BLINK

 

review by

Larry Shallenberger

BLINK: The Power of Thinking without Thinking

by Malcom Gladwell

(Little, Brown)

BEST FOR: Adults

READ:

What is behind the split decisions that we make all the time? What mental processes go behind our first impressions and our snap judgments?

Malcolm Gladwell, the best selling author of The Tipping Point, explores these questions in his challenging book Blink. Gladwell draws from a fascinating array of stories of people who rely on their first impressions—art critics able to identify a supposedly ancient Greek statue as a fraud in mere seconds, a psychologist who is able to predict whether or not a married couple will stay married after a single session, and a tennis coach who developed the ability to predict when one of his players was about to double-fault.

What do all of these people have in common? According to Gladwell, these people all have the ability to “thin-slice.” Thin-slicing is the ability to draw conclusions by looking at a small piece of data—the moment takes to form a first impression. Thin-slicing is a survival skill, our nervous system is constantly taking in overwhelming volumes of information and “thin-slicing” is how we quickly make sense of that data.

Gladwell respects the dangers of our ability to process information quickly. In Chapter Three: “The Warren Harding Error”, we find that our thin-slicing has a dark side. Gladwell points out that inherit in thin-slicing is a susceptibility to fall victim to the power of stereotyping. We meet Warren Harding, who is widely recognized as one of the worst presidents in our history. Why did voters place him in office, in spite of his lack of qualifications? Thin-slicing. Harding was tall, handsome and looked the part of a leader. This chapter points out how thin-slicing is related to racial stereotyping.

What are we to do with this new-found knowledge that we “thin-slice?” Gladwell suggest that while we can’t stop thin-slicing, we can train ourselves to pay attention pertinent factors-- factors that will help us make accurate and valuable decisions in a blink.

Gladwell has given us a brilliant read that entertains and informs. Gladwell effortless delivered a lesson in neuroscience to his readers. However there’s nothing “textbook” like about Blink. Blink is a compelling, fast-paced read that is sure to get you thinking about how you think.

THINK:           

  • In Chapter Three, Gladwell writes about the Implicit Association Test developed at Harvard University. The test is designed to measure the connections that we immediately made between ideas. Visit www.implicit.harvard.edu and take the Race IAT. How does thin-slicing influence your view of other races? How surprised were you by the results?
  • Read Hebrews 5:14. How can we use scripture to refine and inform our “thin-slicing” abilities?
  • How comfortable are you in trusting your abilities to make an intuitive decision?
  • How is thin-slicing different than the spiritual gift of discernment?
  • Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13. How does this account differ from the Warren Harding mistake? What role do you think thin-slicing had on Samuel’s choices for king? How can God’s wisdom correct misguided thin-slicing?

LIVE:

Read Philippians 4:8. How can focusing on things with these attributes influence how we thin-slice? This week, keep a log of what TV, movies, or books you take in. How do these media choices influence the criteria that you use to “thin-slice?”

Larry Shallenberger