Blink

Outline

Blink (2005) explores the power of the quick judgements we make in the first moments of seeing something or meeting someone. Malcolm Gladwell shows that these rapid decisions, which he calls thin-slicing, can sometimes be more accurate than long analysis, but can also be distorted by bias and stress. The book explains when to trust our instincts and how to improve them.

• The quick judgements we make in the first moments of seeing something or meeting someone carry real weight.
• Gladwell calls these rapid decisions thin-slicing, and they can sometimes be more accurate than long analysis.
• Bias and stress can distort our snap judgements, so a fast decision is not always a sound one.
• Knowing when to trust your instincts, and when to slow down, is a skill the book helps you build.
• Intuition is not fixed: the book explains how to improve it so quick decisions get sharper.

Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist and author and a longtime staff writer for The New Yorker. He is known for making research in psychology and social science engaging through storytelling, and he hosts a popular podcast. His bestselling books include The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, David and Goliath, and Talking to Strangers.