Post by Lady Irie on May 3, 2005 11:59:26 GMT -6
I just finished "blink"; The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell.
Very cool read. Theories on the science of manipulation based on data we are presented with and how we form judgments on that data. Compelling theories on how our brain works with regards to our instincts and decision making capabilities. Examples given range from manipulated classroom situations to the election of Warren Harding (based on public perception), the marketing of the "New Coke” and the shooting of Amadou Diallo. (An example of how perceptions and instinctive behavior went wrong.)
We all do it this - size someone up the moment we meet them, or make a decision in a given situation and formulate a judgment. The book calls this "thin-slicing"; we take a thin slice of information that is before us assimilate it, digest it, process, analyze, compare and formulate a judgment all within a "blink" of an eye. There is an exercise given within early chapters that test prejudices which is pretty incredible and quite an eye opener. What we call "intuition" the book theorizes has a biological foundation. The question is posed is this truly intuition or are we processing information based on individual backgrounds at a certain rate of speed which actually produces the answer well before it reaches the part of the brain that can articulate the rationale.
I found it to be a fairly easy and very interesting read although at times a bit repetitive without giving reason and there was a small section I just found to drone on a bit with some "story telling" which was fine, however I would have liked to have seen more of an analysis done on the specifics of those stories.
Very cool read. Theories on the science of manipulation based on data we are presented with and how we form judgments on that data. Compelling theories on how our brain works with regards to our instincts and decision making capabilities. Examples given range from manipulated classroom situations to the election of Warren Harding (based on public perception), the marketing of the "New Coke” and the shooting of Amadou Diallo. (An example of how perceptions and instinctive behavior went wrong.)
We all do it this - size someone up the moment we meet them, or make a decision in a given situation and formulate a judgment. The book calls this "thin-slicing"; we take a thin slice of information that is before us assimilate it, digest it, process, analyze, compare and formulate a judgment all within a "blink" of an eye. There is an exercise given within early chapters that test prejudices which is pretty incredible and quite an eye opener. What we call "intuition" the book theorizes has a biological foundation. The question is posed is this truly intuition or are we processing information based on individual backgrounds at a certain rate of speed which actually produces the answer well before it reaches the part of the brain that can articulate the rationale.
I found it to be a fairly easy and very interesting read although at times a bit repetitive without giving reason and there was a small section I just found to drone on a bit with some "story telling" which was fine, however I would have liked to have seen more of an analysis done on the specifics of those stories.
