And what is the missing element, here?
We look at outrageously talented and successful people - the Beatles, Mozart, Rockefeller, Bill Gates - and assume there is such a thing as pure genius. Not necessarily, argues Malcolm Gladwell.
And what is the big black hole in this discussion? - which, I will concede, makes some extremely pertinent points about timing, being in the right place at the right epoch with the right interests/skill set/drive, and so forth, for really stellar achievements.
Where are Dah Wynmmynz???? enquiring mind would like to know.
Okay, doubtless some of those gifted, if ungendered in the text, musicians were female.
But is there not a huge honking subtext that if a degree of obsession, spending endless hours doing something, being allowed (if not encouraged) to spend time doing something, being able to sneak out in the middle of the night to use free computer access, being taken seriously, etc, are necessary to really outstanding, model-breaking, achievements, women are going to be handicapped from the get-go. Because even if a girl/woman had that kind of obsession (quite possible) she would find it much less easy to pursue it without distraction, without people (e.g.) pointing out the potential dangers of sneaking around computer facilities in the middle of the night, without people (however kindly and with good intentions) trying to discourage her from her course.
And even if she did get to do something really spectacular, would she get the recognition?
Or at least, would she get the recognition before she was about 85 and a Grand Old Woman?
Just askin'.