What We Thought: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Blink: the Power of Thinking Without Thinking
by Malcolm Gladwell

The author "examines how people process the information they receive through first impressions and how these impressions, which Gladwell calls rapid cognition, can be channeled into productive thinking.”        

                                    

Blink, a work of nonfiction, generated as much intense discussion as any of the novels read by book club members. Readers did not hold back on their impressions of the author’s observations and conclusions. Most said that what he wrote about was commonsense and possibly mind reading. That what he said was obvious. He spent a lot of time repeating his explanations, and then talked about exceptions. 

The discussion was not so much about whether or not the group liked the book, but rather how the outcome of the studies accurately reflected the science behind the premise of experts who concluded that instincts influence decision making. The group questioned how so much effort could be spent on mundane subjects, and then said it was interesting and useful information. 

The marketing studies about colas and jams interested readers, and everyone who commented on them had a different opinion about the author’s point of view. Again people said that marketing strategies are targeted to an audience with common sense and that the marketers don’t always understand the consumer.

Readers wanted more explanations about how to make snap judgments in a positive way and visuals to illustrate the facial recognition and body language studies. It was said that he wrote a lot about what happens but not how to make things happen. He didn’t explain his points well enough to suit some; for example, when one should or should not act on first impressions. How can we make good snap judgments based on rules and experience when lives are at stake? Another reader said that the same research done by a different person could come up with a different conclusion. It happens all the time. She mentioned recommended healthy diets as an example.

Some readers grew tired of the book early on and didn’t want to spend more time on it. Others were immediately captivated by it and others said they continued reading until they caught on to what he was writing about and then they finished the book.

The discussion followed the book club members’ analysis of the book. Some agreed, some disagreed, and some changed their minds without being aware of what was happening to the dynamics of the group. Blink was a great read and a great choice for the book club.

Have you read Blink? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

This Month's Selection: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

by Malcolm Gladwell

Tuesday, September 23

6:30 p. m.

Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant - in the blink of an eye - that actually aren't as simple as they seem:

• Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept?

• Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error?

• How do our brains really work-in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, and in the bedroom?

•  And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others? 

 Have you read Blink? Please share your thoughts in the comments here or in the discussion post after September 23rd!

Combined Book Club Potluck: The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

The Art Forger

by B.A. Shapiro

The Evening and Afternoon adult book clubs enjoyed an August potluck supper on Tuesday evening. A variety of colorful summer salads including tomato and mozzarella slices garnished with fresh basil, taco salad, and a cowboy bean salad extravaganza was served buffet-style along with finger sandwiches, meatballs, baked chicken, corn chowder, fruit salad, and assorted chips with salsa. A sparkling lime sherbet punch added pizzazz to the menu.

After the main course, club members adjourned to the library’s reading room for a book discussion accompanied by dessert. The dessert table was awash in chocolate treats; whoopee pies, chocolate pudding cake, frosted marble cake, and a banana cream pie with mile high meringue.

Book club members engaged in a lively discussion about the motives of the art thieves and forgers. Several spoke passionately about what they thought was the fate of the paintings stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. All of their scenarios were plausible. Harder to define were the motives of the thieves and the ultimate owner of the treasures. Was it greed or narcissism? What is the value of a stolen painting, if it isn’t shared with others who can appreciate beauty? Has the statute of limitations expired and who is the true owner now?

Is there a statute of limitations on recovering stolen property? “Time is often the enemy of crime investigators; the trail quickly gets cold. But time has changed the Gardner case in one way that could increase the chances of the paintings' being recovered: The statute of limitations has passed for prosecution of the theft itself. And the US attorney in Boston now says he will not prosecute anyone who has the paintings and offers to return them.

Readers questioned whether there were other undetected forged paintings displayed in museums as the plot in Shapiro’s book. Although the book is fiction, the art techniques discussed are authentic. This feature added to the enjoyment of the story which some said satisfied their preference for “true” historical fiction. Many members have been to the Gardner museum both before and after the theft and spoke highly of the building and the collection. Others said that they are now inspired to visit based on the comments of the group. If your name is Isabella, you can register for lifetime free admission at the museum. If your name isn't Isabella, you can still receive free admission on your birthday. Also, since Isabella Stewart Gardner was a big Red Sox fan, you can wear your Red Sox gear and receive a $2 discount off of admission, too!

The Art Forger was a very successful book selection and it sparked a terrific discussion about the many layers of deception that result in art forgery and theft. The Boston setting was a plus for readers and enhanced the story’s credibility. The author took a real event and crafted a complex and exciting story with an unexpected twist at the end.