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1.64k reviews for:
David Y Goliat: Desvalidos, Inadaptados Y El Arte de Luchar Contra Gigantes / David and Goliath
Malcolm Gladwell
3.82 AVERAGE
1.64k reviews for:
David Y Goliat: Desvalidos, Inadaptados Y El Arte de Luchar Contra Gigantes / David and Goliath
Malcolm Gladwell
3.82 AVERAGE
I generally like Malcolm Gladwell, but this is definitely one of his weaker attempts. It started off strong, but really lost site of the main idea. Then, there was no concluding chapter, or even paragraph...it just stopped. Nothing tied his ideas all together. Interesting bits here and there, but mostly a disappointment.
It’s strange reading this right after Orientalism because it becomes quite clear that it’s much less intellectually rigorous. It’s an interesting and entertaining collection of stories and I don’t think his arguments are necessarily invalid, but his evidence is not always convincing enough for me.
Good in premise and theory, but slightly repetitive in writing.
There's something soothing about Gladwell's love of telling folk wisdom via carefully-culled anecdotes. This book's message: "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This gave me quite a bit to think about. I found the section on Martin Luther King especially interesting.
Couple things about this book:
1. It would have made a terrific essay. Making a whole book out of VERY LOOSELY connected themes is a stretch.
2. The "evidence" that Malcolm Gladwell chooses is so selective and anecdotal that it is kind of ridiculous.
3. Malcolm Gladwell's writing style is akin to that of a smug asshole you know and always want to punch. His tarty little turns of phrase make your skin crawl (example: making the sentence "Nothing could be further from the truth" it's own paragraph before a section break is about on par with Upworthy headlines like, "What one homophobic toddler said will blow your mind!"). I guess this is logical if you are trying to make your writing as accessible to people as possible, but still -- amp up the nuance and sophistication a little, Gladwell! Please!
4. Making 12 year old girls run a full court press is shitty. I was a 12 year old girl who played basketball and I can tell you that it's just shitty. It's not even worth hailing as "innovative and trickstery" -- it's just plain shitty.
5. All the chapters (and the whole book) end abruptly.
1. It would have made a terrific essay. Making a whole book out of VERY LOOSELY connected themes is a stretch.
2. The "evidence" that Malcolm Gladwell chooses is so selective and anecdotal that it is kind of ridiculous.
3. Malcolm Gladwell's writing style is akin to that of a smug asshole you know and always want to punch. His tarty little turns of phrase make your skin crawl (example: making the sentence "Nothing could be further from the truth" it's own paragraph before a section break is about on par with Upworthy headlines like, "What one homophobic toddler said will blow your mind!"). I guess this is logical if you are trying to make your writing as accessible to people as possible, but still -- amp up the nuance and sophistication a little, Gladwell! Please!
4. Making 12 year old girls run a full court press is shitty. I was a 12 year old girl who played basketball and I can tell you that it's just shitty. It's not even worth hailing as "innovative and trickstery" -- it's just plain shitty.
5. All the chapters (and the whole book) end abruptly.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
As with his other books, he twists conventional wisdom on its head. Interesting for lay people as well as sociologists. I felt about midway through, though that he could find a pattern in anything, drawing together enough evidence to lay out a conclusion. Still--everything made sense to me, and I believe that many of his conclusions will be useful as I work in my community, especially with the "Davids".