Book Description: Three thousand years ago on a battlefield in ancient Palestine , a shepherd boy felled a mighty warrior with nothing more than a stone and a sling, and ever since then the names of David and Goliath have stood for battles between underdogs and giants. David's victory was improbable and miraculous. He shouldn't have won.
Or should he have?
In David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell challenges how we think about obstacles and disadvantages, offering a new interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against, or cope with a disability, or lose a parent, or attend a mediocre school, or suffer from any number of other apparent setbacks.
Gladwell begins with the real story of what happened between the giant and the shepherd boy those many years ago. From there, David and Goliath examines Northern Ireland's Troubles, the minds of cancer researchers and civil rights leaders, murder and the high costs of revenge, and the dynamics of successful and unsuccessful classrooms---all to demonstrate how much of what is beautiful and important in the world arises from what looks like suffering and adversity.
My Thoughts: Many of us grew up with the Bible story of David and Goliath. Just to refresh your memory . . . David was the lowly shepherd boy who went out on the battlefield to kill the mighty giant, Goliath. Yes, David was the under dog. You know, the underdog, the competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest.
Mr. Gladwell writes about The Advantages of Disadvantages (And the Disadvantages of Advantages) in Part One.
This is quite an interesting read! Nine people are highlighted in this book to bring forth the thought of gaining against "giants": Vivek Ranadivé, the kid from India who wanted to study in the U.S.; Teresa DeBrito, middle school principal; Caroline Sacks, a college student; David Boies, trial lawyer with dyslexia; Emil "Jay" Freireich, a doctor; Wyatt Walker, a Baptist minister; Rosemary Lawlor, seamstress from Ireland; Wilma Derksen, a mother of murdered daughter; and André Trocmé, a minster who spoke against the Nazis.
Yes, this is an inspiring read. How people can go against the odds/giants and how they are over comers. And, yes, it is a looong read! Sometimes not easy. But if you are looking for encouragement and need a lift this read may be for you!
*This book was provided for review by The B & B Media Group*
- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; First Edition edition (October 1, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0316204366
- ISBN-13: 978-0316204361
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