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http://blogs.ft.com/rachmanblog/2010/02/the-secrets-of-malco...
Generally speaking lot of bestsellers, fiction or non fiction, can be synthesized as:
- give to the reader pre-digested, easy, spoonfuls of information.
- give to the reader something to quote so that he can appear smart to his friends.
- try to be appealling enough to be interviewed on TV.
This article is very strange. It's pretty cynical about Gladwell but his details on him aren't all negative are they? Gladwell sure is good at telling stories and proving points! It has to be a formula. A formula of what pretty much equals good writing and research.
Entertaining writing, maybe, but certainly not good/education writing. And certainly not good research. Side note: He may have solid research, but it doesn't come out in the writing.
Gladwell doesn't let complex facts get in the way of a good story.
Gladwell is a fantastic storyteller. Unfortunately, this isn't obvious to many people, who seem to think he's a scientist or a journalist, despite no claims on his part for these qualifications or assertions that his work stands up to the rigors of those disciplines. They have decided that he is one or both of these things, and since he isn't, he does not fare well when assessed along those lines. He writes very well…
Gladwell's work is entertaining and mildly thought provoking. Sure, his work can be broken down into a pattern or formula but his execution is fantastic.
Just like creating anything else in life:
Starting up a software business = think of a solution, talk to customers, write some code, repeat until you've built something of value.
Writing any essay = brainstorm some ideas, write them down, edit and proof-read, repeat until you've got a polished paper.
I guess success draws a lot of criticism.
He missed "get a funky haircut".
This article is very strange. It's pretty cynical about Gladwell but his details on him aren't all negative are they? Gladwell sure is good at telling stories and proving points! It has to be a formula. A formula of what pretty much equals good writing and research.
Entertaining writing, maybe, but certainly not good/education writing. And certainly not good research. Side note: He may have solid research, but it doesn't come out in the writing.
It probably also helps to be a talented public speaker and he is reputed to be a very good one. http://blogs.ft.com/rachmanblog/2010/02/the-secrets-of-malco... Generally speaking lot of bestsellers, fiction or non fiction, can be synthesized as: - give to the reader pre-digested, easy, spoonfuls of information. - give to the reader something to quote so that he can appear smart to his friends. - try to be appealling…
http://www.themoth.org/podcast
He's also done one or several Ted talks. I recommend the one on spaghetti sauce.
Gladwell is a fantastic storyteller. Unfortunately, this isn't obvious to many people, who seem to think he's a scientist or a journalist, despite no claims on his part for these qualifications or assertions that his work stands up to the rigors of those disciplines. They have decided that he is one or both of these things, and since he isn't, he does not fare well when assessed along those lines. He writes very well…
How to read a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller": start in the middle; read 20 pages or so; see sloppy reasoning and general lack of substance; don't read it or any of the author's other books again. You'd save yourself a lot of time if you did that, jgrahamc.
The sloppy reasoning/lack of substance are features, not bugs. He isn't a serious intellectual gladiator, he is a merchant who makes soundbites that educated, upper middle class people can use to sound intelligent and well read. As long as people view them as such it is not problem. My frustration is when people cite Gladwell's ideas as either 1) the basis for strategic decision making at a business 2) the grounds fo…
Well, this may sound obvious to many but I think #1 should be "Become a regular reader of few psychological and social academic journals". I guess this alone can give you few ideas to write essays. Now my question is that, anyone know if journals of repute(related to psychological and social) can be accessed online?
He missed "get a funky haircut".
Fixed that for ya!