Malcolm+Gladwell

By Noah Gabrielsen

Malcolm Gladwell is an author and journalist best known for writing on unorthodox or counterintuitive topics. Originally from Britain, Gladwell grew up in Canada, and now lives in New York (Donadio). According to a New York Times piece on him entitled, "The Gladwell Effect," Rachel Donadio notes how his upbringing influences his writing, leading to his unique style and outside the box thinking. She states, "Omnivorous in his interests and brilliantly attuned to every level of today's conversation, Gladwell is one of the most inventive journalists now writing." Gladwell got his start in the journalism field when he joined the Washington Post in 1987. He became the New York City bureau chief, but left the Washignton Post to join The New Yorker, where he has been a contributor since 1996 ("Malcolm Gladwell"). Using his career as a reporter, Gladwell expanded into writing full length books, covering the same unconventional topics and innovative ideas that he utilized in newspapers and magazines. Such books include //The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference//, //Blink//, //Outliers//, //What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures//, and //David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants//; each of which has appeared on the New York Times Best-Seller list. In his own words, Gladwell analyzes science and statistics and uses them to "organizing structures" for everyday people. While these efforts have been met with popular success, there has been some criticism over his work. Several critics claim that Gladwell oversimplifies topics in his works, or that his writing takes advantage of people's preconceptions, even if the content is lacking. Overall though, Gladwell's works provide an alternate view of the world and a unique literary experience.

Works Cited Donadio, Rachel. "The Gladwell Effect." The New York Times. 5 Feb. 2006. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. 

"Malcolm Gladwell." The New Yorker. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. 