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Interesting, but could've been written in 30 pages. Look up a summary online instead; spend your time on more practical material
on April 16, 2016
This book touches on a brilliant idea: we make decisions rapidly, even if we can't always explain exactly HOW we make those decisions. Gladwell does an excellent job at providing evidence to back up his claims. Really... he provides a plethora of examples to support these claims. In my opinion, WAY too many examples.
I'm a bottom-line kind of person and I don't read for fun; I read to gain applicable knowledge. Gladwell proved his concept in the first 30-50 pages and that was good enough for me. He then proceeded to continue proving the concept for another 200 pages. I hardly learned how to actually apply the concepts of rapid-cognition from this book and I'm annoyed at how much of my time was wasted. I wish he proved the concept in 30-50 pages and followed it up with actual ways to take advantage of that concept.
This book verified something that I believed to be true (rapid-cognition) without providing ways to practically exploit the theory. I'm not buying anything else of Gladwell's, but I would recommend looking up the sparknotes/summary of this book.
I'm a bottom-line kind of person and I don't read for fun; I read to gain applicable knowledge. Gladwell proved his concept in the first 30-50 pages and that was good enough for me. He then proceeded to continue proving the concept for another 200 pages. I hardly learned how to actually apply the concepts of rapid-cognition from this book and I'm annoyed at how much of my time was wasted. I wish he proved the concept in 30-50 pages and followed it up with actual ways to take advantage of that concept.
This book verified something that I believed to be true (rapid-cognition) without providing ways to practically exploit the theory. I'm not buying anything else of Gladwell's, but I would recommend looking up the sparknotes/summary of this book.
Great writer, clear and innovative thinker--great book on how we can use our intuition and subconscious
on May 18, 2017
Malcolm Gladwell is a great writer and a great and clear and innovative thinker. He tells wonderful stories to illustrate the points he is making. I learned so much about how the subconscious and intuition influence our lives. It's an extremely well-rounded book on these subjects -- bringing out many aspects of how they work. In part, it's an instructive book on how to use the subconscious and one's own intuition. I enjoyed this book so much and felt that I could learn so much from it that I listened to it (as an audiobook) three times. I can't say enough about the value of this book and how fun it is. Malcolm Gladwell is a treasure.
on October 14, 2016
This is a read for an Ethics and the Media class. Mind-blowing! Truly a fantastic read and I feel like I learned a lot about how different types of thinking give us better results in different scenarios. The stories within are fascinating and the entire class raved about our favoritess and how incredible the processes worked. Really makes you look at the world differently, and it a good way. A classmate had read another Gladwell title - I am excited to find that this author has more to read - I will definitely be checking out his other titles! I have loaned my copy to several friends who have all been just as impressed. Fantastic read for sure!
on October 21, 2013
This was my second Malcolm Gladwell book. I thought that the author failed in a well-meaning attempt to distinguish "thin-slicing" from what I have always thought of as a "first impression." I found it a bit tiresome when he kept referring back to a big mistake on the part of a sophisticated museum and using that example to illustrate a point. After reading about his views on why an expert could identify which marriages were in trouble, Gladwell really lost me. I thought I was beginning to read a book where the premises were based on "junk science." However, I read on and finished the book and found most of the chapters entertaining and some even provocative, especially the section about police training and behavior. I admire Gladwell's attempt to draw conclusions based on the ability of humans to make super fast judgments, since I do agree that these abilities exist. My objection is that so many variables enter into a person's decision-making that it is risky to count on quick impressions for certain types of human behavior.
The organization of the chapters seemed a bit strained, and I would have preferred a more scientific approach to the subject matter.
The organization of the chapters seemed a bit strained, and I would have preferred a more scientific approach to the subject matter.
from that conclusion he advances the idea that your opinions of and interactions with other people are just as easily revealed a
on July 25, 2014
Blink presents some loosely related phenomena that demonstrate we can briefly be conditioned to make a predicable association or link. For example as a test subject you might be asked to view a video screen and very quickly key a response to what you see. (My example) - the screen flashes the number sequence 1 and then 5 repeatedly then flashes the number 1 and prompts you to quickly type the next number - you will type 5 but without the earlier displays you would likely have typed 2. From this the author of Blink believes he has revealed in you a concealed belief the number 5 immediately follows 1; from that conclusion he advances the idea that your opinions of and interactions with other people are just as easily revealed and manipulated. I suspect most readers will reject this concept and rightfully so. Undoubtedly our views and opinions are shaped but shaped by a multitude of unique and continuing life experiences. Any test that depends on flashing associations and "hit the button quick" is not a revealing glimpse of the soul but merely a momentary logical response even if the above sequence of 1 and 5 is altered to display "criminal and minority".
The cover notes suggest the book is concerned with the process of thinking or perhaps about great thinkers but in reading Blink the only continuity we encounter has to do with social ills we visit upon each other.
Mr. Gladwell sees a world of social injustice and colossal errors committed by .... well committed by those among us who are not women and not members of any minority group. Apparently these evils are caused by hasty thinking or perhaps too much thinking both of which can be fixed or made better if the perpetrators help themselves to some life skills found in his book.
While assuming the condescending demeanor of an elementary school teacher he admonishes and instructs us in the science of forming opinions using a grandiose scientific tone and yet offers no evidence his conclusions are accepted in the scientific community. What we get instead is a series of opinions and chats with the odd researcher who appears to be conducting independent and poorly designed experiments.
For example Mr. Gladwell writes of research revealing car sales persons in the Chicago area are "cheating" women and minorities when selfsame agree to purchase a car at a price higher than that paid by white males. The author declines to inform the reader the sales personnel themselves may be women and minorities and clearly prefers to have us believe only male whites sell cars in the Chicago area - which of course simply isn't true. So no study is done to examine this phenomenon when both buyer and salesperson share the same characteristics. This aside we generally accept that skills are learned through repetition - so how many times had the white men in this study negotiated and purchased a car compared to how many times the women in the study negotiated and purchased a car - more, less, same? We don't know and neither does Mr. Gladwell. The author seems to omit or ignore explanations contrary to his narrative of social injustice. One wonders if this is the same kind of cheating that goes on when most men purchase jewelry, vacation deals or groceries?
Later in the book the author locates a clearly unjustified police shooting/murder involving four white police and a black victim. Mr. Gladwell then suggests the entire event was avoidable had the officers used the book's suggested technique of reading facial expressions (after midnight, in a building hall, on a dark skin face) a skill made difficult under the best circumstances of daylight in a open area with maximum contrasting facial features. I'm easy to agree with the concept but the example offered seems misplaced and designed to support the underlying theme in Blink.
The author closes with yet another injustice owing to hasty thinking, this time it seems women have been underrepresented in brass horn sections of orchestras, apparently piano, string and woodwind sections are in good standing. Happily we learn the brass horn problem itself has long been resolved by placing auditioning musicians behind a screen, presumably the screen removed both the bias and all attempts to balance the orchestra to the audience demographic - now if we can only get some racial and cultural balance in Hollywood movies and pop music (a much better topic more suited to the talented Mr. Gladwell's quest ).
All in all Blink is a study of the obvious in human behavior embellished with some silly ideas. Obviously deciphering tone of voice and facial expressions is innate. Equally obvious we all know when we feel good in a relationship even when we can't articulate the details. Further it is generally acknowledged a group/mob is more aggressive than an individual . Also it comes as no surprise we perform best when we are relaxed and focused. Finally subliminal suggestion might influence our behavior sometimes briefly except when numerous studies show it doesn't.
Blink could be dismissed as a harmless hash of observations related to how we form opinions were it not for Mr. Gladwell's insistence that we pit one ethnic/gender group against another for no apparent reason other than to inject drama into this pseudo-science in hopes of selling a book.
Social injustice exists aplenty, Mr. Gladwell would do well to pursue the subject but with a more honest approach - good luck Mr. Gladwell Hollywood is ripe for the taking.
The cover notes suggest the book is concerned with the process of thinking or perhaps about great thinkers but in reading Blink the only continuity we encounter has to do with social ills we visit upon each other.
Mr. Gladwell sees a world of social injustice and colossal errors committed by .... well committed by those among us who are not women and not members of any minority group. Apparently these evils are caused by hasty thinking or perhaps too much thinking both of which can be fixed or made better if the perpetrators help themselves to some life skills found in his book.
While assuming the condescending demeanor of an elementary school teacher he admonishes and instructs us in the science of forming opinions using a grandiose scientific tone and yet offers no evidence his conclusions are accepted in the scientific community. What we get instead is a series of opinions and chats with the odd researcher who appears to be conducting independent and poorly designed experiments.
For example Mr. Gladwell writes of research revealing car sales persons in the Chicago area are "cheating" women and minorities when selfsame agree to purchase a car at a price higher than that paid by white males. The author declines to inform the reader the sales personnel themselves may be women and minorities and clearly prefers to have us believe only male whites sell cars in the Chicago area - which of course simply isn't true. So no study is done to examine this phenomenon when both buyer and salesperson share the same characteristics. This aside we generally accept that skills are learned through repetition - so how many times had the white men in this study negotiated and purchased a car compared to how many times the women in the study negotiated and purchased a car - more, less, same? We don't know and neither does Mr. Gladwell. The author seems to omit or ignore explanations contrary to his narrative of social injustice. One wonders if this is the same kind of cheating that goes on when most men purchase jewelry, vacation deals or groceries?
Later in the book the author locates a clearly unjustified police shooting/murder involving four white police and a black victim. Mr. Gladwell then suggests the entire event was avoidable had the officers used the book's suggested technique of reading facial expressions (after midnight, in a building hall, on a dark skin face) a skill made difficult under the best circumstances of daylight in a open area with maximum contrasting facial features. I'm easy to agree with the concept but the example offered seems misplaced and designed to support the underlying theme in Blink.
The author closes with yet another injustice owing to hasty thinking, this time it seems women have been underrepresented in brass horn sections of orchestras, apparently piano, string and woodwind sections are in good standing. Happily we learn the brass horn problem itself has long been resolved by placing auditioning musicians behind a screen, presumably the screen removed both the bias and all attempts to balance the orchestra to the audience demographic - now if we can only get some racial and cultural balance in Hollywood movies and pop music (a much better topic more suited to the talented Mr. Gladwell's quest ).
All in all Blink is a study of the obvious in human behavior embellished with some silly ideas. Obviously deciphering tone of voice and facial expressions is innate. Equally obvious we all know when we feel good in a relationship even when we can't articulate the details. Further it is generally acknowledged a group/mob is more aggressive than an individual . Also it comes as no surprise we perform best when we are relaxed and focused. Finally subliminal suggestion might influence our behavior sometimes briefly except when numerous studies show it doesn't.
Blink could be dismissed as a harmless hash of observations related to how we form opinions were it not for Mr. Gladwell's insistence that we pit one ethnic/gender group against another for no apparent reason other than to inject drama into this pseudo-science in hopes of selling a book.
Social injustice exists aplenty, Mr. Gladwell would do well to pursue the subject but with a more honest approach - good luck Mr. Gladwell Hollywood is ripe for the taking.
on June 14, 2015
The types of judgments and decision makings that can be done quickly, almost spontaneously are the main idea. Gladwell describes this mental process as rapid cognition and what he calls thin slicing, the idea of taking in a very thin slice of information when we have to make sense of a situation in a very short time. There are many examples and stories that describe these processes along the book. What is important about this snap judgments is that it requires knowledge and experience, like an expert in any field that just gets a feeling of something and doesn't hesitate of acting based on that ability. Obviously as any decision, it might goes wrong, emotions and biases can play a part on it, but Gladwell says that we can learn to improve the quality of unconscious decisions the same way we can teach ourselves to think logically. Overall I've enjoyed most part of the book.
on May 9, 2017
I usually like Malcom Gladwell very much, and this book is also very enjoyable! I believe that he brings an interesting perspective on the way we perceive the world around us, and how do we acknowledge every situation that is put ahead. I'd recommend this definitively as a book to read while on vacation
on August 30, 2016
I thought in the beginning it would be a expose on relying on you first thoughts as most "real" inputs for decision making. Bottom line it's about knowing what the right factors are, and recognizing which are not, to making a decision. Using your experiences, recognizing bias, and giving yourself time in the moment slow things down, to let things come to you. Great insight and eye opener. Enjoyable read!
on February 17, 2014
Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Trying, attempts to do a very difficult task. Gladwell wants to show when it is most efficacious to make snap decisions without gathering very much knowledge and information, and when it is best to make very deliberate decisions.
Of course, many times we don’t have a choice. We must make quick decisions without complete information, and under extreme stress. Gladwell gives numerous examples of how snap decisions can often be the best decisions we can make. He also gives a wealth of examples on how they can lead to our doom.
But equally, gathering too much information can foul up decision making. Gladwell gives examples of such occurrences, and also positive examples of fully informed decisions.
So, Gladwell walks the tight rope in Blink. He wants to prove a point: that very often, our first impressions about people, events, ideas, are the correct one. Gathering more information only fouls up that initial, correct assessment. Yet this can go wrong as well, and he gives a wealth examples of how we carry our prejudices with us during our quick, uninformed decisions.
This will leave a casual reader a bit confused about Gladwell’s point, because his point his subtle. Sometimes deliberation is in order; sometimes we must make decisions in the blink of any eye. A great deal depends upon context.
Of course, many times we don’t have a choice. We must make quick decisions without complete information, and under extreme stress. Gladwell gives numerous examples of how snap decisions can often be the best decisions we can make. He also gives a wealth of examples on how they can lead to our doom.
But equally, gathering too much information can foul up decision making. Gladwell gives examples of such occurrences, and also positive examples of fully informed decisions.
So, Gladwell walks the tight rope in Blink. He wants to prove a point: that very often, our first impressions about people, events, ideas, are the correct one. Gathering more information only fouls up that initial, correct assessment. Yet this can go wrong as well, and he gives a wealth examples of how we carry our prejudices with us during our quick, uninformed decisions.
This will leave a casual reader a bit confused about Gladwell’s point, because his point his subtle. Sometimes deliberation is in order; sometimes we must make decisions in the blink of any eye. A great deal depends upon context.
