Worklife with Adam Grant

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Malcolm Gladwell Questions Everything

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Dec 28, 2022

Guest

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell, a renowned writer and journalist, joins the conversation for an engaging debate with Adam Grant. They dive into the complexities of intelligence, questioning if it's oversold or undersold in today’s world. The duo tackles racism, emphasizing the need for institutional accountability over individual blame. They discuss the ethics of sports performance, the role of trust in consumer relationships, and the importance of mindset in personal growth. Throughout, they challenge conventional thoughts, reminding us that we shouldn’t believe everything we think.

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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

Kafka and Surprise

Gladwell recounts a German study challenging the universality of facial expressions.
Participants' surprise expressions didn't match their self-reported surprise levels.

insights

INSIGHT

Cultural Imprinting on Expressions

Cultural factors influence facial expressions.
The Trobriand Islanders struggle to recognize Western expressions, highlighting cultural imprinting.

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Embracing Contradictions in Intellectual Growth

01:57 • 15min

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The Success Equation: Intelligence vs. Character

16:51 • 7min

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Navigating Performance and Ethics in Sports

23:41 • 9min

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Racism: Individual vs. Institutional Accountability

32:58 • 8min

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The Four Pillars of Trust in Consumer Relationships

40:30 • 1min

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The Human Element in Leadership and Trust

41:59 • 2min

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Mindsets and Growth: Embracing Openness

43:49 • 20min

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Rethinking Underdogs and Innovation

01:03:39 • 21min

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#743

• Mentioned in 27 episodes

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.

#355

• Mentioned in 46 episodes

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.

#599

• 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.

#161

• Mentioned in 80 episodes

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.

#64

• Mentioned in 130 episodes

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.

• Mentioned in 868 episodes

1984

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.

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/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcripts

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