If you want to think differently about perceived advantages and power, Gladwell demonstrates with several great examples the limits of power and how that provides the underdogs advantages of their own.
One of the most powerful messages in the book deals with two opposing reactions to crime-- either by showing forgiveness or taking extremely harsh measures and the overall affect both reactions have on crime (hint: the forgiveness method has some powerful results for interesting reasons). In the book he repeatedly shows that many things in life are u-shaped curves rather than exponential curves or lines. With a u-curve, as you move along the curve the result tends to be beneficial to a point until it flattens out and then actually harms. Classroom sizes is an example he uses--that classrooms can be both too big and too small and there is a happy medium that is ideal. The book deals with crime punishment in the same context, that harsher penalties are helpful to a point, than they stop having an affect, and then if they are TOO harsh they actually make crime WORSE. Fascinating stuff, you'll have to read the book to see his other examples and conclusions.
Just one more thought: There is pretty much nothing invincible in this world. What causes someone to be strong or powerful is dependent on the situation. You change the rules or the approach, that person or thing's strength can become its weakness and downfall. Thus, the title of David and Goliath. If David had fought Goliath in Goliath's way he would have loss, but he took a different approach that made him much more likely to win and he did. His point is that all underdogs who have overcome have almost always done it finding a different approach. (MLK and the Civil Rights movement he uses as an example). Please read this book. It's not perfect, I believe more examples would have strengthened his thesis even more, but the examples he always includes in his books fortify his points and definitely alter the perspective a bit. I definitely recommend David and Goliath. 4.5/5 stars.
One of the most powerful messages in the book deals with two opposing reactions to crime-- either by showing forgiveness or taking extremely harsh measures and the overall affect both reactions have on crime (hint: the forgiveness method has some powerful results for interesting reasons). In the book he repeatedly shows that many things in life are u-shaped curves rather than exponential curves or lines. With a u-curve, as you move along the curve the result tends to be beneficial to a point until it flattens out and then actually harms. Classroom sizes is an example he uses--that classrooms can be both too big and too small and there is a happy medium that is ideal. The book deals with crime punishment in the same context, that harsher penalties are helpful to a point, than they stop having an affect, and then if they are TOO harsh they actually make crime WORSE. Fascinating stuff, you'll have to read the book to see his other examples and conclusions.
Just one more thought: There is pretty much nothing invincible in this world. What causes someone to be strong or powerful is dependent on the situation. You change the rules or the approach, that person or thing's strength can become its weakness and downfall. Thus, the title of David and Goliath. If David had fought Goliath in Goliath's way he would have loss, but he took a different approach that made him much more likely to win and he did. His point is that all underdogs who have overcome have almost always done it finding a different approach. (MLK and the Civil Rights movement he uses as an example). Please read this book. It's not perfect, I believe more examples would have strengthened his thesis even more, but the examples he always includes in his books fortify his points and definitely alter the perspective a bit. I definitely recommend David and Goliath. 4.5/5 stars.