Hamsher,+Teressa

= = =BLINK (2005) = =by Malcom Gladwell =

= His other works include //The Tipping Point// (2000) and //The Outliers// (2008). Gladwell has been honored with many awards including... =


 * being named Time Top 100 Most Innfluential People in 2005,


 * recieving the American Sociological Association's first Award for Excellence in the Reporting of Social Issues in 2007,


 * being awarded the Doctor of Letters by the University of Waterloo, also in 2007.

//Blink// is a non-fiction work with no distinct plot. Instead, it is a series of studies that delve into humans' ability to make smart decisions with little time and information. The phsycological information is gathered from tests ranging from speed dating to government opperations to a hospital ER. For example, during a particular exercise, a group of college students had couples come in and talk for 5 minutes about anything. They then broke down the minutes frame by frame and attached a descritption to the subjects' facial features. With a 90% accuracy, they could tell if the couple would be together in 5 years.

Style
**TITLE** The title of the book, Blink, is very appropriate since thin-slicing is making decisions in the blink of the eye. The book goes on to explain that these decisions are the best ones we ever make since they rely on our instinct, not weighed down by time or information. It is a thought provoking title, much like the rest of the book, it and grabs the reader's attention.

**DIALOGUE and CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT** The lack of consistant characters leads to mismatched dialogue thrown randomly throughout the book whenever the author tries to emphasize certain reactions. There is, however, an ongoing dialogue between the author and the reader as the informal style of writing conveys a tone of friendship and storytelling. "He's a clever storyteller who synthesizes and translates the work of psychologists, market researchers and criminologists." - Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY  The opening chapter in the book grabs the reader's attention with a story about an art piece. While the reader isn't sure where Gladwell is going at first, after the first page they are completely enthralled. He inspires the reader and excites them, stating that "And if we were to combine all of those little changes, we would end up with a better and different world." The ending is very simialr, wraping up all of the different studies and thoughts together, leaving the reader with a profound impact and a lot to think about. "He writes persuasively..,"- Steve Weinberg, Houston Chronicle.  While I found the organization of the book to be very pleasing, one thought melted into another, bringing other studies and ideas with it, I could find it confusing and frustrating at times. While the short ideas and many different scenarios was interesting, it could make the reader feel that Gladwell was trying to accomplish too much in the 286 pages.However, reading it in small chunks over a longer period of time made it easier and more fulfilling. "This time around, Mr. Gladwell's stories are as crisp as ever. They just don't reach the tipping point of decisiveness." - George Anders, The Wall Street Journal
 * LEAD and ENDING**
 * LENGTH and ORGANIZATION**

==Personal Revie w == **//Blink// by Malcolm Gladwell is a masterly developed book that opens a whole new world to the reader, the world of their mind. It doesn't cover the amazing complexities that the mind can handle; instead, //Blink// breaks down the amazing ability of the mind in its simplest form, something we don't even recognize, snap judgements. "Blink" travels all across the globe to entrance the reader, provoking thoughts and making connections that are astounding. The book is amazingly informational while still being fascinating and pertinent.**

Works Consulted
Ander, George. "Hey, Not So Fast." Rev of //Blink// by Malcolm Gladwell. The Wall Street Journal. 11 Jan. 2005. Web. 26 May 2010. .

Malcolm, Gladwell. Blink. New York: Back Bay, 2005. Print

Minzesheimer, Bob. "Blink and you could miss 'the power of thinking without thinking'." Rev. of //Blink// by Malcolm Gladwell. The USA Today. 1 Oct. 2005. Web. 26 May 2010. <[]>.

Weinberg, Steve. "Truth in a 'Blink.'" Rev. of //Blink// by Malcolm Gladwell. The Houston Chronicle. 14 Jan. 2005. Web. 26 May 2010. [|.