David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants Hardcover – October 1, 2013
Author: Visit Amazon's Malcolm Gladwell Page | Language: English | ISBN: 0316204366 | Format: PDF, EPUB
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants – October 1, 2013
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Download electronic versions of selected books David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants Hardcover – October 1, 2013 for everyone book with Mediafire Link Download Link Direct download links available for David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants – October 1, 2013
- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; First Edition edition (October 1, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0316204366
- ISBN-13: 978-0316204361
- Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1 inches
- Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Books > Medical Books > Psychology > Social Psychology & Interactions
- #4 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Social Psychology & Interactions
- #4 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Psychology & Counseling > Personality
Does having a disadvantage make you stronger in the long run? Malcolm Gladwell explores this and similar questions in his latest book. Like his previous works, Gladwell delves into the stories of many people (some famous, some not) to determine why some become wildly successful whereas others crash and burn. Are there key elements in their upbringing that push people to excel?
Two interesting observations revolve around dyslexia and the loss of a parent. Some of the most prominent people in the world are, surprisingly, dyslexic. Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, and Brian Glazer are three. A shocking 12 of the 44 U.S. Presidents, including George Washington and Barack Obama, lost their fathers when they were young. Gladwell explores the possibility that people who are faced with a major disadvantage can use it to propel them to heights they otherwise would not have achieved.
While this book is very thought-provoking, I must admit that I can't completely agree with all of it. I found some conclusions to be over-simplified. Even so, this an entertaining and worthwhile read. Gladwell fans will definitely appreciate it.
Readers of this book should also consider two others with similar themes. Gladwell's stories reminded me of my favorite recent memoir, Dr. Anthony Youn's In Stitches which explores how a young underdog overcame his insecurities to eventually become a successful physician. A fascinating story. The second book I recommend is Gladwell's
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell
"David and Goliath" is an interesting yet somewhat disappointing book about what happens when ordinary people confront giants. Best-selling author, Malcolm Gladwell provides many examples that range from the compelling to the dare I say feeble. That being said, the book is stimulating and it's never boring, it just lacked the brilliance that a book like his very own "Outliers" has. This provocative 320-page book is broken out into the following three parts: 1. The Advantages of Disadvantages (and Disadvantages of Advantages), 2. The Theory of Desirable Difficulty, and 3. The Limits of Power.
Positives:
1. Always engaging, provocative and a page turner. Gladwell is a gifted narrator.
2. Interesting subject, never boring. You never know what you are going to get from Gladwell. A great premise and title for a book, "David and Goliath".
3. Gladwell explores two main ideas through stories and keen observations. "What we consider valuable in our world arises out of these kinds of lopsided conflicts, because the act of facing overwhelming odds produces greatness and beauty. And second, that we consistently get these kinds of conflicts wrong."
4. A recurring theme that resonates throughout the book, "There is an important lesson in that for battles with all kinds of giants. The powerful and the strong are not always what they seem."
5. I absolutely loved the story of Vivek Ranadive's basketball team and where Pitino's trademark strategy came from. "The whole Redwood City philosophy was based on a willingness to try harder than anyone else."
6. The provocative discussion on the correlation of class sizes and educational success.
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