Henry Oliver: Late Bloomers, Second Act, Hidden Talent, Biography, John Stuart Mill

Ben Yeoh Chats

A conversation with Henry Oliver, author of 'A Second Act', exploring the concept of late bloomers. Transcript here.

Oliver elaborates on societal pressures, hidden talents, and how these impact individual successes at various life stages, advocating for a broader recognition of potential beyond conventional timelines.

The dialogue includes themes such as the significance of networks, the role of luck, and the historical context of late blooming, challenging prevailing notions of talent and achievement.

Following this, the conversation delves into the philosophical contributions of John Stuart Mill, particularly focusing on his expansion of utilitarianism and its inadvertent influence on contemporary moral behaviors like vegetarianism. It contrasts Mill’s stance on liberty and value measurement with other philosophers and highlights the importance of engaging with diverse perspectives for personal growth. The chat connects Mill’s philosophies to present-day issues.

We end on Henry’s advice: the importance of personalized approaches to absorbing content, seeking expertise, the application of tailored advice over generic guidance; and to ignore those who do not have recent advice experience.

On Hidden Talents and Societal Barriers:

"So in the case of someone just happens to emerge later, and in the case of someone has been held back, I would call that hidden both times. Because very often when you've been held back by your circumstances, people like actually cannot see your talents. And so they are hidden, not in the sense that you've kept them in, or you were scared, or whatever, but in the sense that, you could have put it on your t-shirt and people wouldn't have realized."

On Overcoming Historical Bias and Recognizing Talent:

"And obviously historically, very often that was to do with if you were a woman, if you were a person of color people just aren't going to, people literally aren't going to take that seriously. But that, to me, is interesting, it's an interesting demonstration of the fact that, You can be very confident that you know how to find talent, and that you know who's a good chap and who would be good at this job, and be completely blind to what is right in front of you."

Contents:

• 00:13 Learning from Henry’s mother

• 01:01 Exploring Hidden Talents and Societal Constraints

• 03:34 The Nuances of Midlife Crises and Opportunities for Growth

• 07:45 The Power of Networks and Circumstances in Shaping Late Bloomers

• 10:23 Margaret Thatcher: A Case Study in Late Blooming

• 16:20 Seizing Luck and the Importance of Being Prepared

• 21:32 The Role of Networks in Realizing Potential

• 30:20 Addressing Societal Biases and Embracing Equality of Opportunity

• 34:29 Rethinking Talent: Early Bloomers vs. Late Bloomers

• 42:55 The Fluidity of Intelligence and the Potential for Growth

• 45:29 Exploring Misunderstood Characters in Literature

• 45:56 Audrey Sutherland: The Unrecognized Kayaking Legend

• 47:09 Malcolm X: A Misunderstood Figure in History

• 48:46 The Ones That Didn't Make the Cut: Missed Profiles

• 51:28 The Writing Process: Insights and Personal Habits

• 54:51 The Fascinating World of London's Churches

• 59:36 Underrated and Overrated: A Deep Dive into Mindsets and Philosophies

• 01:18:23 Current Projects and Life Advice