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1.63k reviews for:
David Y Goliat: Desvalidos, Inadaptados Y El Arte de Luchar Contra Gigantes / David and Goliath
Malcolm Gladwell
3.82 AVERAGE
1.63k reviews for:
David Y Goliat: Desvalidos, Inadaptados Y El Arte de Luchar Contra Gigantes / David and Goliath
Malcolm Gladwell
3.82 AVERAGE
In an interview after the publication of David and Goliath Malcolm Gladwell said he was one of the few members of his family not to have preached. You'd have a hard time believing that after reading this book. To clarify, I mean preach in the positive sense of delivering an insightful and coherent message, not the euphemism for annoying lectures. Gladwell assembles fascinating stories of things happening in ways you would not assume they should, of people succeeding when our conventional wisdom says they shouldn't. He explains the stories a little. He helps us through some of the trickier points. But then, like a skilled preacher he leads us to make the conclusions he's come to by analyzing the data ourselves. The result is an engrossing read that feels like part science and part mystery.
I confess I think some of his conclusions tend to be overly simplistic. In a previous book he led you to believe that two cars of different brands made in the same factory are the same, just with different brand names on them. In this book he presents an argument that class sizes are ideally a particular size. Honestly, I don't think he completely believes that, but for the sake of moving you along that's what's being presented. If you made two cars with all the same parts and people and tools, they would be the same, but they aren't necessarily built that way. If you taught all classes the same, regardless of class size, you'd see there is a particular sized class that's ideal. But to keep the books brief and moving along at a nice pace simplification serves a purpose here.
Refreshingly, Gladwell does not tie a bow around the whole story, with a paternalistic voice over at beginning and end telling you how to use these lessons at home. You can figure that part out. In fact, you'll figure it out a lot better because you have to connect the dots. There are some powerful ideas in this book that will be great for anyone facing intimidating odds, whether it's in business oreducation, or because of disability or economic circumstances.
I confess I think some of his conclusions tend to be overly simplistic. In a previous book he led you to believe that two cars of different brands made in the same factory are the same, just with different brand names on them. In this book he presents an argument that class sizes are ideally a particular size. Honestly, I don't think he completely believes that, but for the sake of moving you along that's what's being presented. If you made two cars with all the same parts and people and tools, they would be the same, but they aren't necessarily built that way. If you taught all classes the same, regardless of class size, you'd see there is a particular sized class that's ideal. But to keep the books brief and moving along at a nice pace simplification serves a purpose here.
Refreshingly, Gladwell does not tie a bow around the whole story, with a paternalistic voice over at beginning and end telling you how to use these lessons at home. You can figure that part out. In fact, you'll figure it out a lot better because you have to connect the dots. There are some powerful ideas in this book that will be great for anyone facing intimidating odds, whether it's in business oreducation, or because of disability or economic circumstances.
Enjoyed this different take of things traditionally assumed to be disadvantages.
In a lot of ways David and Goliath is a lot like its title, its a battle of two very different pieces. The first half of David of Goliath is excellent. The stories are engaging and the theme stays close to Gladwell's main thesis. The second half of David and Goliath doesn't seem to follow the same tightly constructed argument. Gladwell seems to go off on tangents and only at the end of his examples does he try and make an parallels to the underdog.
I really did enjoy David and Goliath but will have been far more impressed had the book remained as good as its first handful of chapters. The idea that David might not have been an underdog was fascinating and I would have liked to have seen that explored more then the diversions that happen later in the book. All things being equal I thought David and Goliath was an extremely entertaining read but not one I would want to go back to.
I really did enjoy David and Goliath but will have been far more impressed had the book remained as good as its first handful of chapters. The idea that David might not have been an underdog was fascinating and I would have liked to have seen that explored more then the diversions that happen later in the book. All things being equal I thought David and Goliath was an extremely entertaining read but not one I would want to go back to.
Malcolm Gladwell always offers an interesting perspective.
Reading/listening to a (another!) Malcom Gladwell book is like catching up with an old friend; a friend whose voice is smooth and serene, and who likes to tell stories and happens to be gifted at it. He could read the dictionary to me and make me believe it all makes sense. However, it is these stories that are the biggest problem.
Mr. Gladwell's tales have it all: tragedy, comedy, triumph, and ruin. I am totally convinced that given enough time to do research and plenty of coffee to drive my persuasive juices, I could take any issue I agree or even disagree with and make a compelling case for it. The whole premise of this book is case in point. He states in the opening chapter that, historically (and statistically), the "David" or underdog wins twenty five percent of the time. If we are willing to assume there's a tale penned for every win, regardless of which side, then we can always find stories to support whatever stance we'd like to assume. He just as well could have written a book about why it pays to be a Goliath, even though you sometime lose. But I guess that's what business books are for.
Early on through the read I told myself I'd deactivate my 'forensic mode' and just enjoy his efforts. Don't we all have friends for which we'd do the same?
Mr. Gladwell's tales have it all: tragedy, comedy, triumph, and ruin. I am totally convinced that given enough time to do research and plenty of coffee to drive my persuasive juices, I could take any issue I agree or even disagree with and make a compelling case for it. The whole premise of this book is case in point. He states in the opening chapter that, historically (and statistically), the "David" or underdog wins twenty five percent of the time. If we are willing to assume there's a tale penned for every win, regardless of which side, then we can always find stories to support whatever stance we'd like to assume. He just as well could have written a book about why it pays to be a Goliath, even though you sometime lose. But I guess that's what business books are for.
Early on through the read I told myself I'd deactivate my 'forensic mode' and just enjoy his efforts. Don't we all have friends for which we'd do the same?
I would like to give this 3.5 stars. Interesting insights; a page-turner; but the after-effect is a bit like having eaten a Chinese meal. Difficult to know why, because the subject matter isn't light-weight, and the writing is excellent.
Fascinating book. I kept wavering between 4 and 5 stars, but I went with 4 because of the largish chunk of the book that didn’t really seem on point, didn’t add anything to his main point. But the rest of it was SO interesting, and could possibly make lasting effects on my life. This is definitely one of my favourite books of the year.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
There's a lot of ideas passed off as fact due to research that seems faulty at best.
I love Gladwell as an author. He provides enough anecdotal evidence alongside studies to construct an effective argument. Read as Gladwell takes your view of the world and shifts the angle ever so slightly and find out why apparent advantages may not be advantages after all.