Are you above average? Every day we are measured against the yardstick of averages, judged according to how closely we resemble it or how far we deviate from it. In The End of Average, Todd Rose shows that no one is average. Not you. Not your kids. Not your employees or students. This isn't hollow sloganeering- it's a mathematical fact with enormous practical consequences. Weaving science, history, and his experiences as a high school dropout, Rose brings to life the untold story of how we came to embrace the scientifically flawed idea that averages can be used to understand individuals and offers a powerful alternative: the three principles of individuality. The Jaggedness principle (talent is never one-dimensional), the context principle (traits are a myth), and the pathways principle (we all walk the road less traveled) help us understand our true uniqueness- that of others- and how to take full advantage of individuality to gain an edge in life.--jacket cover