Unamazing insights

Four years ago, we learn from this book’s jack- et, Malcolm Glad- well ‘was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People’.

Four years ago, we learn from this book’s jacket, Malcolm Gladwell ‘was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People’. As Gladwell himself might ask, ‘Is what Time says really significant? And what is significant?’

Gladwell is significant, all right. Not only is he a staff writer on the New Yorker but he wrote the bestsellers Blink and The Tipping Point that made him millions and — here is more significance — put him number one on the New York Times’ bestseller lists. What is Gladwell’s secret? Like many New Yorker writers he gives the impression, usually in great detail and carefully fact-checked, that he really knows. Not only knows, but is going to let you know, too, so smoothly that you will barely need to think. I remember an article in the New Yorker (not by Gladwell) about a cemetery for runaway slaves on New York’s Staten Island in which some poignant forgotten history was unveiled.