Are we more likely to make a correct judgement in the spur of the moment or after lengthy consideration? In this book Gladwell proposes that in some situations our mind makes more accurate assessments instinctively--in the blink of an eye--than after deliberation. He postulates that each person has understanding that lies below the conscious mind that is accessed when we are unguarded, but which can become muddled by lengthy deliberation. He talks about "thin slicing" that allows us to draw salient information from a small sample of experience. In contrast, he recounts situations when making snap decisions can go wrong. In the subconscious mind lurks unacknowledged prejudices that can misinform quick decisions. These can surface, especially when we are under pressure or responding with fear and our "fight or flight" instincts kick in. His conclusion is that snap judgements are most accurate when they are made by those who have trained themselves through years of experience to be experts in their related fields.
I hadn't intended to listen to two Gladwell books so close together, but this one popped up in the holds cue, so I decide, "why not." This book was interesting, but he didn't leave the reader with any information they could actually use in decision making. He basically says, "sometimes first impressions are right and sometimes they are wrong, so be careful." That is good advice, I guess, but not super novel. He does manage to find interesting studies and stories related to his main topic, and, as always, his narration and storytelling is engaging. If you are only going to read one book by Gladwell, this might not be the best choice, but if you are a Gladwell fan, you will probably enjoy it.
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