A popular article with millions of views discusses a pattern that was actually systematically summarized in a book as early as 2019—"The Boundary of Growth: Why Generalists Succeed in the Era of Super Specialization" (original title "Range"). What’s the most brilliant part of this book? Its proposed growth logic seamlessly connects with the current AI era.



You see, many of the viewpoints in the book now seem like predictions. It was already talking about— in a rapidly changing era, those seemingly "miscellaneous" experiences and cross-disciplinary thinking are actually the strongest competitive advantages. Experts are no longer in demand; generalists are the scarce resource. This conclusion is even more valid in the AI era.

With the proliferation of large models, specialized skills in a single field are beginning to depreciate. Instead, those who understand multiple fields, can integrate information across disciplines, and possess innovative thinking are the ones who can find opportunities amid the chaos. From project teams in the crypto market to traders and content creators, isn’t this logic reflected everywhere?

Interestingly, some statements in the book remain relevant even in 2025. This itself shows one thing—understanding the fundamental laws of human nature and social operation is more effective than chasing trends. It’s worth reading again.
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FlatlineTradervip
· 15h ago
I should have read this book earlier; the devaluation of professional skills is most deeply felt in the crypto world.
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InscriptionGrillervip
· 15h ago
Haha, I’ve known for a long time that this set of arguments is just old wine in new bottles. The blockchain folks are experts at this—they take things from five years ago and pretend they’re the latest prophecy. Generalist devaluation experts are also devalued; in the end, you still need money.
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OffchainWinnervip
· 15h ago
I've already said it, the specialized skills approach is outdated. Now, you need to know a little bit of everything.
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BlockchainArchaeologistvip
· 15h ago
Again with the "generalist theory," the book from 2019 is only now gaining popularity—typical delayed reaction. But indeed, looking at those successful people in the crypto space, isn't everyone just jumping from one thing to another? --- I've already read the book Range a long time ago, and I thought it was much more interesting than those expert economic papers. Now saying this feels like discovering a new world. --- Devaluation of experts, the rise of generalists... sounds great, but few can truly master multiple fields. Most people end up being "jack of all trades, master of none." --- This logic is most evident in the crypto sector. Knowing technology but not finance is dead end; understanding finance but not community operations is pointless. The need for cross-disciplinary skills grows increasingly important. --- It seems these kinds of articles are all saying the same thing, just wrapped in different packaging. Essentially—adapting to change. But adaptation and real competitiveness are two different things. --- The AI era has indeed changed the game, but the concept of "generalist" feels a bit hollow. What's really crucial is whether you can practically operate and make deep breakthroughs in a specific field.
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ParallelChainMaxivip
· 15h ago
I've read this book a long time ago, and I already thought that ordinary people trying to get rich quietly with a single skill are basically out of luck.
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RebaseVictimvip
· 15h ago
Range this book is indeed excellent. It was discussing cross-disciplinary topics back in 2019, and only now is it being heated up. The time gap is too large. I'm actually interested in hearing the argument that professional skills depreciate. Isn't technical expertise still necessary in crypto? Being a generalist sounds appealing, but the reality is most people know a little about everything and are not specialized, which is painfully awkward. The AI era has indeed changed the game rules, but most people still chase hot topics, and few understand the essence. Really, cross-disciplinary thinking has become popular in this wave of market trends. Just look at those big influencers—aren't they all coming from different fields?
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