I am reluctantly posting this right
now because I’d rather be finishing my book.
In the introductory post about David
and Goliath, I said that I was pretty sure this book would be a pleasure to
read, but I couldn’t be certain, because using the definitive is a dangerous
thing. Well, I am about two thirds of
the way through this book, and it has been nothing but satisfactory. Using the same format as the one in Blink, Gladwell divides his argument
into a few broad statements, and then breaks them down into intimate and
remarkably diverse anecdotes. He’ll
start out with the main idea, and then appear to stray from his initial thesis
by relaying multiple, short stories that make the reader wonder what he could
possibly be getting at (at least, that’s the case with me). Then, Gladwell will tie everything together
in a succinct page or two that suddenly illuminates everything stated thus far
in a powerful and irrefutable fashion. I
thoroughly enjoy being surprised about the connections and conclusions that
Gladwell makes -- yet at the same time instantly realizing the merit that each
part holds in order to be a part of the whole.
One of the quotes that has really
resonated with me, as a student, is the following; “How you feel about your
abilities--your academic “self-concept”--in the context of your classroom shapes
your willingness to tackle challenges and finish difficult tasks. It’s a crucial element in your motivation and
confidence” (80). I put a lot of
pressure on myself to get high grades and always be the best that I can
be. I don’t think that I’ve gone wrong
in telling myself to pursue either (and for me, both) of these goals, and, on
the contrary, this quote reinforces the notion that attitude can be just as --
if not more -- important than inherent potential. Understanding how to use those tools makes
for a better outcome.
Another quote that made me stop and
think (and write this paragraph!) goes like this; “Courage is not something
that you already have that makes you brave when the tough times start. Courage is what you earn when you’ve been
through the tough times and you discover they aren’t so tough after all” (149). I have been quite lucky so far to have lived
a mostly safe and sound life. Does this
mean that I am not courageous? No. I’ve still had to face obstacles and deal
with some degree of trauma. For me, this
analysis of the origin of courage serves to show that when something difficult arises, I should in some ways embrace it,
especially because I live a fairly sheltered life. Courage comes not at birth but with
experience, and moving forward I will be sure to keep this in mind.
Considering Gladwell’s unique style
of bringing in seemingly random stories to tell a bigger one and at first
seeming ambiguous in his narration, I don’t feel particularly confident about making
predictions in regards to the last third or so of his book. He’ll probably mention something that at
first appears to fly in the face of conventional wisdom, but in the end, I’d
imagine I’ll have committed that new testament to heart.
Gladwell has an uncanny ability to
turn the world upside down, knock you off of your feet if you haven’t been
shaken already, and then pick you up and set you down on higher ground, in a
place that makes you feel more knowledgeable and aware than before you picked
up his book. Although I have sometimes
been confused at first, and missed the forest for the trees, at the end of each
chapter, I can only say that I’ve been delighted. I’ve learned a lot about a few common misconceptions
and the various ways that they can be fought, and I am looking forward to
continuing to pick up valuable lessons.
Check back soon (really soon)
to hear about the final portion of this incredible book!
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