--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: David Epstein, the author of the best…" description: "\"David Epstein, the author of the best book on athletics in recent memory - \"The Sports Gene\" - wrote to me to say that he thinks I'm being overly gener..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/malcolm-gladwell-348_all-stars_david-epstein-the-author-of-the-best-boo_2228094.jpg" --- # David Epstein, the author of the best book on athletics in… ![“David Epstein, the author of the best book on athletics in recent memory - "The Sports Gene" - wrote to me to say that he thinks I'm being overly generous. He points out that, for years, there used to be an "all-star challenge" on television, in which the best professional athletes from a variety…” quote by Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/malcolm-gladwell-348_all-stars_david-epstein-the-author-of-the-best-boo_2228094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/malcolm-gladwell-348_all-stars_david-epstein-the-author-of-the-best-boo_2228094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/malcolm-gladwell-348_all-stars_david-epstein-the-author-of-the-best-boo_2228094.jpg) > “David Epstein, the author of the best book on athletics in recent memory - "The Sports Gene" - wrote to me to say that he thinks I'm being overly generous. He points out that, for years, there used to be an "all-star challenge" on television, in which the best professional athletes from a variety of sports competed in a kind of makeshift decathlon.” [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The "all‑star challenge" decathlon concept shows how cross‑sport competition once highlighted versatile athletic talent. **In simple terms:** Cross‑sport contests once showcased versatile athletes. Key Takeaway Recognize value of diverse skill sets. Themes sports versatility competition Mood analytical curious Type journalistic informative When to use this quote - coaching - team building - media analysis Key Concepts sports history talent development Questions to Reflect On - How can we revive multi‑sport events? - What benefits arise from cross‑disciplinary competition? A Different Perspective Modern media may overlook such formats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-stars/) [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Athletics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletics/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Decathlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decathlon/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Professional athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-athlete/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/) ## Related quotes > [If there is one thing I learned by reading Epstein's "The Sports Gene" it is that world-class athletes are, by definition, abnormal: that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/if-there-is-one-thing-i-learned-by-reading-epstein-s-the-sports-gene/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [ If you're famous, you have to \[be overly generous\], otherwise people say, "Eric Idle came in and only left me $4." I always tip… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/if-you-re-famous-you-have-to-be-overly-generous-otherwise-people-say/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [My whole family is missing that sports gene. I hope I didn't screw that up by marrying a great golfer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/my-whole-family-is-missing-that-sports-gene-i-hope-i-didn-t-screw/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [When I lost my decathlon world record I took it like a man. I only cried for ten hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daley-thompson/when-i-lost-my-decathlon-world-record-i-took-it-like-a-man-i-only/) [Daley Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daley-thompson/) > [I don't think anyone chooses the decathlon as much as it chooses you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-clay/i-don-t-think-anyone-chooses-the-decathlon-as-much-as-it-chooses-you/) [Bryan Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-clay/) > [Sometimes you have to resist working on your strengths in favour of your weaknesses. The decathlon requires a wide range of skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daley-thompson/sometimes-you-have-to-resist-working-on-your-strengths-in-favour-of/) [Daley Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daley-thompson/) > [It took me time to realize that the men who won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon are just men, just like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-brien/it-took-me-time-to-realize-that-the-men-who-won-olympic-gold-medals/) [Dan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-brien/) > [It hurts every day when you practice hard. Plus, when this decathlon is over, I got the rest of my life to recuperate. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/it-hurts-every-day-when-you-practice-hard-plus-when-this-decathlon-is/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [When Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner asked a roomful of Olympic hopefuls if they had a list of written goals, every one raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/when-olympic-decathlon-gold-medalist-bruce-jenner-asked-a-roomful-of/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [To me, the decathlon is its own little society and I am part of that culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-brien/to-me-the-decathlon-is-its-own-little-society-and-i-am-part-of-that/) [Dan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-brien/) > [I called Daley Thompson after the Games of '84, when he won. He'd had this phenomenal decathlon for nine events - and then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlyn-jenner/i-called-daley-thompson-after-the-games-of-84-when-he-won-he-d-had/) [Caitlyn Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlyn-jenner/) > [Speed is more important than endurance in the decathlon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlyn-jenner/speed-is-more-important-than-endurance-in-the-decathlon/) [Caitlyn Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlyn-jenner/) > [If I were to compare the Olympic decathlon to fatherhood, I would say fatherhood is a lot tougher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlyn-jenner/if-i-were-to-compare-the-olympic-decathlon-to-fatherhood-i-would-say/) [Caitlyn Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlyn-jenner/) > [Think of the life of the working woman as the decathlon. If you even finish it's a miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-dale/think-of-the-life-of-the-working-woman-as-the-decathlon-if-you-even/) Barbara Dale > [The thing I like about decathlon is also the thing I dislike: It's the maximum challenge, but also the maximum frustration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-eaton/the-thing-i-like-about-decathlon-is-also-the-thing-i-dislike-it-s-the/) [Ashton Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-eaton/) ## More by Malcolm Gladwell > [When I go to my health club, and it's in the basement, you have to take the elevator down. And this drives me crazy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/when-i-go-to-my-health-club-and-it-s-in-the-basement-you-have-to-take/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“The scholars who research happiness suggest that more money stops making people happier at a family income of around seventy-five thousand dollars a year.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-scholars-who-research-happiness-suggest-that-more-money-stops/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [We need to be clear when we venerate entrepreneurs what we are venerating.They are not moral leaders. If they were moral leaders, they wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/we-need-to-be-clear-when-we-venerate-entrepreneurs-what-we-are/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“Some people look like they sound better than they actually sound, because they look confident and have good posture," once musician, a veteran of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/some-people-look-like-they-sound-better-than-they-actually-sound/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [A handicap is like trying to race and you have a ten pound weight stuck to your waist. That is a handicap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/a-handicap-is-like-trying-to-race-and-you-have-a-ten-pound-weight/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“neighborhood was filled with engineers from Hewlett-Packard, then as now one of”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/neighborhood-was-filled-with-engineers-from-hewlett-packard-then-as/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“People are ruined by challenged economic lives. But they are ruined by wealth as well because they lose their ambition and they lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/people-are-ruined-by-challenged-economic-lives-but-they-are-ruined-by/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [The single most important thing a city can do is provide a community where interesting, smart people want to live with their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-single-most-important-thing-a-city-can-do-is-provide-a-community/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [ \[Norden\] said, with the Mark 15 Norden bombsight, he could drop a bomb into a pickle barrel at 20,000 feet. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/norden-said-with-the-mark-15-norden-bombsight-he-could-drop-a-bomb/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [The willingness to be self-critical in England is much greater than the willingness to be self-critical in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-willingness-to-be-self-critical-in-england-is-much-greater-than/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [The conventional explanation for Jewish success, of course, is that Jews come from a literate, intellectual culture. They are famously "the people of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-conventional-explanation-for-jewish-success-of-course-is-that/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“An archway to one side leads to a church, the Madonna del Carmine—Our Lady of Mount Carmine. Narrow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/an-archway-to-one-side-leads-to-a-church-the-madonna-del-carmine-our/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [People are experience-rich and theory-poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/people-are-experience-rich-and-theory-poor/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“Most psychologists believe that nature—genetics—accounts for about half of the reason why we tend to act the way we do. His point is simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/most-psychologists-believe-that-nature-genetics-accounts-for-about/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) [Explore all 647 Malcolm Gladwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) ## More All stars quotes > [ In 1989 I sort of got back into the music business and one of the reasons I got back in is \[that\] I put… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/in-1989-i-sort-of-got-back-into-the-music-business-and-one-of-the/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [It's not the NBA Finals, it's not even a regular-season game. It's the All-Star game, it's a celebration. A celebration of talent, speed, grace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/it-s-not-the-nba-finals-it-s-not-even-a-regular-season-game-it-s-the/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [Just because it is an All-Star Game doesn't mean that you are playing as efficiently as you should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/just-because-it-is-an-all-star-game-doesn-t-mean-that-you-are-playing/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [I was on Batman with "Superheavy" or "Zero Year" where there was a lot of fun and bombast, but it was also personal. \[In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-snyder/i-was-on-batman-with-superheavy-or-zero-year-where-there-was-a-lot-of/) [Scott Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-snyder/) > [The fact Jeff Teague has never been an All-Star is puzzling to me because he's certainly an All-Star-caliber player,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vogel/the-fact-jeff-teague-has-never-been-an-all-star-is-puzzling-to-me/) [Frank Vogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vogel/) > [It doesn't feel different being here (at the All-Star Game) I feel like I'm on an All-Star team everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/it-doesn-t-feel-different-being-here-at-the-all-star-game-i-feel-like/) [Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/) > [My mother was a secretary that elevated herself to having her own international company, my father elevated himself to an NBA player and perennial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-white/my-mother-was-a-secretary-that-elevated-herself-to-having-her-own/) [Brian J. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-white/) > [There's a page in #2 where I did one of the most interesting pages I've ever drawn. I had to think, "This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/there-s-a-page-in-2-where-i-did-one-of-the-most-interesting-pages-i/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [All roads lead to Trantor, says the old proverb, and that is where all stars end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/all-roads-lead-to-trantor-says-the-old-proverb-and-that-is-where-all/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The ABA really loosened up the NBA and introduced innovations like the three-point shot and the Slam Dunk and other competitions at the All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-daniels/the-aba-really-loosened-up-the-nba-and-introduced-innovations-like/) [Mel Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-daniels/) > [The only recording studio was in Motown - it was called Tamla/Motown at that time and we used to audition there because Smokey Robinson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-ross/the-only-recording-studio-was-in-motown-it-was-called-tamla-motown-at/) [Diana Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-ross/) > [Does Pete (Rose) hustle? Before the All-Star game he came into the clubhouse and took off his shoes and they ran another mile without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/does-pete-rose-hustle-before-the-all-star-game-he-came-into-the/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [Nobody seems to appreciate what an incredible player Wilt was," Russell said at 1997 All-Star Game when the league named and honored its 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilt-chamberlain/nobody-seems-to-appreciate-what-an-incredible-player-wilt-was-russell/) [Wilt Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilt-chamberlain/) > [They're (California Angels) like the American League All-Star team, and that's their problem, the American League All-Star team always loses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quisenberry/they-re-california-angels-like-the-american-league-all-star-team-and/) [Dan Quisenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quisenberry/) > [Well, it looks like the all-star balloting is about over, especially in the National and American Leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/well-it-looks-like-the-all-star-balloting-is-about-over-especially-in/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) [Browse all 51 All stars quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-stars/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "David Epstein, the author of the best book on athletics in recent memory - \"The Sports Gene\" - wrote to me to say that he thinks I'm being overly generous. 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