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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
After reading a lot of the reviews of this book, I am led to argue that most of the reviewers are too focused on whether or not his arguments are true or not. Whether or not the research is exhaustive or not seems to be missing the mark.
Gladwell's title by itself is controversial. He is arguing a philosophical point. What I was left with after reading the book is a greater perspective of the advantages/disadvantages of being either the Goliath or the David. It really depends on your perspective. It doesn't have to be about right or wrong. It is simply different views.
With regards to that I feel Gladwell was pretty even-handed about the different sides of the perspective. For example, in the story of the basketball team that went to nationals, he did not argue that the team did it the "right" way. He simply argued that by looking at things differently they were able to accomplish things that would not have been likely if traditional strategies had been followed.
In the two stories of young women being murdered, Gladwell was a little more political about how the different parents pursued their resolution with the situation. Both situations were terrible and must have really hung heavy on the parents as illustrated in the book. (I was pretty struck by the horror of the stories.)
As others have said, Gladwell is a good story teller who knows how to lay out his side of the argument. Whether or not it is scientifically sound misses the beauty of his skill. A story doesn't have to be right or wrong. It simply enables us to see the world through different eyes. Something that Gladwell accomplished for me through this book.
Gladwell's title by itself is controversial. He is arguing a philosophical point. What I was left with after reading the book is a greater perspective of the advantages/disadvantages of being either the Goliath or the David. It really depends on your perspective. It doesn't have to be about right or wrong. It is simply different views.
With regards to that I feel Gladwell was pretty even-handed about the different sides of the perspective. For example, in the story of the basketball team that went to nationals, he did not argue that the team did it the "right" way. He simply argued that by looking at things differently they were able to accomplish things that would not have been likely if traditional strategies had been followed.
In the two stories of young women being murdered, Gladwell was a little more political about how the different parents pursued their resolution with the situation. Both situations were terrible and must have really hung heavy on the parents as illustrated in the book. (I was pretty struck by the horror of the stories.)
As others have said, Gladwell is a good story teller who knows how to lay out his side of the argument. Whether or not it is scientifically sound misses the beauty of his skill. A story doesn't have to be right or wrong. It simply enables us to see the world through different eyes. Something that Gladwell accomplished for me through this book.
Maybe it the current criticism of his work of summarizing, but everything seems sort of obvious. His insistence that even traumatic events, like the death of a parent, can be a good thing seem really facile.
His storytelling is still enjoyable even if I'm familiar with the outcomes and events and feel that they might have been mischaracterized. This book felt more disjointed than his other books, but I still enjoyed it.
His storytelling is still enjoyable even if I'm familiar with the outcomes and events and feel that they might have been mischaracterized. This book felt more disjointed than his other books, but I still enjoyed it.
Chicken Soup for the Pop Psychologist's Soul. Or something like that.
The plural of anecdote is not data. And when Mr. Gladwell has a hammer, everything looks like a nail. That is, he is a very persuasive writer, but ultimately I'm not really convinced about all of his conclusions. Do I need to point out that as social science goes, this is heavy on the social and light on the science? You probably already knew that.
Anyway, I did enjoy this one. Everyone loves an underdog. And I enjoyed his retelling of certain historical events and eras. It makes me want to go back and do my own research on some of those stories to see how much of the telling is Gladwell's and how much is actually history.
I listened to this on audiobook, and Gladwell narrated. Excellent choice.
The plural of anecdote is not data. And when Mr. Gladwell has a hammer, everything looks like a nail. That is, he is a very persuasive writer, but ultimately I'm not really convinced about all of his conclusions. Do I need to point out that as social science goes, this is heavy on the social and light on the science? You probably already knew that.
Anyway, I did enjoy this one. Everyone loves an underdog. And I enjoyed his retelling of certain historical events and eras. It makes me want to go back and do my own research on some of those stories to see how much of the telling is Gladwell's and how much is actually history.
I listened to this on audiobook, and Gladwell narrated. Excellent choice.
I found this book to be excellent, but probably for mostly personal reasons. Not as much in the pop psychology "isn't that interesting?" as his other books. Instead it explores beliefs and inaccuracies about weakness and advantage, and there were some pretty impressive anecdotes related as a way to discuss general concepts.
This is my second Malcolm Gladwell book (the first was Outliers) and I found both books to be fascinating and thought provoking. I really thought this book started out strong and connected points made from the David and Goliath story to other underdog situations through the first third of the book. The middle section began with a scripture about Paul's thorn in the flesh and that very much connected with the content of the section, but that was never fleshed out. In the third section, I felt like, while I was learning things, the book bogged down in the details about the conflict in Northern Ireland. I'm not sure how good Gladwell's science is, but it is always interesting to hear and seems reasonable and well-researched to me, an average listener.
This is the book that got me into non-fiction. It had me hooked in a way I was never booked before. Absolutely perspective changing. Real stories told so compellingly. What a brilliant writer.
Gladwell is such a fantastic writer! He is also a good storyteller, even though he doesn't need to be due to writing non-fiction. Normally, I get annoyed by authors narrating all the time. This book only slightly perturbed me in that regard. Minus one star for a bit too much narration, Gladwell!
This book does contain many interesting points. I think many readers will come away from this book feeling hopeful. I am writing this review after 3 weeks of finishing this book, and I realize there is one concept that really stuck with me in this book and that is hiring out Ivy League universities and the pressures that are caused by comparison to others.
There is likely something in this book for you.
This book does contain many interesting points. I think many readers will come away from this book feeling hopeful. I am writing this review after 3 weeks of finishing this book, and I realize there is one concept that really stuck with me in this book and that is hiring out Ivy League universities and the pressures that are caused by comparison to others.
There is likely something in this book for you.
Audible |
I adore Gladwell and the way he collects and researches historic events to show them through a new lens. This was a good one.
I adore Gladwell and the way he collects and researches historic events to show them through a new lens. This was a good one.
I love Malcolm Gladwell's unique style of weaving anecdotal stories with research, and this book was no exception. Lots of interesting takeaways.
reflective
medium-paced