Episode
#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
1:41:21
Published: Tue Jun 21 2016
Description
Malcolm Gladwell (@gladwell) is the author of five New York Times bestsellers -- The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, What the Dog Saw, and David and Goliath. He has been named one of the 100 most influential people by TIME magazine and one of the Foreign Policy's Top Global Thinkers. He has explored how ideas spread in the Tipping Point, decision making in Blink, the roots of success in Outliers, and the advantages of disadvantages in his latest book David and Goliath. In his latest podcast project, Revisionist History, Gladwell examines the way the passage of time changes and enlightens our understanding of the world around us. In this in-depth, in-person conversation, we cover a ton, including: His research and writing process How he learned to ask good (and "dumb") questions Favorite books Routines, habits, and tools How he pulls together seemingly unrelated stories into a cohesive theme (and eventually a book) Philosophies related to public speaking His obsession with running Why he eats as little as possible in the mornings And much more... Enjoy! Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service led by technologists from places like Apple. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it's all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams. Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they'll show you -- for free -- exactly the portfolio they'd put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Well worth a few minutes to explore: wealthfront.com This podcast is brought to you Gymnastic Bodies. This is the training system that I am most obsessed with at the moment. Coach Sommer appeared on a previous episode of the podcast, which turned into a sleeper hit. He is the former USA national team coach for men's gymnastics and creator of this bodyweight-based training system. I'm not easily impressed, and I have been completely blown away by the sophistication and the elegance of his programming. I have been using Gymnastic Bodies for just a few months now, and I already feel more flexible and stronger than I have in years. Check it out GymnasticBodies.com/tim, where you'll find the Fundamentals course for diagnosing your weakest areas and those you can tweak for fast improvements. It is incredible. Take a look at GymnasticBodies.com/tim for more details and a large discount. ***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
The hosts engage in some small talk about breakfast before one of them references a quote from the movie Terminator 2.
00:00 - 00:40 (00:40)
Summary
The hosts engage in some small talk about breakfast before one of them references a quote from the movie Terminator 2.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this in-person interview, Tim Ferriss discusses a wide range of topics including his research and writing process, habits, tools, routines, and more with a focus on how to improve personal and professional performance.
00:40 - 07:19 (06:38)
Summary
In this in-person interview, Tim Ferriss discusses a wide range of topics including his research and writing process, habits, tools, routines, and more with a focus on how to improve personal and professional performance.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses the benefits of nonlinear writing in encouraging readers to consume content in a non-traditional, choose-your-own-adventure format.
07:19 - 12:14 (04:55)
Summary
The speaker discusses the benefits of nonlinear writing in encouraging readers to consume content in a non-traditional, choose-your-own-adventure format. He also talks about the joy and difficulty in writing.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In his book Outliers, author Malcolm Gladwell explores the rise of Jewish lawyers to prominence in New York City during the 60s and 70s, all of whom had similar backgrounds, highlighting themes that he delves into throughout the book, while noting that writing is more about organization and logistics than writing itself.
12:14 - 18:55 (06:40)
Summary
In his book Outliers, author Malcolm Gladwell explores the rise of Jewish lawyers to prominence in New York City during the 60s and 70s, all of whom had similar backgrounds, highlighting themes that he delves into throughout the book, while noting that writing is more about organization and logistics than writing itself.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The value of a writer in the context of podcast summarization lies in their ability to identify and pull out the most interesting and relevant tidbits.
18:55 - 25:35 (06:40)
Summary
The value of a writer in the context of podcast summarization lies in their ability to identify and pull out the most interesting and relevant tidbits. However, the definition of "interesting" can vary greatly depending on the audience and topic at hand.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares how they've come to understand that delivering speeches is not just about giving a speech but also performing, and the importance of understanding one's audience when giving a speech.
25:36 - 30:11 (04:35)
Summary
The speaker shares how they've come to understand that delivering speeches is not just about giving a speech but also performing, and the importance of understanding one's audience when giving a speech.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker expresses their admiration for an English speech giver who can make up stories in a fancy and dramatic way.
30:11 - 34:49 (04:37)
Summary
The speaker expresses their admiration for an English speech giver who can make up stories in a fancy and dramatic way. They also praise his elite status as an English intellectual.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
This episode discusses the cost of finding and educating young athletes and the challenges faced by those who cannot afford to pay for their own education.
34:49 - 38:56 (04:07)
Summary
This episode discusses the cost of finding and educating young athletes and the challenges faced by those who cannot afford to pay for their own education.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Oftentimes, the questions that may seem obvious or "dumb" are the ones that should be asked, as they may be on the minds of many people in the room.
38:57 - 43:14 (04:17)
Summary
Oftentimes, the questions that may seem obvious or "dumb" are the ones that should be asked, as they may be on the minds of many people in the room. Asking questions is an essential part of exploring and discovering a good story.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A conversation about the satisfaction of completing a long-term project and the benefits of delayed gratification.
43:14 - 48:06 (04:51)
Summary
A conversation about the satisfaction of completing a long-term project and the benefits of delayed gratification.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses how adolescence is a period of reflection where decisions are made, and how it can be a confusing and important time in one's life.
48:06 - 52:41 (04:34)
Summary
The speaker discusses how adolescence is a period of reflection where decisions are made, and how it can be a confusing and important time in one's life.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker highlights the importance of a good night's sleep, especially for runners who prioritize physical activity as the highlight of their day.
52:41 - 56:13 (03:31)
Summary
The speaker highlights the importance of a good night's sleep, especially for runners who prioritize physical activity as the highlight of their day.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
According to the speaker, the sole criteria for a good college experience is the ability to find oneself engaged in deep and interesting conversations with people.
56:13 - 1:03:56 (07:42)
Summary
According to the speaker, the sole criteria for a good college experience is the ability to find oneself engaged in deep and interesting conversations with people. The speaker believes that the American college system needs to be reformed to prioritize this aspect of education.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The balance between obsessiveness and discipline in any task is vital to avoid crossing the line into personal or professional harm, according to David Epstein, author of "Range."
1:03:56 - 1:09:35 (05:39)
Summary
The balance between obsessiveness and discipline in any task is vital to avoid crossing the line into personal or professional harm, according to David Epstein, author of "Range."
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Malcolm Gladwell talks about his interactions with elite runners, his love for spy thrillers, and the history of Jewish immigrants in the garment trade in the late 19th and early 20th century.
1:09:35 - 1:17:29 (07:53)
Summary
Malcolm Gladwell talks about his interactions with elite runners, his love for spy thrillers, and the history of Jewish immigrants in the garment trade in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A discussion about the unique connection between identical twins and the belief in unexplainable phenomena.
1:17:29 - 1:21:36 (04:06)
Summary
A discussion about the unique connection between identical twins and the belief in unexplainable phenomena.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast episode, the guest speaker discusses the irony of how failure in one aspect of life can lead to success in others, particularly in the case of developing world innovations.
1:21:36 - 1:25:27 (03:51)
Summary
In this podcast episode, the guest speaker discusses the irony of how failure in one aspect of life can lead to success in others, particularly in the case of developing world innovations. They also touch upon a question that Peter Thiel likes to ask, "What is something you believe that other people think is insane?"
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast host advises young people, particularly those of privilege, to break out of their comfort zones and gain exposure to real-life experiences and environments before entering the real world, such as through national service or volunteering abroad.
1:25:28 - 1:29:35 (04:06)
Summary
The podcast host advises young people, particularly those of privilege, to break out of their comfort zones and gain exposure to real-life experiences and environments before entering the real world, such as through national service or volunteering abroad.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The host talks about the impact of an exceptional coffee shop and shares how his solo Q&A sessions with guests started off.
1:29:35 - 1:34:46 (05:10)
Summary
The host talks about the impact of an exceptional coffee shop and shares how his solo Q&A sessions with guests started off. He also talks about how he realized that everyone hates meetings, but he finds them exciting.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The legal adage "difficult cases make bad law" is an insightful comment on not generalizing from difficult cases.
1:34:46 - 1:38:08 (03:22)
Summary
The legal adage "difficult cases make bad law" is an insightful comment on not generalizing from difficult cases. Similarly, it's important to not overreact to black swan events and to choose case studies wisely.
Episode#168: Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast covers a range of topics from veterans and PTSD to a weekly email newsletter called Five Bullet Friday, where the host shares interesting things he has learned or discovered during the week.
1:38:08 - 1:41:19 (03:10)
Summary
The podcast covers a range of topics from veterans and PTSD to a weekly email newsletter called Five Bullet Friday, where the host shares interesting things he has learned or discovered during the week.