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tim_ohearn's review against another edition
4.0
Freakonomics with history lessons. Though the coupling between unrelated events may be exaggerated for the sake of defending a thesis, the book is deeply thought-provoking. What makes books like this so appealing is that the discoveries aren't painfully controversial--you feel invigorated, if a bit edgy--being seduced to the author's way of thinking. Underdog stories sell. Fresh takes on underdog stories sell even better. Though you'll probably read, in a paper published ten years later, that someone did take issue with a few statements and took steps to exhaustively disprove them, that doesn't really matter. This was my first Malcolm Gladwell book and it won't be my last.
thejhawk's review against another edition
5.0
Malcom Gladwell is always amazing, but as someone with a learning disability this book really hit home.
jay_the_hippie's review against another edition
4.0
I learn so much from every Malcolm Gladwell book I read, and this one is no exception. I find it interesting how he discusses mistakes that a big powerful organization, such as the British Army, the police in California, or (for example) a business that purchases a really cool website that collects book reviews, could make by misunderstanding their relationship with the underdog. The book is divided into three different sections, each of which focus (in three chapters) on a facet of the strength of underdogs. Each chapter is jammed full of examples and the most clarifying discussion.
I don't really want to give away what the author talks about, so instead I'll write about a situation that he didn't analyze and attempt to apply some of the points to this fictional example. Let's say that a group of independent-thinking readers had a website that they poured time and effort into making a wonderful collection of book reviews. Imagine that the site was then sold. The parent company could choose to flex its muscle and enforce some new rules, censoring items of which it doesn't approve. Now if the censoring is arbitrary, is enforced too much, and is enforced in such a way that the reviewers don't feel they have any say in the matter, then the plan is bound to backfire. The reviewers, instead of being cowed by the enforcement, will struggle against it. It's on the wrong side of the upside-down U curve (SPOILERS if I say any more). The situation is even worse (for the website purchaser) if the reviewers have had difficulties that have strengthened their resolve... such people tend to be the sort that don't care if they ruffle feathers, for they have already survived worse. These are the people who could do things like defeat cancer... or organize an anti-censorship guerilla campaign. It is so difficult to defeat a guerilla force, no matter how much strength the big force seems to have.
Everything that the author actually talks about is all tied together in a really well-woven way, much like his previous books. I'll continue to read everything he writes.
I don't really want to give away what the author talks about, so instead I'll write about a situation that he didn't analyze and attempt to apply some of the points to this fictional example. Let's say that a group of independent-thinking readers had a website that they poured time and effort into making a wonderful collection of book reviews. Imagine that the site was then sold. The parent company could choose to flex its muscle and enforce some new rules, censoring items of which it doesn't approve. Now if the censoring is arbitrary, is enforced too much, and is enforced in such a way that the reviewers don't feel they have any say in the matter, then the plan is bound to backfire. The reviewers, instead of being cowed by the enforcement, will struggle against it. It's on the wrong side of the upside-down U curve (SPOILERS if I say any more). The situation is even worse (for the website purchaser) if the reviewers have had difficulties that have strengthened their resolve... such people tend to be the sort that don't care if they ruffle feathers, for they have already survived worse. These are the people who could do things like defeat cancer... or organize an anti-censorship guerilla campaign. It is so difficult to defeat a guerilla force, no matter how much strength the big force seems to have.
Everything that the author actually talks about is all tied together in a really well-woven way, much like his previous books. I'll continue to read everything he writes.
jzkannel's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty solid, classic malcolm gladwell book. One central idea and some different stories and interesting ideas that helped the story. At points, the central thesis of the book was a little hard to follow, so even though some stories were interesting, like the stories of families whose children were murdered and how they treated the killers, I didn't quite get what it had to do with the central concept of underdog advantage as a whole. If I'm trying to get someone into reading malcolm gladwell's books, I'm probably not starting with this one, but if they like all the others they'll like this one too.
mollyzor's review against another edition
4.0
This was a decent audiobhook. The idea was interesting. I think some of the examples were a little anecdotal but interesting nonetheless. The idea that if the "underdog" plays by different rules, then maybe they're not underdogs after all. David may not be the underdog we all thought he was. Overall, interesting read. Good for someone who likes different takes on the world and enjoys nonfiction.
cake_cats_books's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
boyardee's review against another edition
2.0
don't quite buy the connections/relationships proposed: impressionists artists and the Salon w/ students at "big pond" universities;
rhrousu's review against another edition
4.0
Not perfect, makes some big stretches, but a series of fascinating stories entertainingly told. Nice audio production.