Основную мысль книги можно сформулировать буквально парой предложений. Она размазана тонким слоем по концам каждого из параграфов. И было бы это очень досадно (тратить время на чтение 200 с чем-то страниц и в итоге прочитать всего лишь 2 предложения), если бы не примеры и истории из жизни, которые наполняют все остальное содержание книги.
И вот как раз эти то истории - это то, что делает книгу заслуживающей прочтения: всегда интересные, почти всегда захватывающие, зачастую рассказывающие что-то новое и необычное. Ради них стоит читать. Ну а то, что основное содержание (мысль) весьма банальна, так это даже и не очень печалит, т. к. все равно из книги можно узнать множество интересных фактов. ( )

I felt like this book was a bunch of those sidebars in science textbooks that you find really interesting when the rest of the book is a big snore. The idea behind this book — snap judgments and instinctive reactions – was very intriguing. All of the little scientific scenarios he set up were fascinating and even though I am not generally a science/psychology person, I found all of the information very accessible.

I was especially interested in his research about heart rates and how when we are extremely stressed out, our bodies function at a different level than normal — which is why people have such a hard time dialing 911 when there’s a real, dangerous emergency. He stresses that we need to practice dialing so that our subconscious will do what our conscience cannot if we’re in a situation like that. Scary! *grabs phone to practice* Overall, though, I wish there had been more on how to hone our skills in making judgments. Gladwell read the book himself, and he did a solid job. I think I’ll get his others (the Tipping Point and the Outliers) on audio book as well.

Read my full review here: http://c2rcc.wordpress.com/2009/03/24... ( )

Didn't think I would enjoy this one nearly as much as I did. I was a little worried that it would be too concerned with psychology to be readable for someone that has absolutely no background in the subject matter. But, I should have known better. Malcolm Gladwell delivers another fascinating look at pop culture. ( )

didn't quite like it as much as the tipping point. Some of the stories seemed unrelated and a bit run-on. I didn't think it was really very well tied together but maybe it's just me. I read it too fast or I couldn't wrap my head around it. I still liked it though, I like all the interesting stories he tells. About the facial analysis, marriages, autistic people. I watched an episode of Lie to Me after finishing it because of the section on reading minds. The episode I watched was about the assassination of the Korean leader. What a coincidence! Anyway, I think I will read his Outliers and What the Dog Saw as soon as I get the chance. And to think I once rejected Outliers because of the odd title. Don't judge a book by its cover. Lesson well learned. ( )

More fun from the Dan Brown of the think piece. Like Brown, Gladwell is a guilty pleasure - you know it's kind of dumb and a bit lowbrow, but he's just so damn readable. What was this about? Not a lot really - a few thoughts about human snap judgement, backed up with examples from a cast of interesting characters, all off which Gladwell enthuses about in a contagious but completely non-critical way. There's no real conclusion to the book, but if you want something light and fluffy to read then you could do worse than pick this up. ( )