportunities to be offered to a greater number of players. Of course, the logic of chapter 2 is easy to accept; I really agree with the ideas about opportunities. The chances of success are rare. As the population increases, the chances become increasingly rare.