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)

Buy it now! Or not.. Trust your instincts.

I was first introduced to Malcolm Gladwell a few weeks ago on a podcast for the WNYC program Radiolab. The episode is called "Choice" and if you are new to Gladwell, i would suggest you start there. You'll be hooked.

The negative reviews i've read seem to have felt misled. As if Gladwell were expected to present some unifying theory of intuition. Yet, n a way, he actually does, just not scientifically. What he does present are thought provoking anecdotes about the under appreciated importance of our instinct.. The patches on the quilt missing the thread of your perception. There is lots left to be learned from the experience of others, and luckily there's authors such as Gladwell who will find them.

Good food for thought

The book is well read by the narrator and the content is thoroughly engaging. I have enjoyed listening to this book during my morning runs. Unlike some books that want to beat you over the head with a few simple points, Gladwell offers a myriad of interesting stories that help drive the point of his book.

If nothing more, Gladwell makes a few convincing arguments in this book that offer food for thought that we can all benefit from, both at a personal level and a professional level.

Great Book!!

This is a great book, I work in Cognitive Psychology and it really is nice to see a book that is sort of introductory entertaining for non-psychologist but still detailed enough that you can still learn something from it.

Very interesting

I thought the material and anecdotal stories were great. It was a good introduction to a lot of psychological concepts. The sections about Gottman's love lab were particularly interesting.

Amazing Insight

I've been talking about this book to everyone I know, about how wise it is. Of all the books about human nature I've ever read, this has the most though-provoking conclusions. While the author does not have the best voice, his reading makes the book more approachable.

Great insight into how we make decisions

Blink is filled with great examples of how humans make decisions in the blink of an eye.

As a student of human behavior, I received a great education in the reality of human decision-making and analysis.

Great "read"!!

Blink

This is a terrific book to listen to ... it goes far beyond business applications.

It is a good one!

I thought this book was so interesting and informative. I listened to the Tipping Point first and although I enjoyed it, I feel the information in this book is so much more applicable to your everyday life. I was continually surprised at the author's insight and basically could not stop listening. Probably one of the most informative books I have ever read or listened to. I could not stop talking about it to my family and friends. It is a good one!

Loved it!

As a nerdy number driven salesman I was able to relate to every piece of the book and encourage anyone whom considers themselves a student of human behavior to read this book. This book will be on my re-read list within six months for sure.

Absolutely Fantastic Read!!!

I am continuously impressed with the amount of research that goes into all of Gladwell's books! The examples in Blink, similar to Outliers, are very relatable, always informative and offer new perspectives on things that a person may not look as closely at, or dismiss altogether. I am truly inspired when I read anything that Gladwell does. His elogant writing would be enough alone, but it's so much more - his conversation style writing feels like a conversation with a good friend that imparts wisdom, philosophy, and a richness about life. Excellent work!!