David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
First edition cover
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| Author | Malcolm Gladwell |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Psychology, sociology |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Little, Brown and Company |
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Publication date
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October 1, 2013 |
| Media type | Hardback, audiobook |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | |
| Preceded by | What the Dog Saw, 2009 |
David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants is a non-fiction book written by Malcolm Gladwell and published by Little, Brown and Company on October 1, 2013. The book focuses on the probability of improbable events occurring in situations where one outcome is greatly favored over the other. The book contains many different stories of these underdogs who wind up beating the odds, the most famous being the story of David and Goliath. Despite generally negative reviews, the book was a bestseller, rising to #4 on The New York Times Hardcover Non-fiction chart, and #5 on USA Today's Best-Selling Books.
David and Goliath employs individual case studies and comparison to provide a wide range of examples where perceived major disadvantages in fact turn out to be the keys to the underdog Davids' triumph against Goliath-like opponents or situations. In one arc, Gladwell cites various seeming afflictions that may in fact have significantly contributed to success, linking dyslexia with the high-flying career of lawyer David Boies, and the loss of a parent at an early age with the exceptional research work of oncologist Emil J. Freireich. These anecdotal lessons are anchored by references to research in the social sciences.
Critical response to David and Goliath was largely negative. The book was unfavorably reviewed twice in The New York Times. Janet Maslin quipped, "As usual, Mr. Gladwell's science is convenient", and she concludes that "the book's middle section is its messiest", where the author attempts to link the experiences of famous dyslexics such as Brian Grazer and David Boies.Joe Nocera called the book "deeply repetitive and a bewildering sprawl," suggesting that "[m]aybe what 'David and Goliath' really illustrates is that it’s time for Malcolm Gladwell to find a new shtick."
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