David and Goliath

Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

By: Malcolm Gladwell

Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

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

Totally worth it!

Very very interesting book! Would recommend to everyone! Inspiring and uplifting. Gives me a different outlook on life! Second time I listened to it!

An interesting way to look at life

This was uplifting to me. It explains a totally different look at life an what seems to be a disadvantage that could be a benefit. I like the change in perspective from what some would consider common knowledge. Great job.

Entertaining, Classic Gladwell

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

Great listen. The theme is slightly mixed with "Outliers".

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gladwell.

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

Gladwell tells the story like a impressed and enthusiastic little boy. The examples and stories are interesting. The topic is interesting. You learn not just about the topic but of how to build up to insight.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, over the weekend.

Any additional comments?

If you're a Gladwell fan you won't be disappointed. If not, maybe start out with one of his other books. Towards the end of the book I felt the story drifted to stories of with less to draw from.

Great book,like all by M. Gladwell

Insightful study of perceived advantages and why they fail to deliver superior results when facing unconventional tactics by underdogs

Classic Gladwell

if you are a fan, you'll love it. His detailed anecdotes and counterintuitive viewpoints are brilliantly brought forth. I enjoyed this book as I have all his others!

David and Goliath made me deeply depressed.

The depression is linked to the five stars. I want to write. I want to share with people why I am who I am. I want them to know that the tragedies have created the best parts of me. Now that I've read this book, I can understand a little bit more about why that came to be. This is the part that lightens me. But the part that makes me depressed, is the fact that I have lived this story but I cannot get it out. Malcolm Gladwell is masterful at writing to compel and intrigue and inspire. I have always thought I had the capacity to write. But today, on the last page of this book, I highly doubt it. Thank you for this, Mr Gladwell.

Starts off strong

The end drags a bit, but the overall content was quite interesting. I enjoyed the overall concept of disadvantaged becoming our advantage.

So applicable to what is going on in society now

Malcolm Gladwell does it again. Incredible book . They should make kids in high school read all of this books. They would get more out of it then any textbook.

not what you think!

I found this book quite intriguing
There are a lot of differing aspects of life covered here...
-being born dyslexic
-loosing a parent at a young age
-criminal action and 3 strike rule

When facing Goliath's in your life... how do people respond?

Check this out!
Great read!!

Amazing stories and fascinating insights

This book delves into topics and stories in a way that forces you to re-examine the way we should look at things. The level and detail of research that goes into bringing these stories to life is amazing. I was touched and moved by these stories and find that I know want to read about them in even more detail.