AOW 13

Blink

Malcolm Gladwell

Part 1



Malcolm Gladwell

A staff writer for the New Yorker, he won a National Magazine Award and was listed in TIME magazines top 100 most influential people in 2005. He has written 4 books, all best sellers.

The introduction to the book seems to be random, talking about a faux sculpture that was able to trick the best scientists and museums, but was never able to convince influential artists who could not prove it wrong. Gladwell begins by talking about the unexplainable instinct like reactions we have, stemming from our subconscious. He leaps into about 10 studies within the first two chapters, in which he introduces the concepts of “thin slicing” and the “locked door”. Thin slicing is how we take in information. It has been proven that people may gather enough information within a matter of seconds as they may in months. Similarly, the choices and knowledge behind the locked door often have far greater than or conscious.

In the time that this book was written, as well as today, there has been great fascination with the brain. As of yet, researchers have not scratched the surface of how the brain is able to do the things that it does. However, the studies that are written in Blink are examples of how some great minds have been able to decode some of its mysteries. Based on this, Gladwell wants to prove to us that one of the greatest aspects of our culture, the ideas of “stop and think” of “don’t judge a book by its cover” may not be entirely true. In his introduction, the author explicitly states that he hopes this book will change the way we approach our thought process, and making decisions. This can really only affect those in his audience who can follow the complicated studies researchers have been doing, and their even more complex results. However, the information from this books effects all people, and every aspect of life. Although I have only just started reading the book, I have great faith in science and find myself analyzing the reasons behind each decision I make. In this, Gladwell has certainly accomplished his purpose.

The rhetorical elements within the piece are limited to large portions of logos. However, the book is far from dry, engaging the reader with interesting anecdotes and a light tone that maintains the readers interest throughout the reading. Similarly, the book is very well organized, each of Gladwell’s theories cleanly placed in separate labeled chapters and supported until they may no longer be refuted intelligently.