David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell

"Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness.... The battle is won miraculously by an underdog who, by all expectations, should not have won at all. This is the way we have told one another the story over the many centuries since. It is how the phrase 'David and Goliath' has come to be embedded in our language--as a metaphor for improbable victory. And the problem with that version of the events is that almost everything about it is wrong." -- Introduction

David and Goliath was a great book. It is evident to any reader that Malcolm Gladwell knows what he is doing. The book's objective is to tackle the underdog theory and turn it on its head. As the above quote indicates, Gladwell begins by adding a new perspective to the Biblical story of David and Goliath. Gladwell positions David as a wise youth who devised a way to parley his powerful slingshot skills and upset the playing field against a giant. Gladwell argues that David's triumph was not at all improbable but made perfect sense. Once readers understand the power within rereading one's abilities and challenging the status quo, they can understand Gladwell's argument that sometimes a weakness isn't a weakness at all--it's an invitation to realize a latent strength.

A number of points within the book alter standard perceptions of advantages versus disadvantages. Though Gladwell certainly does not wish difficult circumstances upon anyone, he convincingly shows how traumatic childhoods, learning disabilities, or being at a great disadvantage can be used as a tool for turning a seeming underdog into a hero. His narrative seamlessly guides readers through facts, numbers, and a massive amount of research without leaving the audience feeling bogged down.

The book was immediately engaging and changed my perspective on several points. I read Outliers a handful of years ago and felt the same way--sharp and well-researched writing that invited me to consider things in new ways. I've since read and enjoyed What the Dog Saw and hope to read Blink and Tipping Point soon.