The points of issue
Copyright page states 'First Edition' AND carries a full number line ending in 1. ISBN 978-0-316-01792-3. First-issue jacket carries the printed price. Later printings advance the number line and/or drop the 'First Edition' statement.
Is this the true first?
US Little, Brown is the true first, preceding the UK (Allen Lane) edition.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue of note. The stated 'First Edition' together with a number line ending in 1, plus the printed-price jacket, identifies the first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Outliers: The Story of Success a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Copyright page states 'First Edition' AND carries a full number line ending in 1. ISBN 978-0-316-01792-3. First-issue jacket carries the printed price. Later printings advance the number line and/or drop the 'First Edition' statement.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Little, Brown is the true first, preceding the UK (Allen Lane) edition.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue of note. The stated 'First Edition' together with a number line ending in 1, plus the printed-price jacket, identifies the first.
I have a first edition of Outliers: The Story of Success — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.