The Few and the Rest

Recalling the old Persian expression, "all fingers are not the same," how many people can resist retorting, "Of course, they are not, and everyone knows that." But why does the human hand have one opposable thumb and four unequal fingers?

Distinct and dexterous, the thumb enables Homo sapiens to grasp and manipulate physical objects and, skilfully, to fabricate tools. The differentiated but complementary relationship between the thumb and the rest is a perfect metaphor for the Pareto Principle. Also known as the 80/20 Rule, it postulates that for the most part, "80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.

The Few and The Rest charts Vilfredo Pareto's legacy, and delineates why outliers tend to accrue the lion's share of rewards within institutions and across diverse fields, including business, academia, publishing, sports, music, you name it. Data maven Pareto did not conjure this awkward principle out of thin air. The evidence was incontrovertible.

Thumbs up or thumbs down for Pareto? You decide.