Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

"Blink," one in a series of excellent books by Malcolm Gladwell, is one of those rare publications that actually makes you think about how you think. This concept, covered in an engaging and entertaining voice by Gladwell, may seem confusing, strange, boring, or all of the above at first glance. Rest assured -- this book is anything but boring, strange, or confusing -- it is a wonderful publication that entertains and teaches in equal measure.

With a rhetorical style akin to that conveyed by Michael Pollen in In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, Gladwell presents readers with data and hypotheses. He carefully and logically supports his conclusion(s), but does not force his perspective on his readers. Gladwell's style, rather, is one of engaging and involving the reader on a journey of learning.

For the interested reader, Gladwell offers stories and characters that engage, and ideas and perspectives that stimulate thought. This is a wonderful book that is well worth a read.

This was an interesting point of view. I think it was well researched, but does not share any of the counter-point to his position.

Just a long list of antedotes. Interesting for the first two seconds at best. Not useful reading.

This book is a great read. Very engaging and thoughtful. The author provides some wonderful new insights into how we make decisions from the gut or at the blink of an eye. From this insight you can start making more intelligent decisions on how you take advantage of your instincts.

My only complaint and the reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is that the author doesn't give enough definitive advice about what we can do to better ourselves with the knowledge he provides. There are suggestions and hints but any conclusion is a little weak. Regardless, I have read this book twice and will read it again so I can continue to understand my own gut instincts and make better decisions in the blink of an eye.

If you enjoy this book, check out Emotional Intelligence. Although a little dry, Emotional Intelligence reflects some of the points made by Malcolm Gladwell in Blink.

In Blink, Malcolm Gladwell outlines numerous stories to illustrate how our brain can reach conclusions without our conscious mind realizing how we came to that answer. Demonstrating instances of experts detecting forgeries, psychologists determining whose marriages will last, and how we can learn to read people's faces, Gladwell weaves these stories together to show why our first judgement may be our best, and how detrimental it can be to try figuring out why or how we "just know". It was interesting to learn the key to good improvisational comedy, what makes a good car salesman, and how people perceive to what degree they will like a food based on the packaging. If textbooks were this interesting and well written, kids would be chomping at the bit to do their homework!