Gladwell, Malcolm

Brings together, for the first time, the best of Gladwell's writing from The New Yorker in the past decade, including: the bittersweet tale of the inventor of the birth control pill; the dazzling inventions of the pasta sauce pioneer Howard Moscowitz; spotlighting Ron Popeil, the king of the American kitchen; and the secrets of Cesar Millan, the "dog whisperer." Gladwell also explores intelligence tests, ethnic profiling and "hindsight bias," and why it was that everyone in Silicon Valley once tripped over themselves to hire the same college graduate.

Explains why major changes in society often happen suddenly and unexpectedly and describes the personality types who are natural originators of new ideas and trends.

Argues that the success of certain individuals can be attributed to when and where they were born, as well as the familial conditions they were born into. Demonstrates how the positive or negative conditions that surround a person can impact their future success.

The author explores why some people are high achievers and others are not, citing culture, family, and upbringing as possible reasons some people are not as successful as others.

Explains why major changes in society often happen suddenly and unexpectedly and describes the personality types who are natural originators of new ideas and trends.

Argues for snap decisions, discussing the value of training one's mind and senses to focus on a few relevant details when making decisions in daily life, and also examines the dangers of jumping to conclusions, describing situations in which one is "mind-blind.".

Presents a study of how people think without thinking, looking at the brain processes involved in making snap decisions, discussing why some people seem to have great instincts while others consistently choose unwisely, and examining ways to control the process.

Argues that the obstacles and disadvantages experienced by the underdog require adaptations that can lead to benefits and success in professional life, and draws upon examples from the world of business, sports, and culture.

Collects essays from Malcolm Gladwell, a British-born journalist and staff writer for "The New Yorker, " that explore a range of topics, including intelligence tests, ethnic profiling, the history of hair dye, and more.