ReThinking

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Malcolm Gladwell Questions Everything

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Dec 28, 2022

Guest

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell, renowned writer known for his insightful books like Outliers and Blink, engages in a captivating dialogue with Adam Grant. They tackle the complexities of success, questioning whether intelligence or effort is more crucial. The duo also explores the nuances of human emotion, from the pitfalls of snap judgments to the ethics of performance in sports. They confront systemic racism and advocate for addressing structural inequalities over individual blame. This thought-provoking conversation challenges listeners to rethink their assumptions about life, success, and social justice.

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Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

The Value of Contradiction

Malcolm Gladwell prioritizes contradicting himself over consistency.
He believes that changing opinions over time reflects intellectual growth.

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ANECDOTE

Misunderstanding Blink

Gladwell recounts a train conversation with a neuroscientist who misunderstood Blink.
The neuroscientist didn't realize the book's argument evolved to critique snap judgments.

insights

INSIGHT

Rethinking Facial Expressions

Gladwell revises his earlier view on facial expressions, citing new research.
He now believes facial expressions are not universal or reliable indicators of emotions, contrary to what Darwin and Hollywood suggest.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Evolving Perspectives on Human Emotion

02:25 • 13min

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The Contradictions of Choosing a Babysitter

15:37 • 2min

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The Success Equation: Intelligence vs. Effort

17:22 • 7min

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Ethics of Performance in Sports and Beyond

24:10 • 7min

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Reflections on Success and Regret: A Lightning Round of Insights

31:17 • 2min

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Confronting Systemic Racism

33:26 • 8min

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Rethinking Mindsets and Education

41:11 • 22min

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Rethinking Progress and Skill Acquisition

01:02:51 • 19min

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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.

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.

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.

1984

None

George Orwell

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

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.

Think Again

Adam Grant

In 'Think Again', Adam Grant argues that the ability to rethink at personal, interpersonal, and collective levels is crucial in today's polarized world. He uses scientific research, personal anecdotes, and engaging stories to illustrate how people can find joy in being wrong, leverage the benefits of impostor syndrome, and cultivate environments of lifelong learning. Grant emphasizes the need to challenge our convictions, adopt a scientific mindset, and foster curiosity and humility. He provides examples of individuals who have successfully rethought their approaches, from firefighters to business leaders, and offers practical exercises for improving rethinking skills.

For our final episode of the year, let’s revisit Adam and Malcolm’s conversation from the archive.

When Adam Grant and Malcolm Gladwell sit down to challenge each other, everything is fair game. Sit ringside for this collegial cage match in which two preeminent writers rethink each other's ideas in an insatiable quest to get closer to the truth. Is intelligence undersold or oversold? Does individual blaming and shaming obscure the pursuit of real change on racism? Could rethinking everything lead not only to a better business but a better life? In pursuit of answers, Grant and Gladwell agree on this much: you shouldn't believe everything you think. Find the transcript for this episode at go.ted.com/T4GTscript4

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts

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