Sunday Morning Reading – David and Goliath

I’m almost done with Malcolm Gladwell’s newest book, David and Goliath. It’s a typical Gladwell book, combining killer stories with unique data and information challenging our views of the world and the perspectives we operate from.  In David and Goliath, Gladwell challenges our notions on the little guy. As he puts it, the underdogs, misfits and the art of battle giants.

It’s not his best, I think Outliers and Tipping Point were better, but David and Goliath doesn’t disappoint.

Malcolm positions the book as the art of battle giants and why the “underdog” position may not be at as much of an underdog as we think. He challenges us to think about how we look at the underdog and how to use that position to our advantage. I see it a little different however. David and Goliath, for those looking, is a motivating book.  It motivates and challenges us to recognize that the status quo may not be the most ideal position and that the proverbial “David” is what is needed and that anyone not only can be David, but NEED to be David.

David and Goliath is a subtle call to action. It challenges us in the slightest of ways to stand up, take action and create change. It challenges us to change the rules of the game and therefore set a new course.

When dissected and viewed under a micro-scope, David actually wasn’t an underdog at all. Goliath never had a chance.  David’s brilliance wasn’t in his fighting skills, but in the fact he was the ONLY one who saw what was really happening and had the balls to change the rules of the game.

If you want to battle the Goliaths in your life, Gladwell’s new book will help you get there.

Keenan