Blink book review

Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking

Malcolm Gladwell

ISBN: 0316172324

Pub. Date: January 2005

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Since Tipping Point was enjoyable, I picked this one up at Hong Kong airport. Malcom Gladwell explores a very different subject alone the same line — how our minds really work. Unlike “Tipping Point” that tried to teach us how to influence a large population (or not to be influenced when someone else is doing that to us). This book tries to teach us how to make good snap decisions.

Like my other book reviews, I tend to do a “Sin-Yaw's digest” and that might ruin the book for you. Proceed if you don't mind.


Malcom Gladwell attempted two contradicting objectives: snap decisions are powerful and good, but they don't work unless you have practiced the art of “thin-slicing.” If you thin-slice wrongly, snap decisions can be fatal.

“This is worthless,” I thought. I knew how to make analytical decisions and I was trying to make quick and effective ones. Now you tell me I have to practice long and hard, become an expert, before I can achieve that. If I had the time to practice, I wouldn't pick up this book.

Well, that's a bit too harsh on my part.

Malcom taught me to respect and listen to my “inner voice” or “instinct.” He showed that they can sometimes be more valuable than not. He taught me the value of not having too much information and not articulating verbally. Both can impair my judgement, particularly the important and urgent ones.

The stories about the “War Game” was fascinating. I guess I am always drawn to military strategies and theories. Many of the Sun-Tze philosophies were loudly echoed. That's was fun.

The chapter on “Mind Reading” was the most riveting. I found myself trying to move my facial muscles and started observing the TV charaters differently. Paul Ekman wrote several books on this subject and I intend to read at least one.

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