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David and Goliath
- Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell
- Length: 7 hrs
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Editor reviews
Summary
David and Goliath is the dazzling and provocative new book from Malcolm Gladwell, best-selling author of The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers and What the Dog Saw.
Why do underdogs succeed so much more than we expect? How do the weak outsmart the strong? In David and Goliath Malcolm Gladwell takes us on a scintillating and surprising journey through the hidden dynamics that shape the balance of power between the small and the mighty. From the conflicts in Northern Ireland and Vietnam, through the tactics of civil rights leaders and the problem of privilege, Gladwell demonstrates how we misunderstand the true meaning of advantage and disadvantage.
When does a traumatic childhood work in someone's favour? How can a disability leave someone better off? And do you really want your child to go to the best school he or she can get into? David and Goliath draws on the stories of remarkable underdogs, history, science, psychology and on Malcolm Gladwell's unparalleled ability to make the connections others miss. It's a brilliant, illuminating book that overturns conventional thinking about power and advantage.
Author, journalist, cultural commentator, and intellectual adventurer, Malcolm Gladwell was born in 1963 in England to a Jamaican mother and an English mathematician father. He grew up in Canada and graduated with a degree in history from the University of Toronto in 1984. From 1987 to 1996, he was a reporter for The Washington Post, first as a science writer and then as New York City bureau chief. Since 1996, he has been a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine.
His curiosity and breadth of interests are shown in New Yorker articles ranging over a wide array of subjects including early childhood development and the flu, not to mention hair dye, shopping and what it takes to be cool. His first book, The Tipping Point, captured the world's attention with its theory that a curiously small change can have unforeseen effects, and the phrase has become part of our language, used by writers, politicians and business people everywhere to describe cultural trends and strange phenomena. His other international best-selling books are Blink, which explores how a snap judgment can be far more effective than a cautious decision, and What the Dog Saw, a collection of his most provocative and entertaining New Yorker pieces.
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What listeners say about David and Goliath
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- Thomas
- 02-11-13
"I Could Listen To Malcolm All Day Long"
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
It has so many a-ha type moments that will help you see your own advantages (advantages disadvantages) more clearly as well as helping you see them in others.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The struggle of the cancer researcher Dr.Jay Freireich.
Any additional comments?
This book is ideal for Audio, especially as the author is as good an orator as he is a writer. I enjoyed every moment of this verbal salad.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 24-04-18
Another great Gladwell book
5 stars. Gladwell at his best. insightful and moving the author takes you on a great journey. 5 stars.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-12-17
Excellent
One of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to. Couldn’t stop listening to it. Highly recommended.
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3 people found this helpful
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- nameranon
- 29-04-16
Excellent insight
An inspiring book full of interesting new perspectives on adversity and sage advice for all.
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- gideon
- 08-01-21
Biblical level psychology
Malcom delivers another pedulum-like, inspirational observation of chaos, narrating the inevitable equilibrium of humanity.
From the undeniable power of his fact-driven written word, to his engaging, nonchalant narrative style, this blend of statistical analysis and intimate story, of underdog triumph through any circumstance, gives humanity a pass through our seemingly apocalyptic path.
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- Sam
- 07-04-19
Great idea, Very Bias
I loved the idea, however the only convincing argument was in the first chapter. Past that the points are painfully flawed and one-sided.
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- Paul Joseph Walsh
- 09-07-20
Worth a listen
Inspirational and raises interesting questions. Mainly anecdoteal with limited research. Overstretched thesis is unconvincing in parts.
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- Mr. J. P. Owens
- 22-07-22
Interesting stories, questionable interpretations
Gladwell can write. This is clear. He tells a good story, and on the surface his conclusions are interesting. But as with so many of his books, the attempts to connect all the pieces together ultimately fails. I'm not even sure why he feels the need to try to do that. He should just let each story stand on its own.
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- ShabadooGMan
- 13-10-13
Swing and a miss
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
I wouldn't recommend this. I've been a fan of Gladwell's since Blink. While Outliers was over-long, there was plenty of interesting stuff in there. But David & Goliath smacks of contractual obligation. The upshot is that the underdog needs to think a little differently in order to topple Goliath. Well, thanks, Malcolm.
What was most disappointing about Malcolm Gladwell’s story?
I kept waiting for him to take the stories he was telling and explain how perhaps we could apply it to our own lives. He didn't really do this. It was essentially Jackanory, with Malcolm telling a few stories - about civil rights, about the troubles in Northern Ireland - with little point. As a listener, there was a lot of "And?"
What does Malcolm Gladwell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Gladwell is a very good narrator. As is often the case with authors reading their own work, you can tell he really cares about his work. This certainly elevates it.
Was David and Goliath worth the listening time?
Ultimately, at seven hours, no, David & Goliath wasn't worth the reading time.
Any additional comments?
I'm still a fan of Gladwell and would check out his next work - he's an interesting voice. Let's hope this is just a rare misstep in an otherwise highly interesting and provocative career.
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46 people found this helpful
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- samuel
- 04-10-19
Very insightful.
The audio book was highly insightful and a very enjoyable listen. I thought that only one of the chapters was a little nitty gritty. Time well spent overall.
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