What I Learned from Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Grant's Books in Summer

Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. I'd like to share books that I benefited most from summer reading.

During this time, I have been focusing on two authors, Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Grant. Both are profound thinkers. Gladwell is a master of telling stories and see them from different perspectives by challenging his own thoughts. Dr. Grant from The Wharton School is data-driven and adept at explaining things from underlying psychological principles and then obtain clear, applicable conclusions.

From Malcolm Gladwell

1 The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

It is one of Gladwell's most recognized books. He talks about the fact that many influential ideas, products, and events are intrigued by small things when passing a certain "threshold". Finding that point is helpful to understand and push forward on the route to popularity.

2 Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know

This book shows that the impression we get from talking to people whom we don't know maybe deceptive. Interestingly, sometimes people get less accurate judgments from face-to-face interactions than from television or newspapers. Manipulative tricks and misleading information could be identified by paying attention to a series of triggers. Despite its effectiveness, doing it in each communication would greatly increase the burden of social cost and may not be necessary.

3 David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

It uses many examples to show that a seemingly uneven competition could have unexpected outcomes. There are two keys to succeed when we face an opponent who has dominant advantages over us: 1) that we are pushed to a point of no return, and 2) that we do not follow a regular path. Another book, Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike, is a best case in which Phil Knight applied the same strategy to make Nike survive and thrive in front of shoemaker giants, Onitsuka Tiger and Adidas.

4 Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

The first impression or instant feeling that we get from a person may be surprisingly correct. On the other side, it could also be far off track when we are under pressure, and thus lead to serious consequences. In order to better understand it, Thinking, Fast and Slow written by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman introduces system 1 for fast thinking and system 2 for slow thinking. He gave a detailed explanation of how information is processed in our brains.?

From Adam Grant

1 Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know

This book can be beneficial for people in any industry and a must-read for those involved in creative professions. The author categorized people into for types, preacher, prosecutor, politician, and scientist. The scientist mindset helps people see things more thoroughly, critically, and flexibly. It is impressive to see that imposter syndrome, which is heavily discussed as a negative psychological phenomenon, may not necessarily be a hurdle in career development. Instead, with proper realization and right attitude, it can serve as a drive for people to advance.

2 Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success

It is an eye-opening book that could change people's view to the mode of success and many aspects of life. There has been quite a number of books encouraging people to take kind initiatives which lead to good karma as reward. However, this book provides data-backed evidence to show it is true. While givers are likely to be the most unsuccessful group in career ladder, they also occupy the top place. The impact of giving is long and deep, and will eventually influence the people around us and the whole community. The end of the book lists detailed practical methods and resources.

3 Originals: How Non-conformists Move the World

This book talks about characteristics that conventional opinion may not consider to be a part of a favorable career pathway. Some useful takeaways include: kids who challenge rules but stay within a proper frame are more likely to become accomplished entrepreneurs; broad interests is helpful for creativity; people who build successful businesses are actually more prudent about risks rather than being bold etc.

4 Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

It is published in October 2023. From the example of a person who struggled to be bilingual as a child finally mastered 6 languages, the author illustrates that the secret to conquering difficulties is pushing oneself out of their comfort zones. It is important to be comfortable with uncomfortable. In order to be successful in anything, one should make it a habit.

Other than books, Adam Grant's TED Audio Collective, ReThinking, is thought-provoking. It is available on Podcasts. In one episode, he talks with Malcolm Gladwell about questioning everything in work and life and generates some interesting views.

Hope these are inspiring for anyone who reads this article.