Blink by Macolm Gladwell

Gladwell explores the mind's capability to "thin slice" - gathering surprisingly accurate perceptions of situations within, literally, a blink of an eye and with a limited amount of information. He recounts several case studies from marriage counselors, art curators, car salesman, ER doctors, and police officers in which this technique has been used -- sometimes successfully, other times ending in disaster. Within these case studies, he explores how the mind subconsciously makes perceptions based on race, age, gender, facial expressions, etc.

He presents his argument intriguingly in the first two chapters of the book but then I became less convinced, or at least more skeptical, of his argument as I read further into the book. It seemed unclear of when it is helpful to rely on this immediate decision making and when it's dangerous.

He makes the argument that people are, in some cases, hindered in making accurate decisions by having too much information and that decisions can be made more quickly and accurately with a small amount of right information. However, figuring out which information is the right information takes a lot of information. Furthermore, that contradicts the way all of us have been taught in thinking critically and analytically, which Gladwell is aware of. He really does make a compelling case, but I found it difficult to determine when thin slicing works and when it results in disaster. For example, in one instance its saving a life in an ER room and in another it ends up in several policemen emptying their guns into an innocent young man.

The case studies he presents make the book very approachable and are appropriate for proving his point. I think that it's a useful book to help you be aware of what you are thinking and, in any case, the book has gotten enough attention that it's worth being familiar with his premise. The chapter about the psychologist predicting whether a married couple would still be together in fifteen years based listening to a brief conversation (with a 90% success rate) was my favorite anecdote.

I'm aware that I've recommended reading almost all of the books I have reviewed thus far. I don't retract any of those endorsements. But being aware of how you may subconsciously make decisions seems of a bit more relevance and importance than others I've read and suggested.

Jack Kerouac's Big Sur

Big Sur followed Kerouac's definitive On the Road and portrays a vastly different life and dark mindset of Kerouac, although one that brings On the Road full circle. I read On the Road three years ago while driving out Seattle via Denver and absolutely fell in love with the plans-be-damned storyline and the writing style that Truman Capote famously said "isn't writing at all, it's typing".

I was expecting more of the enthralling, hundred-mile-an-hour-story in Big Sur that I had found so appealing in On The Road, but instead it shows Kerouac coping with the stardom that accompanied his "Beat-epic" and his attempt to find some sort an escape; but it is obvious that he has trouble embracing any other life than the one that made him famous. Some of my favorite parts of Big Sur is when Kerouac describes beatnik kids coming up to him and telling him about their life hoping to get some sort of confirmation from the "Beat king" that they were doing life right. Kerouac refuses and is unable to provide that sort of direction. Even more telling about Kerouac's inner dispute is his relationship from characters from On the Road , such as Neal Cassady (named Cody in Big Sur) who has a wife and family with a regular job - a much different character than OTR.

Initially, I was pretty disappointed in this different tone because I wanted to be inspired with that restless feeling that On The Road had captured so well and romanticized. Big Sur shows Kerouac losing his mind unable to find a peaceful resolution and the eroding relationships around him. However, after completing it, I feel like it completes the story of On the Road - just not in the way I dreamed. During On the Road, I never got the feeling that anyone could keep up that lifestyle forever and Big Sur reveals On The Road perhaps finally catching up with Kerouac.

Some other media suggestions related to Big Sur. There was a documentary made in 2008, which I haven't seen yet but will probably try to find it in the next week or so. Also, Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard released an album that, I think, served as the soundtrack for the documentary, but I'm not sure. That album is called "One Fast Move or I'm Gone" and is pretty good, especially after reading the book, I think they capture that mood of the writing quite well. Gibbard also talked about Kerouac and Big Sur in an article for Paste Magazine entitled "The Meaning of Life".

Like I said, I read Big Sur trying to recapture a sense of restless adventure that I feel like I've been craving as of late. That didn't happen. So.... I'm probably going to re-read On The Road quite soon. If you've read Kerouac's stuff, I think you have to read Big Sur as it continues the story and sheds a bit more light on life post-stardom. If you're interested in checking this out, I think you'll appreciate it more after reading On The Road.

Endurance by F.A. Worsley

This book recounts the tale of a Trans-Antartica expedition beginning in 1914 that goes terribly wrong. Endurance, the name of the ship which gets trapped in the ice, is an understated description of the mentality of the sailors and their leaders.

The book immediately begins with the Endurance trapped in the ice and describing the peril of their situation. However, the premise of Worsley's account centers on the inspiring leadership of Ernest Shackleton and his ability to lead the men through the worst situations. The sailors are forced to pitch camp on land until Shackelton, Worsley, and a few others embark on an 800 mile sailing journey to the closest "civilization" in the middle of the Antartic winter while the rest of the expedition await rescue for four months. The conditions that they endure are unbelievable and I can't imagine more things falling apart in the way they did. I literally was shaking my head in disbelief during the majority of the book. Even more amazing is that not a single person died on the trip despite the lack of food, provisions, shelter, and dangerous encounters. I'm not sure that men like this are made anymore.

I was so looking forward to finish this book so I could write a review about it, but this post does a poor job of capturing the story so you should just read the book for yourself. Thanks, Richard, for the recommendation and book swap!

Palmer, Collier, Befus

Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer

I will admit that I am very hesitant and prematurely skeptical of motivational, leadership, and "life" books. This one came highly recommended from both my mother and father, who I have the greatest respect and admiration for, so I was willing to give this one a chance.

The reason I don't like most of these "life" books is that I feel that most of them are saying the same thing but with different words and metaphors. Although somehow it seems all of them include a story about rappelling (this book included!) and comparing to stepping of the edge to some decision in life. Plus, I have never been attracted to the idea of someone who I've never met giving me life advice and revealing an easy step by step process of finding what I should do with my life. I feel like that advice is best given by close friends and is revealed within myself.

I believe that God puts innate passions, compassions, interests, and desires within us and that finding a purpose of what we are supposed to do is a matter of following these - step by step, logical decision by logical decision. I think Palmer understands that and that is really the premise of his book, exemplified by his title.

My favorite part of the book was the final chapter dealing with the seasons of life. Although I'm sure not totally original, I read it at a good time in my life - timing really is everything. Palmer presents different periods of life into the seasons of nature and discusses how each should be enjoyed and how it naturally progresses and is connected to the other seasons. Although most everyone enjoys the warm weather of spring and summer, he talks about how these aren't possible without the death that comes with winter. Each season, each period in life is important and is preparing for the next natural progression. Learning to enjoy each season for what it offers and what it is preparing you for is not easy and I think only comes with maturity and patience. I'm trying to enjoy whatever situation I am currently in rather than always discounting where I am because I'm always anxiously waiting to move on to the next phase. Although I'm naturally always looking to make the next step in life, I've realized that doing that causes me to overlook the people I am with now and the opportunities that I have, even though it might not be my ideal situation. It's a season and it's temporary...

Wars, Guns, and Votes by Paul Collier

Paul Collier, an economist at Oxford Univeristy, follows up The Bottom Billion (a book Collier claims is an economics book you can read at the beach) with a book building on additional research about "democracy in dangerous places".

First of all, let's talk about The Bottom Billion, a book I became familiar with because it was on my graduate summer reading. Anyone who is remotely interested in global poverty, humanitarian work, or international affairs should read this book. It literally is that important. Collier lays out four traps that countries housing the bottom billion poorest people - mostly in Africa, but not exclusively - find themselves in. It is surprisingly readable for an economics book. In my opinion, economists are the most well-equipped professionals to form solutions for global poverty and it is about time that we start listening to them. Let me explicitly say, you need to read The Bottom Billion. In fact, you need to read it before Wars, Guns, and Votes, but let's talk about this one.


Democracy is a beautiful thing when it works, but, as Collier shows in this book, it is a dangerous thing when it a country is not ready for it. Countries that lack the ability to provide essential basic public goods (meaning security for its citizens. this is way before they start considering education or healthcare) find themselves in a dangerous cycle of violence and elections and under the constant threat of a coup and civil war - essentially economic development in reverse. Most importantly, do not mistake elections for democracy. In countries that are plagued be corruption, it is not an accurate portrayal of democratic elections. Collier, a development expert, insists that security is tantamount before any amount of investment or development can be done.

I loved this book. I love the subject matter it deals with, Collier's style of writing based on extensive quantitative data, and the conclusions and recommends that he finishes with. But like I said, this should be read after The Bottom Billion, which puts everything he says into context.

Where There Are No Jobs by David Befus

I'm not going to talk too much about this one, as its intended audience is extremely focused. Befus writes this book towards those who are looking to start or be involved in a microfinance business in poor, underdeveloped countries. He outlines an organizational structure, management strategies, and financially sustainable policies for developing and maintaining a microfinance venture.

It you're interested in microfinance, I'd recommend checking it out because it gives good advice on how to do good work and how to do it well. It's a little too dense for someone with a casual interest in development economics. I'd suggest skipping this and reading The Bottom Billion.