A Legacy of Failure

Abstract

I read David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell a little while ago. There were many stories in that book I found fascinating. But even years later one of the discussions that really stuck with me was how first generation immigrants worked so incredibly hard and what a difficult time they had transferring that work ethic onto the next generation. Why is that? Why is one generation so focused on “becoming” something, often to make sure their children have a better life than they did, while the next is often comfortable just “being”? (There is a great deal more to it and I would encourage you to read the book.)