What the Dog Saw

And Other Adventures

By: Malcolm Gladwell

Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell

The best-selling author of The Bomber Mafia focuses on "minor geniuses" and idiosyncratic behavior to illuminate the ways all of us organize experience in this "delightful" (Bloomberg News) collection of writings from The New Yorker.

What is the difference between choking and panicking? Why are there dozens of varieties of mustard-but only one variety of ketchup? What do football players teach us about how to hire teachers? What does hair dye tell us about the history of the 20th century?

In the past decade, Malcolm Gladwell has written three books that have radically changed how we understand our world and ourselves: The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers. Now, in What the Dog Saw, he brings together, for the first time, the best of his writing from The New Yorker over the same period.

Here is the bittersweet tale of the inventor of the birth control pill, and the dazzling inventions of the pasta sauce pioneer Howard Moscowitz. Gladwell sits with Ron Popeil, the king of the American kitchen, as he sells rotisserie ovens, and divines the secrets of Cesar Millan, the "dog whisperer" who can calm savage animals with the touch of his hand. He explores intelligence tests and ethnic profiling and "hindsight bias" and why it was that everyone in Silicon Valley once tripped over themselves to hire the same college graduate.

"Good writing", Gladwell says in his preface, "does not succeed or fail on the strength of its ability to persuade. It succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you, to make you think, to give you a glimpse into someone else's head". What the Dog Saw is yet another example of the buoyant spirit and unflagging curiosity that have made Malcolm Gladwell our most brilliant investigator of the hidden extraordinary.

©2009 Malcolm Gladwell (P)2009 Hachette Audio

A Potpourri of Great Pieces

A sort of modge-podge lacking a central theme, this audiobook is still great. Gladwell helps us see the interestingness in everything.

the dog saw a lot

Definitely one of the best road books ever. Every essay is just chocked full of interesting character and topic development information. You find yourself extending your trip to finish a chapter. Enjoy.

Some interesting parts, but overall not great.

This is Gladwell's worst book, in my opinion. Of course, Gladwell is usually great, so it's like talking about Pixar's worst film, or Apple's least popular product. It's got some interesting parts, but there are lots of boring parts.

If you haven't read Gladwell's "Outliers" or "Blink", leave here now and get those. Those are great (esp. Outliers!). After you've read all Gladwell's other books, come back to this one last when you need another Gladwell fix (unless he's written something else by then!)

Gladwell has a soothing voice!

Loved it! I've become somewhat obsessed with Gladwell's works ever since I read 'Outliers'. Will continue to read his work!

Take it with a grain of salt, but do take it.

Provocative, inspiring, infuriating: it's all in here, in one way or the other, and the author's own narration is top notch. It's excellent both to think about and to use as cocktail party chatter.

Aces

Just great. Every story in this book is worthy of discussing with friends and further curiousity. Another win for Gladwell.

Gladwell

Gladwell does it again. This book is worth your time to consume and will add value to your personal critical thought.

What the Dog Saw - what Gladwell finds interesting

What made the experience of listening to What the Dog Saw the most enjoyable?

Chapter length roughly corresponds to length of commute or workout at gym.

If you’ve listened to books by Malcolm Gladwell before, how does this one compare?

just as good.

What does Malcolm Gladwell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

voice inflection

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Every chapter is interesting.

Any additional comments?

I find interesting the same things Gladwell finds interesting.

Interesting story and perspectives

I thoroughly enjoy Gladwell’s books. I find his insights fascinating and his stories told are well told. If asked what this book was about, I could not give a specific summary. He presents facts on several occurrences in ways that do not normally seem obvious and I am forced to consider a different way to think.

Gladwell for President

Where does What the Dog Saw rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Second only to himself. One of the great minds of this century. Check out the Tipping Point, Outliers and this is certainly a perfect place to start to see the variety of subjects he touches on with such wonderful insight.

What other book might you compare What the Dog Saw to and why?

The Tipping Point. Freakenomics would be great examples.

What does Malcolm Gladwell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He wrote it, he read it, he is able to provide the alliteration where it is intended. From his great mind to my ears.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Tough to stop. But the chapters change topics and it provides you an out.

Any additional comments?

Get it.