David & Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

David and GoliathReview by Mike Packard

Things are not always as they seem.  Perceptions of advantage are often challenged when an underdog takes the cake.  Malcolm Gladwell explores the dynamics of remarkable individuals who clearly had to overcome extreme odds to achieve success in David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants.

Gladwell is a master storyteller, engaging the reader at every turn to explore the lives of a few modern day heroes (some well-known and others totally anonymous) through true accounts of their experiences, at time heart-wrenching, to their ultimate successes.  A common thread is the concept that difficult times and traumatic experiences, as long as they are a “near miss,” can contribute to the formation of a focused and driven individual capable of great things.

A wonderfully inspiring account of making miracles out of disaster with elements of history and social commentary.

Check out a copy of David & Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants from your library!

About the reviewer: Mike Packard has been director of the Tredyffrin Township Libraries since 2012.