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How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

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Re: How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

#31

Post by c00p3r »

books actually contain very few ideas. But these few ideas are chosen to be interesting to a general reader, to be understandable by a layman - take almost any religious books - it is the same collection of short stories for a layman, which illustrate one simple idea at a time, so the formula was a thousands years old. =) Some of them were poetry in original language.

btw, famous books by Dale Carnegie are brilliant adoption of that style.

bbtw, in many cases of such writers (compilators) the first book is the best one. The Tipping Point (and, of course, How To Find Friends) is really enjoying one.

Re: How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

#33

Post by lylejohnson »

pavs wrote: post #17
efsavage wrote: post #10

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…

I haven't read any of his books, though I got many recommendations from friends. Which one should I start with? (don't care much about relevance to startup/business, as long as its a good book)

I've read all of them (I think?) but The Tipping Point is still my favorite. Always thought it might be interesting to model the ideas in it using some sort of multi-agent system.

Re: How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

#34

Post by tjmaxal »

If you are the type of reader that accepts everything you read as fact, then pointing out a formula isn't going to change that now is it?

Most popular TV shows are written on a 3 act formula yet you can still find them engaging, germane, and thought provoking.

In short formulas do not equal thoughtlessness.

Re: How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

#35

Post by dean »

napierzaza wrote: post #5

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.

Yes, it is strange. It's a scathing put-down couched in a pleasant tone. The author believes Gladwell is a fraud but doesn't have the guts to come right out and say it.

Re: How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

#36

Post by stickhandle »

The way to "read" Gladwell is to get the talking-book and have him read it to you as you commute to work/home. He's a great storyteller - in both word and voice. And he delivers his own material extraordinarily well. I've listened to all 3 of the books mentioned and am currently enjoying his collection of NYer essays "What the Dog Saw". His essay on Ron Popeil was terrific. Word of warning though ... you might find yourself sad to arrive at your destination and just sit in the car an extra few mins to finish a section!

Re: How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

#37

Post by Robin_Message »

efsavage wrote: post #10

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…

The problem with Gladwell is he will be read by literally millions of politicians, school administrators and middle management drones. They will read it as science, and because they do not understand science, they will use the easy approximation of science=truth (especially if they can fit it into their worldview (which Gladwell is extremely good at assembling an argument to do)). From the propositions "Gladwell uses science" and "science=truth", they will not "spark conversation" but instead will progress to "Gladwell=truth".

This leads to two bad things:

1. People start spouting crap Gladwell has said at parties because it is "scientifically proven" as if it were the unvarnished truth.

2. Your boss will start new initiatives to find the customer "tipping point," hand out "maven" badges to favoured employees, or think because they have been doing something for years, Blink shows they don't need to learn anything new, listen to others or do any analysis.

These things are negative externalities. I'm not sure you could value them, but it is at least conceivable some CEO of a large company will make a stupid decision based on something he read in a Gladwell book. (Okay, maybe I should lighten up...)

I guess what pisses me off is he is using our work as scientists to generate a large profit for himself at the expense of both the public's understanding of science and the careful use of science in policymaking (e.g. supporting broken windows v.s. abortion as the reason for the '90s drop in crime.)

Re: How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

#38

Post by jgrahamc »

dean wrote: post #35
napierzaza wrote: post #5

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.

Yes, it is strange. It's a scathing put-down couched in a pleasant tone. The author believes Gladwell is a fraud but doesn't have the guts to come right out and say it.

A mistake to say I don't have guts. If I thought he was a fraud I'd say that. My other activities, I'll just cite the Alan Turing campaign as one, are indications of my willingness to speak my mind.

Re: How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

#39

Post by kenjackson »

roundsquare wrote: post #7
napierzaza wrote: post #5

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.

And to be frank, most research isn't "good research" either. With that said, much of what he's doing is constructing a framework and then building into it. This is actually similar to what is done in a lot of social science research. And Gladwell, often does it much better, even from a purely academic perspective.

The main issue is that millions of people read and scrutinize Gladwell. No one reads "A Critique of 12th Century Eastern European Poetry and the Relationship to Subsurface Climate Volatility".

Re: How to write a "Malcolm Gladwell Bestseller"

#40

Post by lhorie »

FWIW, one could argue that many of these elements are also present in a book like Godel Escher Bach.

- Your book is actually going to be a collection of essays drawn together by a loose thread. - "strange loops"

- Each of your essays is going to revolve around a single idea - pretty much every Achilles and Tortoise chapter

- Illustrate the idea with stories about real people - Godel, Escher, Bach

and so on...

I don't know about the rest of you, but I read Gladwell and Hofstadter because they are entertaining in an brain-stimulating way. When I want raw non-embezzled science, I read scientific papers. In both cases, I'll come to my own conclusions.

I don't get all this passive-agressive "holier-than-thou" attitude towards Gladwell being famous I've been seeing lately. Who cares if he's famous?

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