Malcolm Gladwell
Born in England to a British father and Jamaican mother, raised in a Canadian Mennonite community, Malcolm Gladwell certainly brings an interesting perspective to the world.
I personally got hooked on his writing when I first read Outliers, which has become a bit of a cult classic. If you’ve ever heard of the 10,000-hour rule, it likely came from Gladwell.
1. Talking to Strangers
At times, life almost feels like a Hallmark movie. Main characters (us) misinterpreting and miscommunicating with those around us that lead to unintended series of events.
In Talking to Strangers, Malcolm Gladwell explores high profile cases like Bernie Madoff and Amanda Knox.
The gist of his theory is that so many high profile cases in the news ended up being strangers misunderstanding each other.
For anyone curious of how you should act around strangers and avoid becoming an international headline, this is the book for you.
2. David and Goliath
Everyone loves an underdog story, whether it’s in the World Cup or a nation pulling itself out of abysmal poverty. In David and Goliath, Gladwell explores the struggle of the underdog against the perceived favorites.
Given Gladwell is a writer for The New Yorker, this book pulls from one of his articles and eventually morphed into a published piece.
Anyone looking for some hope should read this book as the author argues seemingly improbable events can occur more frequently than you might think.
3. Outliers
A personal favorite of mine, Outliers explores the successes of the outliers – whether they be millionaires, geniuses, or superstars.
What captivates my attention is the research and arguments Gladwell puts behind each of his examples to show this is not purely based on luck.
A mix of nurture, nature, and the right amount of effort can transform someone overnight.
4. Blink
Ever had a gut feeling and made a decision based on an instinct? Blink looks at the inner workings of the mind to make decisions in the blink of an eye.
We may think these decisions happen in an instant, but there is so much going on mentally that lead us to make that final call.
Despite what you might think, there is a pattern here that can be taken advantage of. Gladwell explores the benefits and shortcomings of quick decision-making with cases pulled from experience.
5. The Tipping Point
This is the one that started it all. The Tipping Point explores the critical mass of events and tries to pinpoint what the breaking point is.
An interesting example explored in this book is the sudden drop in crime in New York City. Everyone has their own theory of how this came to be, and Gladwell’s is one that stirred much controversy.
Take a read and see if your conclusions line up with his. I wouldn’t take everything Malcolm Gladwell writes as scientific fact, but there is no denying he will make you think twice about the world.
