On talent

Creative work is inherently unequal. This is very visible in the income distributions of singers and movie stars, but less visible in white-collar professions. Why? Thanks to/because of the office. 1/7

What is “talent?” Well, I suppose it’s the ability to do that which is excellent (that which astounds, amazes, and so on). It’s a bit circular, really: if you can write something that astounds, that is, de facto, proof of talent. Is there a way to predict it, to diagnostically spot it early, and issue some sort of reassuring certification, that one... See more