Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Malcolm Gladwell Returns Again
Malcolm Gladwell, a five-time bestselling author known for his groundbreaking works like 'The Tipping Point', returns to share his insights on various intriguing topics. He argues that conversations about money are often overlooked and discusses the moral dilemmas posed by writing on sensitive issues like the opioid crisis. Gladwell also delves into the cultural dynamics of elite sports, the role of personality in group behaviors, and the transformative power of television, all with his signature storytelling flair.
02:14:43
Doodling Habits
- Malcolm Gladwell doodles faces during meetings, a habit since childhood.
- He also draws cars in profile, a practice he's maintained since age six.
Olympic Village Antics
- Gladwell recounts a friend's experience at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where steroid use among athletes was rampant.
- The throwers' increased sexual appetite due to steroids added to the already heightened atmosphere.
Elite Sport and Arbitrary Constraints
- Elite sport is defined by the willing acceptance of arbitrary constraints.
- Performance enhancement debates highlight the arbitrary lines drawn between acceptable and unacceptable augmentations.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Therapy Insights and Artistic Doodles
03:02 • 3min
Exploring Sports Culture and Personal Narratives
05:42 • 25min
Ethics of Knowledge in Crisis
30:13 • 8min
Epidemics and Equity: Unpacking Crisis Management
38:16 • 23min
Gender Dynamics and Admissions in Elite Education
01:01:33 • 8min
Navigating Admissions and Cultural Shifts
01:10:00 • 25min
Grocery Anxiety and Fashion Finesse
01:34:35 • 2min
Headaches and Hypocrisy
01:36:37 • 7min
Love, Deception, and Personal Journeys
01:43:48 • 17min
Humorous Reflections on Hygiene and Comfort
02:00:31 • 4min
Digestive Dilemma: The Energy Bar Debate
02:04:58 • 15min
Understanding the Science of Super Spreaders
02:19:51 • 2min
Reflections on Change and a Dark True Crime Narrative
02:21:37 • 3min
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I'll Take Back the Game
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Under the Banner of Heaven
Jon Krakauer
Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven" delves into the 1984 murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby, exploring the fundamentalist Mormon community where the crime occurred.
The book examines the history and beliefs of Mormonism, tracing its evolution from its origins to the extreme interpretations of fundamentalist groups.
Krakauer investigates the complex interplay of faith, violence, and power within this community.
The narrative blends true crime elements with a deep exploration of religious history and social dynamics.
The book raises questions about religious extremism and its potential consequences.
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The Worlds I See
Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI
Fei-Fei Li
The Worlds I See is a deeply personal and scientifically insightful memoir by Dr. Fei-Fei Li. The book chronicles her journey from a young immigrant in America to becoming a leading figure in the field of artificial intelligence.
It provides a riveting story of a scientist at work, offering a clear explanation of what AI is and how it came to be.
The memoir is emotionally raw and intellectually uncompromising, highlighting Dr. Li's passion for science, her overcoming of societal barriers, and her advocacy for a human-centric, ethical approach to AI. The book also delves into her personal struggles, her gratitude for mentors, and her commitment to using AI to improve the human condition.
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The Catcher in the Rye
J.D. Salinger
The Catcher in the Rye follows Holden Caulfield, a teenager who has been expelled from Pencey Prep, as he spends three days wandering around New York City.
The novel explores Holden's disillusionment with the world around him, his feelings of loneliness and disconnection, and his struggle to find genuine relationships.
Despite his cynicism and criticism of others as 'phonies,' Holden reveals a deep emotional sensitivity, particularly in his interactions with his younger sister Phoebe.
The book delves into themes of adolescent angst, the loss of innocence, and the search for meaning and purpose in a seemingly superficial world.
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The Candy House
Jennifer Egan
In 'The Candy House,' Jennifer Egan presents a series of interconnected stories that follow the lives of multiple characters over several decades.
The novel centers around Bix Bouton's technology, 'Own Your Unconscious,' which enables people to upload and share their memories.
This technology has profound effects on society, creating 'counters' who exploit desires and 'eluders' who resist the allure of this digital collective consciousness.
The book is characterized by its diverse narrative styles, including omniscient narration, first-person plural, epistolary chapters, and even a chapter composed of tweets.
Egan's work is a moving testament to human longing for connection, family, privacy, and love, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing digital world.
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic novel that explores themes of racial injustice, childhood innocence, and moral courage in the American South.
The story is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl who witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of a crime.
Lee's powerful storytelling captures the complexities of race relations in the Jim Crow South, highlighting the prejudice and injustice faced by Black people.
The novel's enduring appeal lies in its exploration of universal themes of empathy, compassion, and the importance of standing up for what is right.
It remains a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America.
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What The Dog Saw
And Other Adventures
Malcolm Gladwell
This book is a compilation of Malcolm Gladwell's articles from The New Yorker, categorized into three parts.
The first part, 'Obsessives, Pioneers, and other varieties of Minor Genius', focuses on individuals who excel in their fields but are not widely known.
The second part, 'Theories, Predictions, and Diagnoses', delves into issues of prediction, including intelligence failures and the Enron scandal.
The third part, 'Personality, Character, and Intelligence', discusses psychological and sociological topics such as criminal profiling, homelessness, and the differences between panicking and choking under pressure.
Gladwell's essays offer insightful analyses and unique perspectives on a wide range of subjects.
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Tribal
How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together
Michael Morris
In 'Tribal,' Michael Morris argues that our psychology is wired by evolution in three distinctive ways: the peer instinct to conform, the hero instinct to give to the group, and the ancestor instinct to follow prior generations.
These tribal instincts enable us to share knowledge, work as a team, and transmit cultural knowledge.
Morris uses deep research, current and historical events, and stories from business and politics to show how these instincts can elevate performance, heal rifts, and drive cultural change.
The book challenges conventional wisdom and offers a hopeful vision for collective change.
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A heartbreaking work of staggering genius
Dave Eggers
Dion Graham
This memoir by Dave Eggers chronicles his life after his parents' deaths from cancer within a short period.
At 21, Eggers became the legal guardian of his 8-year-old brother Toph and moved to California.
The book is known for its innovative writing style, which includes stream-of-consciousness narratives, humor, and poignant reflections on grief and family.
Eggers's story delves into the challenges of raising a younger sibling, dealing with personal and emotional struggles, and navigating the complexities of growing up under extraordinary circumstances.
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What Is the What
Dave Eggers
This book follows the life of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the tens of thousands of boys displaced and orphaned during the Second Sudanese War. The narrative, written by Dave Eggers, alternates between Valentino's past in Sudan and his present life in Atlanta, Georgia.
It recounts his harrowing experiences, including fleeing his village, surviving in refugee camps, and facing numerous challenges in the United States.
The book is a powerful exploration of themes such as grief, alienation, good and evil, love, and friendship, and it provides a human face to the conflicts in Sudan and the experiences of refugees.
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A Visit from the Goon Squad
Jennifer Egan
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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle Zevin
Spanning thirty years, 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' by Gabrielle Zevin is a sweeping narrative that explores the lives of Sam and Sadie, two friends united by their love of video games.
From their childhood encounters to their adulthood as successful game developers, the book delves into themes of identity, creativity, disability, and the redemptive possibilities in play.
It is a coming-of-age story that examines the multifaceted nature of human relationships and the need to connect, love, and be loved.
The novel is praised for its mature and nuanced portrayal of characters and its ability to engage readers even without prior knowledge of the video game industry.
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Outliers
The Story of Success
Malcolm Gladwell
In 'Outliers: The Story of Success', Malcolm Gladwell examines the often-overlooked factors that contribute to high levels of success.
He argues that success is not solely the result of individual talent or hard work, but rather is influenced by a complex web of advantages and inheritances, including cultural background, family, generation, and luck.
The book delves into various examples, such as the success of Bill Gates, the Beatles, and Canadian ice hockey players, to illustrate how these factors play a crucial role.
Gladwell also discusses the '10,000-hour rule' and the impact of cultural legacies on behavior and success.
The book is divided into two parts: 'Opportunity' and 'Legacy', each exploring different aspects of how success is achieved and maintained.
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Blink
The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Malcolm Gladwell
In 'Blink', Malcolm Gladwell explores the concept of 'thin-slicing', the ability of our unconscious mind to make rapid decisions based on limited information.
The book delves into both the strengths and pitfalls of this process, using examples from various fields such as psychology, medicine, sales, and law enforcement.
Gladwell discusses how these snap judgments can be both incredibly accurate and sometimes tragically wrong, influenced by factors like prejudice, stereotypes, and psychological priming.
He also examines how experts develop their intuitive judgment through experience and training, and how stressful situations can affect our decision-making abilities.
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David and Goliath
Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
Malcolm Gladwell
In 'David and Goliath', Malcolm Gladwell challenges conventional wisdom about obstacles and disadvantages.
He uses the biblical story of David and Goliath as a starting point to explore various cases where underdogs have triumphed over more powerful opponents.
The book delves into topics such as the benefits of 'desirable difficulties', the impact of dyslexia on successful individuals, and the dynamics of successful and unsuccessful strategies in different contexts, including warfare, education, and social movements.
Gladwell argues that what appears to be a weakness can often be a strength, and that too much power or advantage can sometimes be counterproductive.
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Revenge of the Tipping Point
Malcolm Gladwell
In 'Revenge of the Tipping Point', Malcolm Gladwell returns to the subject of social epidemics and tipping points, this time focusing on the dark side of contagious phenomena.
Through a series of riveting stories, Gladwell explores the rise of a new and troubling form of social engineering.
He delves into various topics, including the world’s most successful bank robbers, a forgotten television show from the 1970s, an experimental neighborhood in Northern California, and alternate histories of the COVID and opioid crises.
The book examines how individuals can use power and influence to shape collective narratives and societal trends, highlighting the ethical implications of social engineering and the role of superspreaders in propagating ideas and behaviors.
#650
• Mentioned in 31 episodes
Talking to Strangers
What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know
Malcolm Gladwell
In 'Talking to Strangers', Malcolm Gladwell delves into the challenges and misunderstandings that occur when we interact with people we do not know.
The book explores various high-profile cases, such as the death of Sandra Bland, the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, and the interactions between Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler.
Gladwell argues that our default assumption to trust strangers until proven otherwise often leads to disastrous outcomes.
He discusses the 'default to truth' theory and how our perceptions of strangers can be skewed by preconceived notions and stereotypes.
The book provides insights into human psychology and communication, highlighting the importance of being aware of our assumptions when dealing with strangers.
#166
• Mentioned in 84 episodes
The Tipping Point
How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Malcolm Gladwell
In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell examines the phenomenon of social epidemics and how ideas, products, and behaviors spread rapidly.
He introduces three key principles: the law of the few (the role of connectors, mavens, and salespeople in spreading ideas), the stickiness factor (how messages or trends must be memorable to spread), and the power of context (how environment and circumstances influence human behavior).
Gladwell uses various examples, such as the rise in popularity of Hush Puppies shoes, the decline in New York City's crime rate, and the success of children's TV programs like Sesame Street, to illustrate these concepts.
The book provides insights into how small changes can lead to large-scale social and behavioral transformations.
Malcolm Gladwell (Revenge of the Tipping Point) is a 5x New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and podcaster. Malcolm joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he thinks people don’t talk about money enough, what he learned about covid superspreaders, and why he decided to write an antidote to his previous book. Malcolm and Dax talk about how many outsiders a group needs before it changes, how bad actors can hijack systems for their own gain, and how much they love a digression. Malcolm explains the culture of elite sports, his fascination with the city of Miami, and how television can be a transformative revolutionary force.
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