Contents INTRODUCTION The Roseto Mystery 'These people were dying of old age. That's it. 3 PART ONE: OPPORTUNITY ONE The Matthew Effect For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. - Matthew 25:29 15 TWO The 10,000-Hour Rule In Hamburg, we had to play for eight hours. 35 THREE The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 1 Knowledge of a boy's IQ is of little help if you are faced with a formful of clever boys. 69 FOUR The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 2 After protracted negotiations, it was agreed that Robert would be put on probation. 91 FIVE The Three Lessons of Joe Flom Mary got a quarter. 116 PART TWO: LEGACY six Harlan, Kentucky Die like a man, like your brother did! 161 SEVEN The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes Captain, the weather radar has helped us a lot.177 EIGHT Rice Paddies and Math Tests No one who can rise before dawn three hundred sixty days a year fails to make his family rich. 224 NINE Marita's Bargain All my friends now are from KIPP. 250 EPILOGUE A Jamaican Story If a progeny of young colored children is brought forth, these are emancipated. 270 NOTES 287 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 297 INDEX 301