• David and Goliath

  • Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
  • By: Malcolm Gladwell
  • Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell
  • Length: 7 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (24,258 ratings)

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David and Goliath

By: Malcolm Gladwell
Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell
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Editorial reviews

Editors Select, October 2013 - Get ready to have your view of the world turned upside down. Malcolm Gladwell - best-selling author of Blink, The Tipping Point, and Outliers - returns to present new ways of looking at why being among the advantaged is not always advantageous. David & Goliath explores the \"art of battling giants\" through the personal accounts of underdogs and misfits whose wild success stories are often falsely considered flukes. This is not a sentimental celebration of good things happening to good people. In true Gladwellian fashion, the real reasons behind so many pull-from-behind wins are completely unexpected. And if you've ever heard any of the author's many speaking engagements you know to expect a lively listening experience with Gladwell narrating the book himself. (Tricia, Audible Editor)

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Nonfiction, 2014

Explore the power of the underdog in Malcolm Gladwell's dazzling examination of success, motivation, and the role of adversity in shaping our lives, from the best-selling author of The Bomber Mafia.

Three thousand years ago on a battlefield in ancient Palestine, a shepherd boy felled a mighty warrior with nothing more than a stone and a sling, and ever since then the names of David and Goliath have stood for battles between underdogs and giants. David's victory was improbable and miraculous. He shouldn't have won.

Or should he have?

In David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwellchallenges how we think about obstacles and disadvantages, offering a new interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against, or cope with a disability, or lose a parent, or attend a mediocre school, or suffer from any number of other apparent setbacks.

Gladwell begins with the real story of what happened between the giant and the shepherd boy those many years ago. From there, David and Goliath examines Northern Ireland's Troubles, the minds of cancer researchers and civil rights leaders, murder and the high costs of revenge, and the dynamics of successful and unsuccessful classrooms - all to demonstrate how much of what is beautiful and important in the world arises from what looks like suffering and adversity.

In the tradition of Gladwell's previous best-sellers - The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, and What the Dog Saw - David and Goliath draws upon history, psychology, and powerful storytelling to reshape the way we think of the world around us.

©2013 Malcolm Gladwell (P)2013 Hachette Audio

What listeners say about David and Goliath

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Great Stories...yet not all seem to tie back to David and Goliath

Truly interesting and well told. Not always sure if the ‘underdog-edness’ of the heroes and heroines. Yet still inspired

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enlightening

i loved it!! great read to understanding human behavior and celebrates the misfits and underdogs.

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Malcolm does it again!

Would you listen to David and Goliath again? Why?

Yes and will!

What other book might you compare David and Goliath to and why?

Outliers

Which scene was your favorite?

So hard to pick... The real story of David & Goliath and the successes of dyslectics was fascinating.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

How to succeed when all odds are against you

Any additional comments?

LOVE this book. I've read every book by Gladwell and had the privilege of seeing him speak once. I hope he continues to write... and write... and write. His mind is truly amazing! AND he is an excellent narrator.

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Excellent book

Riveting. Really enjoyed it. Quick listen.dodnt want to put it down once I stopped. Thanks

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Great read, very practical

This is the kind of book you read twice and record to to your friends.

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empowering but becomes dark in the end.

numerous anecdotes that make you ponder a value system. I do believe those of us who aren't standard or normal have an edge. hard to believe but why strive for the norm?

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Brilliantly objective

As usual Gladwell delivers. How he researches the small its cause me to stand on awe.

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Thought provoking

I couldn't turn this one off! Also, the author does an excellent job reading his work.

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Mr Gladwell is a gift and so are his insights.

The ending snuck up on me.

Note to Amazon... your app could be so much better....

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Malcolm Gladwell is the best

The way he delves into history, psyche, and humanity is amazing :)))) thank you. About to read another Malcom Gladwell piece

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