What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures

Gladwell's subject matter is intentionally, wildly far flung. In addition, one story will go micro and the next will go macro. He revels in the swing. Like a provocative comedian, Gladwell chooses familiar rocks and then breaks them open for the pay off. He exposes the human motivations and the surrounding group dynamics that contribute to any number of calamities. As a premier American Social Scientist, Gladwell is many things; part intuitive savant, part psychologist and sociologist and part investigative interrogator. Above all these gifts, Gladwell is an excellent story teller. He often tackles huge and complex topics with simple unflappable logic. Gladwell's patented "reveal" is his franchise trademark. First he presents an interesting dynamic or problem. He then presents a second, seemingly unrelated problem. Gladwell toggles between the two stories and rolls them out on two long converging lines, logically inching them forward, step-by-step. At the end of each essay, there is a single resolve with an implicit social commentary, (`... the teacher's have an NFL quarterback problem"). He often concedes that knowing the logical answer won't necessarily change the next inevitable outcome. So rest assured, due to our own human nature, curious Mr. Gladwell will never run short of flamboyant material.

Not a review so much as a notice. If you don't need the actual book itself, you should know that all of these pieces are available on Malcolm Gladwell's website for free.

As I walked into my local Borders, I cast a casual glance at the New Book section and caught a glimpse of Gladwell's new "Messianic Verses". With a copy of his penultimate book "Outliers" still fresh on my shelf, I eagerly grabbed "What the Dog Saw" and sat down to a cup of Seattles Best coffee.

As I got about halfway through the Ron Popeil chapter, I muttered, "wait a minute", had I picked a biography in error? I moved on to the Nassim Taleb chapter which was a bit more interesting, perhaps owing to my specific interest in the subject (I work in Finance).

I began flipping through the book in near frustration trying to catch anything that would excite my intellect (as the prior books had). Nothing!! I gently closed the book and quietly slipped out of the bookstore to avoid that funny "you freeloader" look form the store clerks.

I came home and went right to Amazon reviews to guage reactions on the book. I have to say on reading the reviews, every doubt I may harbor about a notional "Cult of Gladwell" has been buried. That anyone can compare this to his prior works, or offer a full-throated recommendation, is a mystery to me - unless of course this board is infested with "shills" planted by Gladwell's publisher.

As to recommendation, my position ought to be evident.

Okey

I just purchased what the dog saw and i just love it!!! his writing is so easy to get into right away - i am just about done w/ the book and i just started - very interesting - insightful - i look forward to more!!!!

I really enjoy Gladwell's writing. This book is a collection of articles that were previously published in the New Yorker magazine. If you missed these articles in the New Yorker, you will enjoy this book.