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Here is my first thread on Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

Read the key insights and ideas about this book in 1 minute.

Let’s get into it

Short summary:

Blink examines the decisions we make from first impressions to days of data analysis.

Gladwell argues that quick and intuitive thinking can be just as good, or even better, as deliberate and thoughtful decisions.

Idea 1: The quality of our decisions does not correlate with the time and energy it takes to make them.

We are used to making decisions by following logical processes.

We fail to use a backup system called “thin-slicing”.

Thin-slicing is “the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behavior based on very narrow slices of experience.”

In other words, thin-slicing is our brain quietly crunching data while highlighting patterns.

This process helps us form first impressions and come to rapid conclusions.

Idea 2: To use thin-slicing, we have to let go of explaining our decisions.

Improving judgements comes with allowing part of the process to remain secret.

We like charts because when someone asks why we made that choice, we can point to a number.

But the best decisions require no explanations because they provide no clarity.

Idea 3: Extra information is harmful

When you go out for a run, you don’t need to know the direction of the wind, the dew point, or the air pressure.

You need to know the forecast.

Will it rain? Or will it be sunny?

If you focus on everything, you “drown in the data.”

Should you read Blink?

Blink makes no final conclusions. You come to an opinion from the stories used in the book.

Only read this book if you like reading scientific examples and personal narratives.

Otherwise, if you found this thread helpful, please retweet the first tweet so others can save time while distilling the main ideas of the book.