We all sometimes feel a sense of frustration stemming from dealing with large opaque systems. Systems in which the small individual gets lost in the wheels of bureaucracy, whether it is the bureaucracy of assumptions and the exhaustion of rights or the stubborn war with current accounts. In the background is the sense of self-efficacy in the face of the grinding and emotionless world of employment.
Malcolm Gladwell is considered by many to be the most brilliant writer in the social sciences active today, and even if it is not his best book (preceded by the best-sellers Excellent, At First Sight and Turning Point, which are also highly recommended), the book is certainly worth reading. In simple and fascinating language, Gladwell takes a closer look at cases in which the weak prevailed over the strong. The literary journey passes through a dyslexic boy who becomes one of the most expensive lawyers in the United States, guerrilla forces who embarrass well-trained armies, and one outsider doctor who, against all odds, manages to develop a cure for cancer in children. Gladwell leads us to the conclusion that weakness contains an enormous and surprising force that can devour all the cards. The book reexamines the balance of power between weakness and strength, and defines the virtues that arise precisely from difficulty and inferior position.
In Gladwell’s hands, the story of David and Goliath serves as a wonderful illustration of the strength and uniqueness of the weak, but even more so an illustration of our inability to recognize true power and power as we see them, the book is divided into three parts. First, “The Pros of the Disadvantages”, in which we learn about the power inherent in the position of the weak. This is followed by the “Desired Difficulty Theory”, in which Gladwell demonstrates that many times without the difficulty involved in the task it would not have been possible to meet it. And finally, “The Limits of Power,” a review of situations in which force was a limitation and blocked the desired solution.
Happy reading
