Malcolm Gladwell, Eclectic Detective

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/books/review/Pinker-t.html

by jlhamilton • 17 years ago

40 11 17 years ago

inc2• 17 years ago

http://www.heinzketchup.com/Products.aspx http://www.huntsketchup.com/products.jsp http://www.anniesnaturals.com/organic_condiments#jump207 http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/organic_ketchup.htm http://www.muirglen.com/products/product_detail.aspx?cat=7

jlhamilton• 17 years ago

I think we do have many kinds of ketchup, we just tend to call the fancier kinds BBQ sauce.

inc2• 17 years ago

"Have you ever wondered why there are so many kinds of mustard but only one kind of ketchup?" It's just not TRUE.

MikeCapone2• 17 years ago

Pinker does a great job of putting Gladwell on a pedestal in the first half (makes you want to read the book) of the review only to totally destroy him in the second half (now I wouldn't read the book even if it was a gift).

jacobolus2• 17 years ago

I think it’s fine to read, in about the same way that pulp sci-fi novels or “chick lit” are fine to read, or sit-coms are fine to watch: Gladwell is a good storyteller, and has loads of amusing anecdotes. As long as you don’t take things too seriously, or start to confuse his banal generalities for insightful modes of understanding, it’s a breezy, not too mentally taxing, way to spend an afternoon.

MikeCapone2• 17 years ago

Indeed. But if you have limited time to read, better pick up a Pinker book...

shalmanese• 17 years ago

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091123/tkacik/print

jacobolus2• 17 years ago

I like Tkacik’s piece better than Pinker’s.

These two Blink reviews from 2005 are worth mentioning too:

- http://www.tnr.com/article/blinkered

- http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17954

NathanKP• 17 years ago

I highly recommend Malcolm Gladwell despite the negative second half of the review. I've read his book "The Tipping Point" and I felt that it contained great tips for startups and small businesses.

Currently I am working on "Blink".

aridiculous• 17 years ago

Even if Pinker is wrong, it is at least a breath of fresh air to see Gladwell pop psychology challenged for once.

Malcolm Gladwell, Eclectic Detective

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