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David and Goliath

Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
Jul 29, 2014danielestes rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I've come to expect a higher standard from Malcolm Gladwell and his latest work, David and Goliath, is another compelling triumph. Similar to how his previous book, Outliers: The Story of Success, explores the complex underpinnings of the popular success narrative, this one takes the underdog v giant narrative, turns it on its head, and shows the contradictory variables at work. We mythologize the Davids and the Goliaths of this world in a way that grossly underestimates the underdog's inherent advantage and the giant's masked weaknesses. My favorite moments are the comparisons of the "big fish / little pond" and "little fish / big pond" examples. Classic Gladwell and spot on! I was absorbed throughout with the exception of a portion near the middle. My attention noticeably waned as he discussed the Civil Rights Movement and the British occupation of Ireland. I think that, looking back, even though the material relates to the underdog's resourcefulness and the inverted U-shaped curve previously introduced, the connection to the book's central thesis wasn't as clear here as in the other chapters.