David And Goliath By Malcolm Gladwell Book Review — Stella Inabo
The book David and Goliath was written to make the reader rethink every preconception about how to face challenges.
As the name of the book implies, it is centered on the biblical story of David and Goliath. Gladwell proposes that Goliath did not win the battle against David regardless of his strength but because David fought with a strategy that favored his own strengths. I had honestly never thought of this battle or much of life’s struggles in this way.
The author goes on to analyze several stories of people at the disadvantage winning in situations that seem impossible. They all learned to play the game on their own terms and to the best of their abilities. Gladwell is quick to point out that this is usually not the easy way. The way of the underdog requires strength.
Being the strongest or having access to tools of coercion does not necessarily mean that one will be able to get the behavior that one expects from people. He illustrated this point with a story of how small gestures by a police department led to the reduction of crime. This was a better success than throwing criminals into prison.
“All positive traits, states, and experiences have costs that at high levels may begin to outweigh their benefits.” It would be normal to expect that the smaller a class is, the better it is for the pupils. But Gladwell explained that having what is considered the best might not always bring the wanted results. Too much or too little is a problem, it is best to remain at a mid-point with all needs satisfied and little or no excess. This changed my perception of the benefit of wealth and what it would entail for a family.
Another point that struck me as important was his big fish in a little pond theory. He made a case for thriving in a small or slightly less challenging environment as against striving to stay afloat in a wide and popular space. He stressed the quality of the right environment that lets one be all that one aspires to be than that of constant struggling to survive in a place everyone regards as the best. Now, I would rather be the best student in a mediocre university than in the best university as an average student.
Also, Gladwell makes us take another look at disabilities, in as much as we all pray to be free of them, some individuals have used them to advance even further than they would have if they were fully fit. Bad situations do not necessarily mean the end of the world, he tells us. They can make you even stronger.
David and Goliath is artfully written and filled with anecdotes for easier understanding. Each point has several stories supporting it and the author switches back and forth between stories trying to weave them into one great point. The book really does make one rethink being at a “disadvantage”. I enjoyed it and I would recommend it as a good read.
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