The End of Average

A note from the book “The End of Average.”

Number of close friends an average friend possesses is 8.6. Number of romantic partners the average person kisses in a lifetime is 15 for women, 15 for men. Number of fights over money the average couple instigates each month is 3. It is the rare person who doesn’t automatically weigh her own life against these figures. If we have claimed more than our fair share of kisses, we may even feel a surge of pride, if we have fallen short, we may feel self-pity or shame.

We are no longer conscious of the fact that every such judgement always erases the individuality of the person being judged. We have all become averagarians.

The central premise of this book is: no one is average. Not you. Not your kids. Not you co-workers, or your students, or your spouse. Author clarifies that this is not empty encouragement or hollow sloganeering. He delves into the scientific facts with enormous practical consequences one cannot ignore.

Hope to put my notes here sometime soon. A readable and informative little book, this should be read by everyone responsible for evaluating or designing things for others, from job interviews to education.