• 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 (24,264 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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Enjoyed it.

I definitely enjoyed this book. Though because I absolutely loved several of Malcolm Gladwell's other books it's hard not to compare. My advice is to start with Outliers and The Tipping Point - and then if you need more Malcolm, this one is worth a read.

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Great book and amazing storytelling!!

Great book and amazing storytelling as always from Malcolm Gladwell. Very entertaining, interesting and or of the box thinking.

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Gladwell is a master story teller!

I have enjoyed no writing and narration more than Gladwell’s. Seriously, he is one heck of an author and narrator. His element of writing has anecdotes, facts, elements of surprise and contradictions which keeps one engaged through the story. This one also I really enjoyed and finished in no time.

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Great Book! Malcolm Galdwell does it agian!

This book deserves all the praise it has and continues to receive. Gladwell is by far my favorite author and once again proves his dominence in his writings!

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Amazing

words can mean so much. their is no such thing as a coincidence in chance

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Astounding. Life-changing.

Astounding. Profoundly beautiful prose with a revelation on almost every page about the incorrect assumptions we make everyday and how they harm us. Inspiring. Life-changing. One of the best books I have ever read. If you only read one book this year, this must be it.

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fantastic

MUST listen book. Gladwell is superb! Add this to the list and gain new perspective.

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Gladwell with more well presented material

Where does David and Goliath rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It was good. As with other Gladwell books, the points he makes are often illustrated with very specific examples which are less than scientific, but they are entertaining an on point nonetheless.

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

A personal connection. He obviously knows what innuendo and tone he wants to present his material.

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A great collection of stories...

Like other works of this author, David and Goliath is a collection of fascinating stories weaved together around some common themes which I believe are intended to generate further thought and discussion. The author is a great story-teller.

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Be more like DAVID.

Classic Gladwell. Master storyteller. He always opens your mind to so many different possibilities. Like all Gladwell books, a must read or listen.

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