Blink

The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

By: Malcolm Gladwell

Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell

Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

The landmark book that has revolutionized the way we understand leadership and decision making - from number-one best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell.

In his landmark best seller The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell redefined how we understand the world around us. Now, in Blink, he revolutionizes the way we understand the world within. Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant, in the blink of an eye, that actually aren't as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work, in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, and in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others?

In Blink we meet the psychologist who has learned to predict whether a marriage will last, based on a few minutes of observing a couple; the tennis coach who knows when a player will double-fault before the racket even makes contact with the ball; the antiquities experts who recognize a fake at a glance. Here, too, are great failures of "blink": the election of Warren Harding; "New Coke"; and the shooting of Amadou Diallo by police. Blink reveals that great decision makers aren't those who process the most information or spend the most time deliberating, but those who have perfected the art of "thin-slicing", filtering the very few factors that matter from an overwhelming number of variables.

Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology and displaying all of the brilliance that made The Tipping Point a classic, Blink changes the way you understand every decision you make. Never again will you think about thinking the same way.

Don't miss any of Malcolm Gladwell's books, articles, and interviews.

©2005 Malcolm Gladwell (P)2005 Time Warner AudioBooks

Critic reviews

2005 Quill Award Nominee

"Gladwell's groundbreaking explication of a key aspect of human nature is enlightening, provocative, and great fun to read." (Booklist)

"Entertaining and illuminating." (Publishers Weekly)

When To Trust Your

What a great book! In addition to numerous interesting examples of the "power" of split second decision-making and time slicing, there is a reasonable discussion of the negative or dangerous aspects of the blink response. That is extremely valuable in everyday use in business and personal life and I've already found it to be immensely useful. Trusting those instincts is a valuable proposition, and knowing when NOT to do so is equally so.

I'm a bit surprised by the negative reviews, but most of those seem to be related to the length of the book. Personally, I thought the length of the book was reasonable and in no way excessive. The voice skills were also fine.

Great job, Malcolm Gladwell - first impressions.

Everyone needs to read Blink. This is sure to be his best piece yet. Awesome.

Problem with the enhanced version

There seems to be a problem with the enhanced version of this audio book - it cuts out at around 01:23:00 on both my iPhone and in iTunes. I'm downloading the format 4 version now and hope it'll be better.

Better each time

Each time I listen to this book I get more out of it. Worth purchasing and keeping close. I refer to the studies noted

Fantastic book and a must read for professionals

The topic is relevant and applicable to most aspects of social living and professional interactions. Highly recommend this for hiring managers and people in position of authority. The icing on the cake is the natural delivery by Gladwell himself.

A must read

at the United States struggles for solutions on discrimination and other in justices, this book offers true insight into our behavior and offers great food for thought on seeking viable solutions.

Malcolm Has Exceeded Expectations.

This is a must read manual for all who call themselves change agents. Bravo Mr. Gladwell, bravo.

So well done

I love Malcolm Gladwell’s style of writing...the way he seems to have moved on from a story of topic and then weaves it back in, making his stories seem circular or spiraling rather than linear. And the topicwas fascinating.

Best Book I've read all year (2017)

This book is unique! It identifies thought processes that take place so rapidly we have no awareness of them. Yet these thoughts can leave us with impressions that can be very important if we attend to them. The book is logically ordered and written for ordinary people. It presents excellent real-world examples of the consequences of "unconscious thought" that range from life-and-death matters to everyday situations in which we make snap judgments about others' moods or intentions. It explains the scientific experiments that support the author's arguments in an easy-to-understand manner. The book is so well written as to be absolutely fascinating.

A Must Read!

If you've ever found yourself frustrated with the current state of violence in our law enforcement, or simply wanted to understand one's own level of understanding of what one perceives, this book will educate and enlighten with every passing chapter! Great read! Highly recommended.