Blink
By Malcolm Gladwell
- Release Date: 2007-04-03
- Genre: Management & Leadership
Description
From the #1 bestselling author of The Bomber Mafia, the landmark book that has revolutionized the way we understand leadership and decision making. In his breakthrough bestseller The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell redefined how we understand the world around us. Now, in Blink, he revolutionizes the way we understand the world within. Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant--in the blink of an eye--that actually aren't as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work--in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, and in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others? In Blink we meet the psychologist who has learned to predict whether a marriage will last, based on a few minutes of observing a couple; the tennis coach who knows when a player will double-fault before the racket even makes contact with the ball; the antiquities experts who recognize a fake at a glance. Here, too, are great failures of "blink": the election of Warren Harding; "New Coke"; and the shooting of Amadou Diallo by police. Blink reveals that great decision makers aren't those who process the most information or spend the most time deliberating, but those who have perfected the art of "thin-slicing"--filtering the very few factors that matter from an overwhelming number of variables.
Reviews
Interesting Takeaways But Dragging
3By M_LuboWhile I appreciate the research and the important points the author makes, some of the anecdotes are repetitive. The book could have been much more condensed.Good
5By TavowavoGoodGreat for Engineers and project managers
5By hmshectorDoes good job explaining the difference and use case for statistical analysis and quick judgement.Superb
5By Jeff przLoved all of the stories. Gladwell is expert at drawing conclusions through storytelling. Such an enjoyable and insightful mean. I will carry these ideas with me for the rest of my life. Well done.Incredibly invigorating
5By TDSanchez031990M. Gladwell never ceases to amaze me. This book offers clear and concise examples that challenge the reader to think about decisions made from our unconscious mind and how easily our snap judgements can fail us. I love this book and will read again.It was an excellent book.
5By caribbean manI like how Blink explains snap decision making and it’s importance. It also discusses how to not get lost in information but rather use the information to better understanding.Blink
5By DonDominickGreat book for unconventional thinkersMetacognition
5By J. FixMalcom Gladwell simply makes one think about... well, how one actually thinks. “Blink” brings critical awareness of oneself as a thinker and learner. Appropriately thin-sliced into multiple vignettes, “Blink” helps one view problem sets from different perspectives that will expand ones thinking within a nanosecond or blink-of-an-eye.Counterintuitive
4By Richard BakareThroughout the entirety of Blink you end up seeing how counterintuitive our first impressions to so many things are. From taste tests, to wartime strategy, and most importantly to how we interpret other people. To start to accept this idea you first have to accept a series of rules. The first is that snap judgments are natural and seem accurate enough for many scenarios. The second is that we can’t play an active part in that snap judgment. The next and probably biggest understanding is knowing which snap decisions to trust and which to actively work against. In his book, “Talking to Strangers,” Gladwell does a great job of explaining that third part, the filter. The filter being CONTEXT of course. In Blink he lays out how we quickly judge, and in the other he dives into how butcher context. For that reason you should absolutely read Blink first, followed closely by “Talking to Strangers.” All of this is done in Gladwell’s well established style. That trademark elaborate journey layered with anecdotes, tests, and expert insights that all combine to demonstrate powerful patterns. It’s how you wish we learned most everything. At least in an exploratory sense. Seeding the curiosity, watering it, and waiting for that lightbulb like bloom that represents the “aha” moment.Outdated references to neuroscience literature
2By ShtohThe author draws on research such as the IAT which has a test-retest factor of only -.35, if being generous. There are still some sound factors of reactive decision making proposed and that is valuable.Great Book
5By TanndersonMalcolm Gladwell is a masterful author and did a wonderful job if taking complex concepts and explaining them simply and thoroughly through use of illustrative stories and anecdotes. It really made me think about things I never thought I would. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to expand their understanding of how psychology affects our day to day life.Must Read!
5By Dee SilveiraAmazing insight into the human mind, practical solutions, and revealing the hidden bias in all of us.Informative in Plain Language
5By EatSleepHoop21I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to a friend. Makes for great conversation with just about anyone. I liked this book and look forward to applying its knowledge! Definitely a help for social change.Blink opened my eyes...
5By NagurskiWell written. Solid enticing presentation of enlightening research that clearly lays out the reasons to trust but verify our gut reaction.Blink -the power of the unconscious
5By Kimberly UribeBlink is a book about how we think without thinking, how sometimes our conscious does things we are unaware of. Throughout this book Gladwell discusses certain incidents where people felt a certain way about something but didn't know why. When they saw a certain statue and they "felt as though there was a glass between me and the work." Or when they did an experiment on couples to see if they were right for each other within five minutes the psychologist could tell and although they may seem like they were they weren't because once you'd look deeper into them something so obvious but so not, you'd come to the realization that they were missing a fact that these couples werent truly stating what they really felt. Overall the book gives great insight on how your conscious works and how easily we can do certain things to manipulate our mindset. Such as taking a simple test and all of a sudden behaving differently because of certain subtle words and not realize it. The book provides you with facts along with examples to better understand it. Gladwell does an excellent job on proposing his statements on how the unconscious works without the use of too much jargon but rather captivating stories and examples. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. Especially to those who are into learning more about how the brain works and how easily one can be manipulated, and or aspiring journalists. The best part about this book is that it's not only interesting but also an easy read. Its also a great book for those who are into learning random facts such as the reasons the "new coke" didn't work out yet no one liked the old one.Simply a must read
5By who is John GaultMy favorite of all the books. It's a classic. Stories that are so relatable and repeatable to all your friends. No one tells a story like this guy.Great Book
5By ericccs_lauBought this and realize it have the same topic with Daniel Kahneman's book. Love it.. Thanks.Interesting book
4By legumesfInteresting and easy to read book.Highly recommend!
5By Soilrulz13Definite page turner. Intelligent, very interesting and extremely well written!
