A Fox Among Hedgehogs
Introduction, The Making of a Generalist
One of the most common questions authors get asked is “Why did you write this book?” It’s asked by the media, friends, family and colleagues. Given today is the official release date of The Making of a Generalist, I thought I would share the book’s introduction (in entirety below) which does a decent job of answering this question.
Best,
Vikram
Vikram's New Book: Order Your Copy Now!
"Frustrated with our polarized culture? Take this incredibly fun ride through the life of modern day Renaissance man Vikram Mansharamani to appreciate a simple solution-open-minded, generalist thinking. This book is an enjoyable read that lays out a viable path to move beyond today's identity-driven, label-dominated world." - Christopher T. Sununu, Governor; State of New Hampshire
BELOW EXCERPT REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM OUTFOX PUBLISHING, AN IMPRINT OF KELAN PUBLISHING. COPYRIGHT 2024 BY VIKRAM MANSHARAMANI; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
INTRODUCTION:
A FOX AMONG HEDGEHOGS
People are always trying to categorize and label things—even other people, right? It’s quick and easy. Professionally, we’re lawyers, doctors, teachers, farmers, accountants, mechanics, and so forth. Academically, we’re either gifted, average, or challenged. We have this degree or that degree. We’re educated or dropouts. Politically, we’re either Republicans or Democrats. We’re labeled by our skin color, our heritage, our religion, our age, our body shape, our sexual orientation, and on and on and on. If you don’t fit neatly into this or that box, then you might be a misfit like me—and that’s just fine.
Think about it: Can we humans really be reduced to a few small categories? Do you fit neatly into a couple of boxes? How about the people you care about—do you typically describe them with a simple label or two? Of course not. Even those who are experts at one thing have wider experiences and broader knowledge to share. All of us are many things—and sometimes, none of the above. By very definition, individuals are unique entities within an indivisible whole. For humans, our personal blends of DNA, upbringing, mindset, and experience contribute to a shared heritage as Homo sapiens. And as peculiar vessels of knowledge, information, and wisdom, no two members of our species are alike. Isn’t that amazing and wonderful?
Somehow, though, in today’s polarized world of siloed, either-or thinking, we seem to have forgotten that this amazing cacophony of diverse perspectives and ideas is a gift perfectly suited for our increasingly complex problems—and it’s not a gift we can afford to squander right now. So why do we continue to regard each other with the limited vocabulary of labels, boxes, and silos? I know I don’t fit easily into a box, and you shouldn’t have to, either. The world needs each of us and all of us to share and consider each other’s full range of perspectives and ideas. In an era defined by polarization, it’s time to start listening with open hearts and minds again instead of dismissing each other as this or that. We need to think for ourselves, respect each other, and move beyond labels and boxes. Not doing so is destructive. With authentic curiosity, we must explore many viewpoints and regularly challenge our own beliefs. It’s the only way to start thinking more holistically and critically together. Less either-or thinking, more both-and collaboration. The combination will help us successfully navigate the uncertainty and challenges of the twenty-first century.
This is why the only label I’m willing to accept is the one I’ve created for myself, mostly to appease those who still want to label me. I proudly call myself a generalist with a capital G. Russian-British philosopher Isaiah Berlin might have called me a fox among hedgehogs. Berlin wrote about the difference between these two animals in a 1953 essay, basing his ideas on a parable by the ancient Greek poet Archilochus: “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.”
Those of you who have read my work before will have heard this analogy. But for those new to my story, here’s an overview: Though different, foxes and hedgehogs have plenty in common. For one thing, they both exist in an uncertain world, just like we do. The fox responds to uncertainty by learning many things quickly to survive. It lives in a state of constant adaptation and creative problem-solving. The hedgehog approaches uncertainty with a single, important adaptation: self-defense. When it rolls into a tight ball and extrudes its coat of spines, it’s difficult for predators to hurt it.
As Philip Tetlock has explained, foxes and hedgehogs help us understand two cognitive styles: “Foxes have different strategies for different problems. They are comfortable with nuance; they can live with contradictions. Hedgehogs, on the other hand, focus on the big picture. They reduce every problem to one organizing principle.” Foxes are generalists, and hedgehogs are specialists. Both species have survived for millions of years, so their contrasting approaches both deserve consideration. But which is more equipped to navigate the world’s current uncertainties?
To ensure I’m not falling into either-or thinking here, let me clarify: this is not an exercise in foxes versus hedgehogs. I am a fox who learns from many hedgehogs. I just think the world needs more foxes because hedgehogs are abundant—and foxes are rare. Society is great at funneling people into areas of expertise but not so good at nurturing generalists. Businesses and academia almost always favor deep expertise and specialization. It’s one reason why I’ve been swimming against the current most of my life. But it has been worth it because I think we all benefit from the unique perspective of the generalists. Here’s an example to get you thinking about this: We can certainly agree that expert nuclear physicists help us understand how protons and neutrons combine to form atomic energy, right? This is a necessary specialization. But when it comes to the threat of nuclear war, which is one outcome of atomic energy, the input of many different specialists is required—nuclear physicists, political leaders, economists, watchdog groups, policymakers, country experts, and so forth. Also necessary are the insights of generalists who can synthesize these expert viewpoints and make connections that the specialists might miss. We have plenty of the former and a dearth of the latter.
Despite this imbalance, somewhere along my delightful, sometimes challenging, and usually fulfilling journey, I discovered that being a fox, a generalist in all walks of life, was the perfect job for me—and the way I wanted to live.
It’s far from the easiest road, but it has certainly been interesting and, I daresay, fulfilling. I have met with heads of state in Africa, academics in Lebanon, journalists in India, casino operators in Macau, doctors in Bangkok, cosmetics manufacturers in Russia, miners in Zimbabwe, financiers in Peru, and peace negotiators in Colombia. I’ve been on safari, gone diving with great whites, flown a helicopter, narrowly escaped an angry mob in Jakarta, played polo in Argentina, drunk too much during a state of emergency in Karachi, and become a regular rodeo attendee. I’ve had polygraph tests, dodged bullets, and narrowly escaped exposure to Ebola. I’ve run the Boston Marathon, written three books, and been listed as one of the one hundred most powerful people in global finance. I’ve traveled by private plane, railcar (with livestock!), and cargo boat, and even sped through the streets of Vietnam on a motorcycle. I have a PhD from MIT and a commercial truck driving certificate from Roadmaster Drivers School, and I’ve taught at Harvard and Yale. I’ve eaten Rocky Mountain oysters in Nebraska and gou rou in Tianjin, China; been stuck in a sandstorm; had my phone electronically jammed by terrorists in Lebanon; and run for the US Senate in New Hampshire.
What connects all these disparate events? A refusal to let society’s expectations guide my actions and a conscious decision to see the world as the extraordinary, interconnected whole it is rather than focusing merely on a fragment or two. It’s the interplay between different ideas, viewpoints, and areas of study that excites me. It’s jumping from bucket to bucket to bucket nonstop that keeps my thinking muscles in shape and leads me to aha moments that experts often miss. I’m okay being a square peg in a world of round holes. I’ve found my happy place in our uncertain universe.
My amazing parents, who risked everything to begin a new life in a land that promised unlimited opportunity, taught me that courtesy and empathy should be more than actions; they must be a way of being. Through my family and an eclectic mix of life experiences, I’ve come to understand and respect that every perspective is biased, incomplete, and therefore limited. And since that’s the case, I know my own lens on the world is also biased, incomplete, and limited. So why not adopt multiple perspectives as part of my quest to understand our planet and its inhabitants better? Why not balance rugged individualism with the input of skilled experts? Why not think independently and unconventionally by keeping experts on tap, not on top? This approach has dramatically changed my thinking and the way I interact with the world. It has shifted my relationship with knowledge and the experiences and people who hold that knowledge. Being a generalist keeps me endlessly curious and forever humble—a healthy combination in unsteady times.
Perhaps the most wonderful thing about being a generalist is understanding that while there is absolutely a discernible, definable, perfectible way of being a generalist, there is never (ever, ever) a prescribed way of becoming a generalist. There are no college majors or degrees, no specific career paths or professional titles, and no self- help books to show you how.
This is precisely why I have chosen to share my life story.
If, like me, you find yourself a square peg in a world of round holes, I hope my journey encourages you to stay strong, forge your own path forward, and remain true to yourself—despite the uphill battles you’re sure to face. It may not be the easiest road, but it’s very fulfilling and fabulously interesting. A generalist’s journey is never boring. I’ve chosen to share some of the pivotal points along my path to becoming a fully conscious generalist. Though your journey will be different—precisely because it will be yours—I hope reading about the skills, habits, mindset, and practices I’ve learned along the way will smooth the road ahead for you. At the very least, I want you to know that you are not alone and that your efforts are worthwhile. For me, pushing through the challenges has yielded rich rewards—opening many doors; presenting many career opportunities; improving my health; leading me to become a better husband, father, and member of my community; and instilling in me an ethos to give back and providing a means to do so.
In a complex and uncertain world full of hedgehogs, more foxes—more confident, conscious generalists—could help address today’s intricate global threats and challenges. We foxes are still a scarce breed, even though, at the end of the day, I believe we are all capable of being both specialists and generalists. And because we are lucky enough to live in a country that encourages freedom of thought, expression, and speech, we have a constitutional right to debate; dissent; and form strong opinions, ideas, and perspectives. This should never be taken for granted. With these inalienable rights comes the responsibility to listen to and respect the ideas of our fellow Americans—even when we disagree with them. Because the more either-or thinking we do, the more labels we apply and use to dismiss opposing viewpoints, the less vibrant our democracy becomes. America’s great tapestry of ideas should be celebrated and cultivated.
If you don’t want to be put in a box, don’t put others there. I’ve been fighting against this type of behavior my entire life. Instead, be a fox, an outside-the-box thinker. I’ve been on the generalist’s journey since I was a child, even if I didn’t know it all those years ago. It has been a long, winding, uphill road with fascinating scenery around every corner. I’ve had my fair share of challenges, laughs, tears, and moments of immense joy along the way. I hope you’ll find my story interesting and useful. In the end, the most important thing I’ve learned is that the generalist’s journey is never-ending—so, festina lente! Make haste slowly. Your journey awaits.
About Vikram
VIKRAM MANSHARAMANI is an entrepreneur, consultant, scholar, neighbor, husband, father, volunteer, and professional generalist who thinks in multiple-dimensions and looks beyond the short-term. Self-taught to think around corners and connect original dots, he spends his time speaking with global leaders in business, government, academia, and journalism. LinkedIn has twice listed him as its #1 Top Voice in Money & Finance, and Worth profiled him as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Global Finance. Vikram earned a PhD From MIT, has taught at Yale and Harvard, and is the author of two books, Think for Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence and Boombustology: Spotting Financial Bubbles Before They Burst. Vikram lives in Lincoln, New Hampshire with his wife and two children, where they can usually be found hiking or skiing.
Vikram's New Book: Order Your Copy Now!
"As a modern-day Indiana Jones, Vikram braves the wilds of today's uncertain world with remarkable tenacity and a devout commitment to identifying opportunities within risks. The generalist approach he models can help each of us create a better future for ourselves, our families, and quite possibly, our country." - David Tice, President, Paul Revere Films