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)

Great stories illutsrate the main points

What I really like about Malcom Gladwell's books (Tipping Point, Outliers, Blink) is that he uses real-life stories to illustrate his points. The stories are not only relevant but also interesting and fascinating. This book helps you better understand why you are able to make good snap judgements with almost no information as well as why we sometimes make very bad snap judgements. Some of the information in this book overlaps a little with the book "How We decide" which is another good book to listen to. Two thumbs up for Blink.

MALCOlM

best all around author and speaker, Ever....I love Him!!!!! plants own all his books on audible so I can take him everywhere....

Explore the benefits and risks of snap judgements

I throughly enjoyed Gladwell's exploration of both the positives of tuning ones ability to decide in the moment via microslicing time and exposure, but also the risk of being blinded into a autistic rigidity by time or pressure that will betray your otherwise innate decision making capabilities. And great anecdotes, scientific and social research and backdrops to frame the points. Bravo Malcolm, fun work..

Blink...It's Brilliant!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Blink to be better than the print version?

Well yes, because my first introduction to this author was during a 1-hour leadership-type seminar that I attended remotely. I was so impressed by his presentation style...never boring!!! From his name alone I searched for audio books by him and purchased this one. Love It!!!! This author keeps your mind engaged and moving right along with the main objectives. With that said, I have begun to consider aspects of the inner workings of my mind that I would have never considered before. I also have a bit more confidence in those little quirks about my intuitive self. :-). I'm looking forward to listening to his other works.

What did you like best about this story?

The continuity of the information

Which character ??? as performed by Malcolm Gladwell ??? was your favorite?

All...

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

not really...

Any additional comments?

I'm glad he read his own book. I like his voice.

Interesting take on unconscious decisions

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

Having the author read the book for you makes you really understand the text the way he intended you to understand it

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Neither laugh nor cry, it's more of a "oh, that's interesting" kind of book

Any additional comments?

I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in understanding a bit more about the real power of our brain and the unimaginable amount of calculations, decisions and assumptions we do everyday without even noticing it

Just a warning: you may end this book with the feel that humans are much more predictable that you thought

Fascinating

Very interesting! Exciting listening! Well read! I have listened to it again and again.

Redundant but of substance

Found myself zoning out pretty frequently probably because of the somewhat mellow nature of the narrator. What was said, however, was great information and was laid out pretty easy to follow along to. I guess I was hoping for answers instead of explanations. A guide, if you will, at how to hone that special skill that few of us seem to have. All in all it was a well written book with plenty to say and kept me engaged for longer than most books can. But that could be a personal issue.

Another great book & reading by Malcolm Gladwell

This is my 3rd Malcolm Gladwell book and again I feel educated, entertained and a better person. His stlye is unlike any other. Looking forward to my next Gladwell.

a must read

Amazing voice, unique approach to look at things differently and to trust your gut. I was given this book because I over think then make the same decision I knew I should've made an hour before. Thank you Malcolm. You made sense.

Complex yet understandable

A very effective collaboration of stories, experiments, and trials. I found the book to be pleasantly insightful.