Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Why are our gut feelings usually correct? How do we know how to make split second decisions in crisis situations? How are first impressions made?

Malcolm Gladwell covers these questions using rich and interesting case studies backed by research in his book blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. Using our trained unconscious mind, humans are able to have very powerful gut feelings. Some think it’s almost ESP or a sixth sense. However, Gladwell shows that these reactions are based off past experiences and can be honed and trained.

The book is a quick read at 254 pages – about 2 one-hour flights. I found the mix of psychology with everyday examples easy to follow and very interesting to explore. Although I wouldn’t classify it as a self-help book, it does have the power of changing the way you think. All in all, I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about how we think.