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All 16 learnings · one per slide
Blink
Malcolm Gladwell, in bytes
16 key learnings on the power, and pitfalls, of thinking without thinking.
16 learnings · ~40 sec eachSwipe →
Library / Mind & Psychology / Blink
Blink, in bytes
16 key learnings from Malcolm Gladwell's book on rapid cognition: snap judgments, when they help and when they mislead. Each takes about 40 seconds to read. Swipe, use the arrows, or your keyboard.
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Learning 1 · Introduction
The Getty Kouros
The story
The Getty Museum bought an ancient Greek statue after months of testing. Experts who saw it instantly felt it was fake.
The lesson
Their snap judgement proved more accurate than the lengthy analysis.
Takeaway
Intuition can see what analysis misses.
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Learning 2 · Introduction
The Iowa Gambling Task
The study
Players picked cards from four decks; two were rigged. Their palms sweated at the bad decks before they consciously knew.
The lesson
The unconscious picks up patterns fast.
Takeaway
Your body may know first.
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Learning 3 · Chapter 1
Thin-Slicing
The idea
We can find patterns in situations based on very narrow slices of experience.
Example
Judging a teacher's effectiveness from a short silent video.
Takeaway
Small samples can reveal a lot.
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Learning 4 · Chapter 1
The Love Lab
The study
John Gottman can predict, with high accuracy, whether a couple will divorce by watching them talk.
The sign
Contempt is the strongest predictor.
Takeaway
Look for key signals, not every detail.
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Learning 5 · Chapter 1
Surgeons and Lawsuits
The study
Research found surgeons who'd never been sued spent more time and sounded warmer with patients.
The lesson
Tone of voice predicted lawsuits more than skill.
Takeaway
How you speak matters.
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Learning 6 · Chapter 2
Priming
The study
People who unscrambled words about old age walked more slowly afterwards.
The lesson
Our behaviour is shaped by things we don't notice.
Takeaway
Environment shapes action.
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Learning 7 · Chapter 3
The Warren Harding Error
The story
Warren Harding looked presidential, which helped him become president, despite little else to recommend him.
The lesson
Snap judgements can be fooled by appearance.
Spot it
Choosing by looks rather than ability.
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Learning 8 · Chapter 3
Hidden Bias
The idea
The Implicit Association Test reveals unconscious biases even in people who believe they're fair.
Example
Associating certain groups with negative words faster.
Takeaway
Be aware of hidden bias.
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Learning 9 · Chapter 3
Bob Golomb's Sales
The story
A car salesman, Bob Golomb, succeeded by treating every customer equally, regardless of appearance.
The lesson
He overcame snap judgements.
Takeaway
Don't judge customers by looks.
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Learning 10 · Chapter 4
Paul Van Riper's War Game
The story
In a 2002 US war game, Van Riper, playing the enemy, beat a data-heavy force using fast, intuitive decisions.
The lesson
Too much information can slow decisions.
Takeaway
Empower quick judgement.
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Learning 11 · Chapter 4
Less Is More in the ER
The story
Cook County Hospital used a simple algorithm with a few key factors to diagnose heart attacks more accurately.
The lesson
More information isn't always better.
Takeaway
Focus on what matters most.
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Learning 12 · Chapter 5
The Pepsi Challenge
The story
Pepsi won sip tests, leading Coca-Cola to launch New Coke, which failed.
The lesson
Sip tests don't match how people drink a whole can.
Takeaway
Test in real conditions.
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Learning 13 · Chapter 5
The Aeron Chair
The story
The Aeron chair tested badly at first because it looked strange, but later became a hit.
The lesson
People struggle to judge the unfamiliar.
Takeaway
First impressions of new things can mislead.
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Learning 14 · Chapter 6
Mind-Reading Under Stress
The idea
Under extreme stress, people lose the ability to read others' faces.
Example
The tragic police shooting of Amadou Diallo.
Takeaway
Slow down in high-stress moments.
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Learning 15 · Conclusion
Screens in Orchestras
The story
When orchestras began auditioning players behind screens, many more women were hired.
The lesson
Removing visual bias led to better decisions.
Takeaway
Design to remove bias.
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Learning 16 · Conclusion
Train Your Intuition
The idea
Snap judgements can be educated and controlled with experience and training.
Example
Experts develop reliable intuition over time.
Takeaway
Learn when to trust your gut.
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All 16 learnings complete
That’s all 16 learnings.
First impressions can be brilliant or biased. Which snap judgment of yours deserves a second look?
Abhay Kumar JaiswalFCA · PMP® · Workday Financeabhayjaiswal.com
Summaries in my own words. Read the book for the full stories.
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Summaries are written in my own words for learning. Read Blink by Malcolm Gladwell (2005) for the full stories. More Books in Bytes