By Malcolm Gladwell

Rating: 4/5

Three-Word Summary: Thinking without thinking

Malcolm Gladwell is the master of mind-blowing.

I first heard about him when he spoke at the Catalyst leadership conference back in 2013. After his talk, everyone in attendance received a copy of his new book: David and Goliath.

David and Goliath is entirely devoted to disproving the notion that David was the underdog. It uses science and logic to prove that the young shepherd boy actually had the secret upper hand on the fearsome Philistine warrior.

In a similar way, Blink is about disproving some of our preconceived notions about instincts and intuition.

It starts out by showing how certain people’s immediate impressions can actually be more accurate than long-term study. This was the case in determining a fake statue, hearing a talented musician from a few notes or even knowing if a couple will get divorced from watching a short, casual conversation.

It’s impossible to even approach the explanation for these puzzles in this short space. But the intrigue should only compel readers to delve into the fascinating world revealed within Blink.

Gladwell unwraps these complex and compelling concepts with a polished and journalistic style. Rather than droning on about statistics, he weaves them into a narrative that informs as it entertains.

When I purchased Blink, I also bought a copy of Outliers, also written by Gladwell. Similar to his other two works, Outliers examines the mysteries behind what makes certain people successful. I haven’t gotten a chance to read it yet, but rest assured that when I do, I’ll post a review here.