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kim_j_dare's review against another edition
4.0
My first foray into Malcolm Gladwell's writing, but definitely not my last. He's got such a way of painting a picture of what we think we know, and then turning it upside down. The focus here-- how things that society perceives as weaknesses can actually be strengths, and how things that society values as strengths can undermine. In addition to the story we (think we) all know about David and Goliath, he takes on the education system, major wars and uprisings, and the secrets of some CEOs' success. I enjoyed the audio version, which is narrated by Gladwell.
thatnatiam's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed how the author presented various stories and how it compelled me to think more about David and Goliath situations in my own life. Would definitely recommend this book!
thriller_buffet's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining way of story telling, the first half of the book was very enjoyable and inspiring in a way to prove that advantages can be disadvantages and the opposite , yet the send half of the book was utterly depressing and notorious in trying to prove a point that has been repeatedly discussed over and over.
Outliers remains way better than this book.
Outliers remains way better than this book.
merilyn_ohtla's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
"David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants" by Malcolm Gladwell explores how underdogs can turn their perceived weaknesses into strengths. The book’s central theme is exemplified by the biblical story of David and Goliath, suggesting that David's unconventional approach was crucial to his victory.
One of the book's most compelling sections discusses college selection, arguing that attending a less prestigious institution can sometimes be more beneficial than striving to stand out in a highly competitive environment.
However, the book often lacks the rigorous evidence typical of Gladwell's previous works. Several essays conclude abruptly, leaving a sense of incompleteness. This is particularly evident in the chapter on Wilma Derksen, where Gladwell makes assumptions without sufficient evidence.
Additionally, the book's opening is somewhat problematic. Gladwell presents the David and Goliath story as if it were a historical fact rather than a symbolic moral tale from the Bible. This approach can be off-putting, especially for readers aware of the metaphorical nature of many biblical stories.
Despite these shortcomings, "David and Goliath" encourages readers to rethink their assumptions about power and advantage, challenging the notion that bigger is always better.
ian230's review against another edition
1.0
I think this was extremely poor. In fact there were times when I wanted to confront Gladwell on his spurious assumptions and tenuous links that he seems to suggest are facts. Normally during these books the basic message is delivered within the first couple of chapters and the rest is filler. However, I found there to be no clear message and simply citations of relatively random events that he proposed represented the small winning versus the large. The notion that an A grade student going to an ivy League collage is going to find it tough, and perhaps they would have done better going to a lesser school, well what can I say about the number of flaws in this thesis. And so it went on. If that was his opening killer statement well you can imagine things only got better.
Anyway, i should not waste more time. Read it if you must, and if you take something from it, then great, but for me, it was one of the worst books I've encountered and I certainly will not be picking up another Gladwell book in my lifetime.
Anyway, i should not waste more time. Read it if you must, and if you take something from it, then great, but for me, it was one of the worst books I've encountered and I certainly will not be picking up another Gladwell book in my lifetime.