Blink
by Malcolm Gladwell
Published by Back Bay Books/Little, Brown and Company
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Reviewed by Nick Capo, Assistant Professor of English, Illinois College
Subtitled: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
In Blink, Malcolm Gladwell offers us a fascinating survey of recent research in neuroscience and psychology. Much of the book is an examination of "thin-slicing," which Gladwell defines as "rapid cognition . . . the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behavior based on very narrow slices of experience." When we experience gut-level responses, form a first impression, or make a snap judgment, we are thin-slicing, making a decision outside of consciously controlled logical processes.
Late in the book, Gladwell describes Blink as "a journey into the wonders of our unconscious," and as a reader moves through his various case studies, you can see why that characterization is fitting. But Gladwell's enthusiasm is always grounded in seriousness. "We have, as human beings, a storytelling problem," he writes. "We're a bit too quick to come up with explanations for things we don't really have an explanation for." The book's case studies, especially the ones on communication patterns between married couples and on war games, are surprising and disturbing, and frequently contain public-policy ramifications.
The brain is a chemical and physical marvel, and Gladwell's balanced account of thin-slicing, which often provides better results than our conscious deliberations but which also exposes us to the errors and damage of mistaken conclusions and subtle discrimination, only deepens our respect for its complexity.
Blink presents scientific research in clear and compelling language. Gladwell's curiosity, enthusiasm, and humor permeate the book, and idealistic intellectuals should delight in his call to use "practical problem solving," grounded in our understanding of how our thinking actually works, to address social ills such as racially biased criminal convictions.
As a reminder of the frequent flaws of conscious decisions and an introduction to the potential of the brain's unconscious power, this book is highly recommended.
Armchair Interviews says: Important message for everyone.
Author's Web site: http://www.gladwell.com