I just finished reading Blink by Malcolm Gladwell; it’s a fascinating little book about how some people make extremely accurate split second decisions. On the back it suggests placing the book in the “Self Help/Psychology” section of the book store, which I find a bit perplexing, it is about psychology, but it’s nowhere near a self help book, in fact it reads like an extended New Yorker magazine article, which it might be, since Gladwell writes for the magazine. I remember reading some of his pieces before, and I’ve been recommended his web site by my friend Eric. Anyway, it is interesting why some people are able to see things in a glance that regular people can’t. I particularly found the section, 7 Seconds In The Bronx, which discusses what went wrong in the 1999 Amadou Diallo shooting (he was basically in the wrong place at the wrong time and took 41 bullets for it) and what it says about people under pressure and police officers in particular was quite revealing. But all of the chapters were equally interesting and well written. I found it though provoking to evaluate how I personally used “thin-slicing” (looking at limited individual moments of time with scrutiny) in daily life.
This book has been mentioned a lot on ESPN.com as well in terms of game planning and instincts, etc. I need to pick it up, sounds interesting. They interviewed Gladwell before the Super Bowl and he had a lot of ideas on how the Eagles could run a no-huddle and win.
Posted by: Kraig | February 15, 2005 at 01:44 AM
Interesting to know that Gladwell was a football pundit. There are some sports examples in the book, Larry Bird's court vision while playing, a tennis coach who could predict serve faults with amamzing accuracy, but nothing about no-huddle offenses. It's a short and interesting read; you should pickup a copy.
Posted by: MC | February 15, 2005 at 09:46 AM
Just finished and Iam going to check out Tipping Point now. I thought that part on thin slicing divorce rates based on a 15 minute conversation was revealing. Contempt was the indicator. The police stuff was good as well. I am going to give it to Dad to read. Makes sense now that I have read it what he was saying about Donovan McNabb running a no-huddle offense and making split decisions (or Peyton Manning for example). The book also makes you question a lot of stereotypical prejudices that you may not even realize.
Posted by: Kraig | June 08, 2005 at 12:13 AM
I think you'll enjoy The Tipping Point as well. There's lots of good antecdotal information there as well. Did you finish Are We Hungry by Eggers yet? How was it?
Posted by: MC | June 08, 2005 at 10:40 AM
I have not started it yet, I am am halfway thru the 2004 non required reading text he edited. I just saw Hotel Rwanda (extremely powerful) and was reminded of a great short story about a runner from Rwanda that escaped the genocide in the non required reading.
Posted by: Kraig | June 09, 2005 at 12:05 AM