The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness

Author: Todd Rose

Rating: ⭐ 3/5

Date Read: 2016/02/11

Pages: 256

This book is mostly an argument of two related points. The first is that there’s no such thing as an average person, although many of the systems around us assume that there is. Indeed, the average is just a mathematical abstraction, but the cumulation of many average data points, as well as the subsequent expectation value of a human, is dramatically flawed.

The second point is that, by designing for the average, we design for no one. The book does mention a number of design points (pilot cockpits are throughly discussed, and surprisingly fascinating), but the scope is broader than design. The major argument is that you’re not doing anyone any favors by reducing them to the average, but that this is done all the time by schools and businesses. Truth.

I let the book wanting more: it’s short, and while it’s well written it didn’t exactly go into much depth. I’m definitely interested in reading another book on the topic, but next time I think I’ll go for something much more technical.